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Eye Contact/OCD/Anxiety and Lyme Realization

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Posted 10/21/2016 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone else have difficulty making eye contact with people when in conversation? I noticed yesterday that I can't seem to make eye contact (my eyes feel like they are rolling in my head) and I start to fidget with my hands (this takes on all different actions). I think it is mostly because I have difficulty expressing my thoughts into words (unless it's normal, quick chitchat), so my eyes are "searching" for the words, while my hand fidgeting is probably a result of anxiety.

So then I started realizing that I have a lot of habits that are OCD/anxiety related:
-watching the same tv shows every night (reruns that I've seen before; it's not for entertainment but comfort)
-doing things in twos (2 seems to be "my number" so it's not interfering with my life all that much, but I have to buy things in twos, I can't just buy one)
-recognizing patterns in others (speech, behavior, etc)
-repetitive thoughts (mostly negative)

...and a few other things that I can't remember now lol The thing is, I wasn't like this my entire life but it's been many years that I've been doing these sorts of things. If I trace it back (along with other health issues), it seems like I was infected in 1997-1999. Which would make the bite in 2011 a reinfection. I'm a little freaked out by the whole thing....without even realizing it, I have centered most of my adult life around Lyme.
Posted 10/21/2016 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Lyme can most certainly bring on OCD for some people (having to buy 2 of everything) as well as other cognitive issues like recognizing patterns. I couldn't follow instructions or patterns of doing things for a long time.

I'm not real sure if I could make eye contact or not. Seems like I had difficulty with this as well (highly unusual for me, as I generally LIKE to look someone in the eye as we talk), but I do know that when I suffered from the word finding issues, it was there when I was really struggling with it.

You've started treatments, right? Does your doctor know about these things? If not, please be sure to tell them.

The other side of this is detoxing (yep, again!). Anytime my brain was filled with toxins, those things came out strong - and still do. You may or may not be having these issues from not detoxing well enough, but it's another aspect you should look into, in my opinion.
Posted 10/21/2016 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I am just on cefdinir (omnicef) right now. I read that it crosses the BBB more than most....could that be why I'm having more neuro symptoms?

I'm detoxing with lemon water, dry brushing, alka seltzer gold, detox tea and I think that's it. What else should I add?
Posted 10/21/2016 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I would encourage you to do more detoxing. I have not had any of the gene mutation testing done, although I do seem to have the same kind of issues as those that do - so I figured it was best for me to assume that I did and work to get my body to detox much better. It took a lot of diet changes as things with my body changed,
I use a foot soak,
dry skin brushing,
Lymph massages as needed,
making sure my bowels moved at least once a day (sorry if it's TMI!)
pushing myself to drink at least 64 ounces of lemon water each and every day,
liver/gall bladder flushes (all natural) as needed,
Apple cider vinegar,
Quercetin,
Alpha Lipoic Acid,
oil pulling with coconut oil and a few drops of tea tree oil,
using Yogi brand detox tea,
taking activated charcoal (when necessary),
and keeping the amount of stress in my life at a bare minimum.

You can find more detoxing ideas in the "new to Lyme?' thread and here:
www.tiredoflyme.com/detox-methods.html
Posted 10/22/2016 3:34 PM (GMT 0)
I experience the eye contact thing! It causes this unsettled feeling in my eyeballs, not pain, but very unpleasant. It's like I'm straining to keep them in place. I end up putting a hand over my eyes, raising and lowering my sunglasses....I hate it!!
Posted 10/22/2016 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
that's me, difficulty with eye contact, darty eyes :( it's gotten better than it was at one point.

I have a habit now of making a concerted effort to hold eye contact. it takes me a lot of effort but I have to kind of force myself or remind myself when I catch it drifting.
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