A Case Study: How an Individual Therapy Psychiatric Evaluation Changed One Billerica Man’s Life
When you live around Billerica, MA, life might feel familiar and predictable. But for one local resident, let’s call him David, things began to shift quietly in ways he didn’t expect. What began as odd, harmless habits turned into something troubling, until he finally reached out to Forrest BH for an individual therapy psychiatric evaluation.
Background: A Life That Seemed Fine, Until It Didn’t
David, age 45, had always been the reliable type. He worked as a project manager for a technical firm just outside Billerica. Married, two teenage kids, active in his community. On the surface, things looked good.
But beneath the surface, he began experiencing something unusual and distressing: he had started having intrusive thoughts about losing control of his body, suddenly jerking, twitching, or feeling his arm go limp in public.
It wasn’t full-fledged seizures, but enough to scare him. He started avoiding crowded places, afraid he would collapse or face embarassment. He also began hearing faint murmurs when nobody else heard them.
He thought he was just stressed out. Perhaps too much caffeine or aging.
When the Hurdles Appeared
Like many people, David faced a few hurdles before he could truly begin healing:
Denial
He kept telling himself, “I’m fine. Everyone gets strange thoughts sometimes.” He believed he just needed rest, not therapy.
Shame
The thought of others finding out that he heard voices or lost control made him feel they would judge him.
Confusion
Even after seeing his doctor and getting medical tests, all of which came back clear, he still didn’t understand what was happening. He felt stuck between his body feeling fine and his mind saying otherwise.
Why Forrest BH?
David’s wife found out about Forrest BH through an online search for a psychiatric evaluation in Billerica, MA. They called and scheduled an individual therapy psychiatric evaluation with us. He was nervous, but the friendly voice on the line put him at ease.
The Evaluation
At his first session at Forrest BH, David sat with our licensed therapist, who asked things like:
- What are you noticing lately?
- What has changed in your routine?
- Have you ever had anything like this before?
The therapist took notes on his physical health (mild hypertension), his medication (a low-dose beta blocker), his caffeine use, his sleep patterns, and the new twitching sensations.
Because he had that twitching, heard murmurs, and feared collapsing, the doctor considered several possibilities: could this be a neurological condition? Stress-related symptoms? Or perhaps a psychogenic movement disorder, or even the beginning of a psychotic disorder.
The evaluation included standardized questionnaires, a review of his medical records, and goal-setting. “Let’s figure this out together,” the therapist said. “Not to label, but to understand.”
The Diagnosis and Therapy Plan
After a few weeks of evaluation, including coordination with his primary doctor to rule out neurological causes, our therapist identified a dissociative seizure-type condition linked to anxiety and subclinical psychotic features.
Therapy began in two parts:
1. Individual Therapy
David attended weekly CBT sessions. His therapist helped him recognize that his intrusive thoughts, like feeling that his arm is going limp, were triggers for safety-seeking behaviors.
David learned grounding techniques to focus on his senses. He also gradually exposed himself to small crowds while practicing these techniques.
2. Psychoeducation + Monitoring
The therapist explained how stress affects the brain and how the side effects of beta-blockers might make his symptoms feel worse. They also discussed how not getting enough sleep can make everything harder to handle.
They encouraged him to keep a log to track his twitch episodes, murmurs, sleep, caffeine intake, and anxiety levels.
Techniques That Helped
Grounding and Present-moment Awareness
When he felt the twitch coming on in a store, he paused, named 3 things he saw, 2 things he heard, and one thing he felt physically. Over time, the sensation lost its power.
Cognitive Restructuring
He began challenging thoughts like “If my arm goes limp, I will collapse in front of everyone” with “An arm twitch is a symptom, not a failure of me, and I have tools to cope.”
Gradual Exposure
With support, he attended small gatherings, then larger ones, while practicing the techniques and reviewing them afterward in therapy.
Collaborative Medical Check-ins
He kept his primary doctor and our therapist in sync to monitor his blood pressure medication, caffeine reduction, and sleep routine.
Therapeutic Tracking
Using his log, they noticed his twitching and murmuring increased after poor sleep, high caffeine intake, and skipped meals. They adjusted his plan accordingly.
Turning Point & Progress
After 12 weeks, David reported:
- The twitching episodes reduced in intensity and frequency.
- He no longer avoided gatherings and even volunteered for a small community event in Billerica.
- The audible murmurs hadn’t gone away completely, but no longer triggered panic.
- Most importantly, he said, “I don’t feel like I’m losing control anymore. I’m learning how to live with what’s going on.”
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
Although David’s condition was somewhat uncommon, a blend of dissociative/twitching/anxiety intrusion, the pattern is not unusual: many men delay evaluation due to shame or confusion.
In the U.S., anxiety disorders alone affect about 19% of adults in a given year.
An individual therapy psychiatric evaluation at Forrest BH can help clarify unusual situations, reduce feelings of shame, and create a treatment plan that works for you.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in Billerica and you’ve been experiencing weird body sensations, intrusive thoughts, or fear of losing control, don’t wait. Your symptoms aren’t just stress! An individual therapy psychiatric evaluation can help understand what’s happening and what can help.
At Forrest BH, you’ll find a safe, understanding team ready to help you unpack what’s going on, build skills to cope, and guide you toward steadier ground.
Schedule your evaluation now and start your journey toward clarity and healing!
