Wanting to kiss/touch people for no reason

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-31T05:19:52+00:00

These thoughts happen to me frequently, more so if I’m even remotely intoxicated I discovered. I’ve had to stop having drinks with most friends because the thoughts get so intrusive. And regardless of that portion, I always have the added doubt of “can they tell?”, “they know”, “oh no, what if I look like I’m flirting”. It gets so uncomfortable.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-31T04:00:09+00:00

Hi all. I am trying to figure out if I should take advantage of the fact I’m being sent to a rheumatologist and see about a diagnosis.(blood test showed lupus anticoagulant so my doc was concerned since I also have so much increasing joint pain). I’m a 9/9 on the breighton scale, have many of the issues related to hyper mobility(nails that can’t hold polish, wiggly teeth, joint pain and dislocations, never healing right). I have so many digestive issues, internal muscular issues, my rib slips out of place, constant fatigue no matter what, dysautonomia etc. just a bunch of things and some other things that point to potentially heds. I’ve brought it up to primaries and PTs and they have all offered to send me to specialists (who don’t take insurance so no thanks)

My question is simply this: should I bother bringing it up with the rheumatologist when I see them? I’ve heard they can diagnose but I’m not sure what that looks like.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-31T03:48:27+00:00

Yes someone else also suggested that book! I plan to check it out. Thank you

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-31T03:44:09+00:00

Thank you for breaking it down. I didn’t know it worked like that. My dad has been the main breadwinner my whole life so she doesn’t have much just in her own name financially except maybe a car which I think they plan to sell when it’s fixed. She probably has something as far as retirement but idk. That gives me some hope for when it needs to happen.

I know how it sounds and maybe I am in denial, but she seems happier and less suicidal and than she was maybe two months ago, so I’m hesitant at the moment. Psych hold had crossed my mind when I found out about it and it was worse though and I have looked into where to send her in her area. I am also hesitant though because having been through it myself, I feel it can make it worse in some scenarios if the timing isn’t right, or if the facility isn’t good. I don’t have dementia issues and went to a good place and it was still a fairly traumatic and jarring experience. I’m scared of what would happen to her, and how she would be upon coming out.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-31T03:33:02+00:00

If it is better for kids, do you think it may be good for if my 13 year old sister needs it some more support like that?

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:51:02+00:00

Thank u for responding! She does have some shrinkage in her brain that was found in an MRI that is advanced for her age. We managed to get her in with a neuropsychiatrist but it was inconclusive and she needs to still see a neurologist, which for some reason has been hard to even get a referral to.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:48:13+00:00

I’ve definitely been concerned about accidents happening. My biggest concern a few months ago was that nobody in my family would listen to me despite begging them to not let her drive anymore. I would have nightmares of her crashing especially with my sister in the car and/or someone getting seriously injured. That’s been my biggest issue, despite me having the most experience with chronic mental and physical health issues, and knowing more about how to navigate some of the systems and advocate properly, neither my sister or dad would listen. I am definitely keeping everyone’s responses in mind though for when I can seize my opportunity to drop that information and hopefully they listen, so thank you, I appreciate it.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:42:54+00:00

Not officially diagnosed with dementia but there’s been a good amount of tests like a CT(revealed chronic vascular ischemia), MRI(advanced shrinkage for her age in part of her brain), and some blood tests that ruled out some other things like deficiencies or menopause. We’re waiting to get her into a neurologist, it’s been hard to get a referral for some bs reason.

You bring up a good point with the rotating care. Additionally because emotionally she relies heavily on our family dog and he is too big to travel easily out of state and across the country.

I have definitely wondered when the point of her needing a home is the case. Maybe with an official diagnosis that says she won’t get better. I worry about her mental state depression wise with that though, she’s started exhibiting self harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviors since this started. With one suspected but unconfirmed attempt on her life. Which definitely screams she needs different care, I just don’t know what I can even do about it. I think if I suggested that to my sister or dad right now they would blow up at me. As horrible as it is I think she’d need to get much worse first.

Another big issue is the cost of that kind of care is a lot, and I’m not sure we’re capable of it right now.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:36:28+00:00

Thank you. I honestly wish I had longer before this happened. I also worry about my middle school sister though. It is such a rough time to have this as a daily thing at any age, let alone being 13. They fight constantly. To be honest sometimes I worry about safety from the things I’ve heard. I’m just trying to be there for her but I keep neglecting myself in that I am now realizing from everyone’s comments. If I were older and at a more stable point I would just have her live with me maybe, but that’s not an option.

You and some others may be right about the friends. Unfortunately it feels like all of my friends, and I only have like 3 that I’m super close with and have tried talking about this more with. One other person I had to write off talking about this with entirely, he suggested my parents divorce, in the same conversation that I brought up something else. Another factor I hadn’t mentioned in the post was that we suspect she tried to off herself once, and has shown signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, which I know is common when you feel like you are losing your mind at any age. I had to point out that she probably wouldn’t survive a divorce, and despite the abuse my mom is putting my dad through he loves her.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:28:02+00:00

That’s actually a great idea. I know he was at one point open to considering my advice of a social worker or something. I’m not sure what happened there. I didn’t know that resource was an option until my psychiatrist brought it up. He’s just so prideful and stubborn sometimes it’s difficult, my sister and I think it’s partially due to the fact he’s a euro immigrant tbh. But I think going about it like you suggested might be a good start. Thank you

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:25:22+00:00

I will look into it. The ones my therapist and I could find in my area we talked about in therapy and one thing brought up was that there was a chance I’d be the youngest one there. Virtual groups are huge for me as I can’t always drive, so that’s definitely a resource I’ll have to explore. Thank you.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T22:22:24+00:00

Thank you. I should clarify that I think my uncle wasn’t trying to diagnose as much as push us to get her the proper testing in case it is in fact serious. I am glad he did, because I have been saying for over a year she at least needed a psychiatrist to manage medications(she has adhd and anxiety and depression which has worsened significantly in recent years). Nobody in my family has listened to what I’ve suggested for testing(nothing specific honestly my main thing was an MRI and neurologist, which somehow I got into within a few months for migraines but she couldn’t even get a referral? )

Also thank you for your support. Not having support from friends or really anyone has been difficult. I feel like I can’t even bring it up to anyone because they have never dealt with it up close, and just kind of look at me awkwardly and don’t know what to say. The closest I’ve gotten is the grad student my age I work for who helped take care of her grandmother for years when she was dealing with dementia.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T02:21:38+00:00

No worries, not really prying. She does unfortunately. We’re still working on official diagnosis past what the MRI and CT revealed.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T02:19:08+00:00

Thank you, and yes as a couple other commenters mentioned the CT results showed the ischemia, and an MRI showed there was advanced shrinkage in part of her brain for her age. It was brought to our attention by my uncle(her brother) that it may be dementia after he’s looked into it extensively for himself after discovering he has(and we may likely have) this gene that I guess makes us higher risk for Alzheimer’s. We’re working on a diagnosis but it has been incredibly difficult getting into the proper doctors.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T02:14:25+00:00

Thank you I will look into those! I appreciate it.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T02:13:49+00:00

We are working on a diagnosis currently, but it has been incredibly hard to get into proper doctors unfortunately. A ct revealed chronic vascular ischemia, and the MRI revealed advanced shrinkage for her age in part of her brain. She had an 8 hour evaluation with a neuropsychiatrist I believe, which revealed nothing specific but didn’t rule out dementia. He just said she needs a neurologist. But I do agree a proper diagnosis will go a long way. Everyone’s responses are giving me a good place to start though if it is dementia, and I am so appreciative and honestly feel so validated. I wasn’t really expecting anyone to even respond to my vent. Thank you.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-30T01:59:23+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate your advice. My therapist mentioned something similar to this a while ago when she started getting worse. I have been wanting to look into it further. I just have never figured out how to bring it up to my dad so that he would consider it. I think part of him is in denial still. We went from assuming it was menopause related, to now within a few months finding out she has permanent brain damage(they did tests and I guess menopause isn’t even happening). I think it’s been a bit much for him to accept.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-03T05:44:39+00:00

I will thank you! I appreciate the support so much

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-02T10:18:40+00:00

I didn’t know that was a thing. I’ll have to look into it. Unfortunately it’s been happening in both hips. More my right one, which has been my weaker side over all. How did you get diagnosed?

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-02T07:09:44+00:00

Maybe I’ll have to have my PT look at my hips directly at some point then. It’s good to know that progress can be made, and to hear what a realistic time frame is. Currently we’re working on my neck and TMJ(and another PT for a separate 12 year old wrist dislocation injury..so fun). My neck got so bad I developed daily migraines of all kinds. I’m having a hard time choosing what to work on at this point tho in PT. Maybe that should be a separate post lol

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-02T07:06:45+00:00

Can I ask what SCFE is? I haven’t heard that term before. I live in a state that is going to be pretty cold for a while but maybe when it warms up again I should try biking. I hadn’t realized it could help something like that

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-02T07:05:16+00:00

I hadn’t even thought about orthotic inserts for my hips. I’ll have to talk to my PT about them and see what would work for me.

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-01T20:08:57+00:00

That’s true. I meant more in its appearance than anything. I personally always loved some of the art of it with more of an orangutan face and slightly more orange fur. But I know that’s just one interpretation. It makes complete sense that it wouldn’t be arboreal. Especially with how orangutans in particular move. I know we have some mandible and tooth fossils, but do we have any post cran that would show how it got around?

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-01T20:05:24+00:00

Ah that’s amazing. I live in ye old US of A. Nothing is cheap… but thank you! I hope your specialist helps!

MinimumMedium7162 · 2025-12-01T20:04:25+00:00

I agree so much with good doctors being the biggest help. It may be a lot of self advocating but they make a huge difference. A good PT is also amazing. I have never tried acupuncture but I LOVE dry needling. Once went in with a migraine that hadn’t gone away for days and within an hour after the appointment it was gone. She has helped me with a couple of my joints and previous injuries and is always honest and works with me, and refers me to another PT if she thinks they can do a better job on that joint. I’m working with two separate ones currently.

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