I’ve been dealing with extreme anxiety since November of last year. Things have been improving but certain symptoms are hanging on. Namely my vision still feels weird. It’s hard to explain, but it’s not really blurry or floaters or anything. It’s more like I can’t focus on things properly - like it’s hard for me to see details and it’s overwhelming to take everything in. It makes me feel so disconnected from my surroundings, from people, from myself. I did have DP/DR pretty bad for a few months, but I feel like the severity of that has faded and it’s just the vision thing now. Could it just be that the vision problems have remained from the DP?
I’m trying so hard to stay positive and calm but it’s been such a long road and I am so tired. I just want my life back. I want to feel connected to my loved ones. I want to see everything as I used to. I feel trapped with this weird vision thing. I don’t know what to do. Has anyone else experienced this?
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I saw an eye doctor twice - we adjusted my prescription to be less intense. I have two astigmatisms and the last script I had made everything look weird. So switching scripts a few days ago really helped but things still feel off. And yes I’m in therapy
If your doctors don’t think it’s a physical problem, indeed anxiety can impact your sense of vision. If I’m understanding you... I get something similar when my anxiety is out of whack. Instead of a distinct panic attack tunnel vision deal... it’s like a general sense of looking around and the details won’t register. Like everything is an a haze that eye drops or glasses won’t shake. There could be physical things the doctors haven’t found yet... but it could be anxiety. Sometimes what helps me is closing my eyes and deep breathing... or reengaging my senses trying to feel grounded. Simple things like smells from candles and perfumes or touching various textures trying to focus on the sensation.
Thank you so much. Yes it’s exactly what you said, a general sense of looking around and the details won’t register! Almost like everything seems 2D or flat. Trying to trust that it’s just my anxiety and I need to stop feeding the fear by ignoring it. Easier said than done!
I agree with evenZzZ, if you've seen an eye doctor who has examined the back of your eyes he or she would have picked up on anything physical and as they didn't there's little doubt that these visual disturbances are symptoms of anxiety. Seek a second opinion if you're not convinced but the big money is on anxiety.
I have had lots of anxiety-based visual symptoms ranging from shimmering effects on bright horizontal edges to scintillating scotomata so there's no doubt eyes are affected by health anxiety as much as any other part of the body.
I think maybe you're paying these visual disturbances too much attention, too much introspection leads to stressing, obsessing and fear.
You are not going blind, you will recover from this but you must frame your mind not to respond to the flash of first fear with second fear. Fear is the enemy. Every time we feel fear we release fear and stress hormones which keep our nervous system over-sensitised: and it is this sensitivity that results in our nerves constantly playing tricks on us - by imitating real physical illness.
I am going to suggest that you accept for the time being these visual phenomena and refuse to pay too much attention to them. Why not? You already know that you aren't going to lose your sight so what's the worry? Your nervous exhaustion is playing a trick on you. So I say again, just accept the symptom for the moment, carry on with your daily work as normal, do not afford it the attention it does not deserve and give your poor old nerves a break, they are waiting to heal if only you will stop bombarding them with fear.
In the fullness of time (to be measured in weeks not hours) your nerves will recover and your visual symptoms will yield.
This, then, is the way forward for you: accept the disturbances, learn to live with anxiety and before long you'll be able to live without it.
Jeff is right. I’ve struggled with your issue and after seeing a doctor, neurologist, and ophthalmologist, it’s anxiety. Adrenaline does insane things.
This is such a wonderful and helpful reply. Thank you so much. I often feel like I know and can grasp it’s just anxiety, but have trouble convincing myself of that when I’m in my most anxious or saddened states. My mind immediately spirals and starts catastrophizing, telling myself I’m going to feel it forever. Lots of other symptoms have left me, so I need to trust this one will, too. Thanks again for your help.
I have not experienced this exact problem (anxiety causing vision issues), but I've experienced plenty of other anxiety-related disorders and Jeff's advice, from "I am going to suggest" on is simply beautiful and well-written. (And sounds like great advice!) It's encouraging that there are so many people on this site willing to help each other and empathize with what one is going through. This is going in my gratitude journal!
Thank you for your kind words IHadADog, may I direct you to my post lower down on this thread that starts "O.K. you guys" in which I refer to the source of the acceptance method that I have always believed in: the writings of Doctor Claire Weekes, a psychiatrist who experienced anxiety disorder herself and developed Acceptance to cure herself.
It’s odd because I was just freaking about the same exact thing. It’s been going on for a few months.
It almost feels like I’m getting a migraine, because my vision is off and will get “blind spots” but they’re not blind spots. I get it blurry, and floaters.
It IS overwhelming. I don’t know what’s causing it! But I have extreme health anxiety as well. So I do wonder if it is anxiety? Because when I went to the optometrist, they said everything was fine. Weird.
Here's how a scintillating scotomata, aka visual aura, occurs. People with migraine get it just before an attack but others like me just get the visual aura with no headache. It is definitely anxiety related, I get it about 3 times a year.
1. You slowly realise there is a small hole in your vision most noticeable if reading..
2. After a few minutes if you close your eyes you see a scintillating pattern beginning to form with zig-zag pattern.
3. This moves across your field of vision partially blocking out your vision.
4. After 30 minutes maximum it has disappeared off to one side of your field of vision and your vision is back to normal. Attack over!
It cannot damage your eyes and there is no way to prevent it or stop it once its started. It is not based in your eye but from the visual cortex at the back of the brain.
I've been having them for over 40 years, they don't bother me, I feel no fear for them, I've even continued driving when having one which is a bit naughty. Is this what you experience?
Yes! But, sometimes it only happens in my left eye. My head hurts but so slightly it’s not enough to complain. And it usually last almost all day?
I have horrible health anxiety and sometimes worry I have a tumor... or am going to go completely blind. 😢
I should also add that I get visual snow bad. I notice it more when anxious. I had an MRI, eye tests (2!!!) and it was anxiety. Blood flow is insane for anxiety. Adrenaline is crazy. My vision gets kinda blurry when I’m scared. I’m very light sensitive. I’ve been in your shoes and it’s the most recent health anxiety fears I’ve overcome. I’m not better yet but I’m getting there.
I’ve had an MRI as well and two eye tests, ha! I’m super light sensitive as well, having two astigmatisms doesn’t help! It’s comforting to hear someone is getting over the fear of it, I know it’s possible it’s just so hard sometimes. I wish it didn’t bother me but it makes me really sad to not be able to fully “see” or enjoy the world. Instead I’m always thinking about how weird it makes me feel. Just need to remember it’s temporary, I guess. Thanks for your responses ❤️
Aw we are two peas in a pod! I totally understand how you feel!!! I think that you’ll forget about it eventually. Do your best to not replace the fear with another one. I actually find fluorescent lighting triggers my anxiety more. There’s a science behind it... something about the buzzing of the blue lights. My boyfriend got me Duco glasses that get rid of blue light from them. Sometimes, having something on my face like them actually distracts me and makes me feel protected. It’s weird! Also, I have one astigmatism.
I really do think that this is connected to anxiety. We’ve all sort of become experts of sorts with medical advice (unless it’s advice we give ourselves). Your eye doctor checked your optic nerve. This shows if there’s strain from either brain tumors, MS, optic neuritis, glaucoma, and so much more. MRIs show it all, too.
Just know there’s another person in the world who gets it and objectively knows you’ll be just fine. People don’t just go blind and if they did, your doc would see those signs
O.K. you guys, here's what you all need to know. Fifty years ago a psychiatrist with anxiety disorder developed a method for respite and recovery from anxiety disorder and the depression that comes out of anxiety. It is a brilliant book and has allowed so many to take back their lives.
Her method is based on four imperatives: Face, Accept, Float and Let time pass. Her first book is short and easy to read, you feel as you read it that she knew you personally. Her first book is now in its 44th reprint half a century later. On the u.s. and u.k. versions of Amazon all her books have been reviewed by 1,600 readers and 90% rated it Very Good or Excellent.
The author was Doctor Claire Weekes and her first book is titled 'Self help for your nerves' in the u.k. and 'Hope and help for your nerves' in the u.s. Both titles available new or used from Amazon.
I commend this book to you. If you decide to read it then it will bring you understanding, reassurance and a road plan for recovery.
If you only read one more book in your life, this is that book.
I first read the book in 1974, my anxiety disorder is inherited, I have a low threshold to anxiety overload, so I will always have that tendency. But Claire Weekes' acceptance method allows me to be free from anxiety disorder 95% of the time and minimise the symptoms. I know how to deal with it to see it off.
I hate to think what my life would have been like if I had not discovered that book on my mother's bookshelf 45 years ago.
I think about 25% of people with anxiety inherit it. The other 75% can see it off once and for all using her acceptance method.
Claire Weekes used to say that if you recovered once using her method then you were cured because if because of genetic factors it returns you know how to deal with it. So according to this definition I'm cured.
Do not look for immediate benefits from Acceptance, you probably spent months acquiring anxiety disorder, allow a few weeks or months more to recover. What you are feeling is maybe the benefit of understanding and reassurance, the knowledge that the power of anxiety is limited. And the fact that maybe you now have new hope of recovery.
I wish you God's speed on that journey, Acceptance is not an easy road and needs persistence and practice. But it is still a lot easier than putting up with anxiety disorder and the depression that often comes out of anxiety.
I’ve listened to Dr. Weekes’ book once before, I think I need to listen again so it sinks in again. It brought me great relief when I first read it. I think my anxiety likes to make me forget my skills I’ve learned, so I find it hard to put things into practice. Your advice has been invaluable - thank you Jeff.
As I often say, reading Weekes' book(s) can bring understanding and reassurance but listening/reading alone won't bring recovery. Recovery comes with persistent practice of facing, acceptance, floating and letting time pass.
You are right, you have to re-read/re-listen sections or the whole book several times so the right response becomes instinctive and automatic.
Would you apply the same principles of acceptance to intrusive thoughts? Ever since I experienced derealization and depersonalization, I’ve been having very existential thoughts. Sometimes they feel all consuming. Things like why are we here, thinking much too hard about how things are made like buildings, highways, etc., how weird it is to be human, how strange humans look, etc. They make me feel crazy sometimes or “not normal.” I try to ignore them but they’re very persistent.
Yes, intrusive thoughts should be dealt with in the same way that all the other symptoms of anxiety are dealt with. Writing in the 1960s Claire Weekes used the word 'obsession' to cover what is now referred to as intrusive thoughts. In her book 'Self help for your nerves' she devotes chapter 14 to this symptom.
She writes: "understand that obsession is no more than a symptom of intense mental fatigue...let your thoughts play their tricks as they will. Accept them as part of your natural thinking. Go along with them, think them. Don't be upset because you think this way and don't try not to think this way...understand your condition is brainfag that will gradually disappear with acceptance...understand that you are not going mad and that many before you have felt the same way and have recovered by following the advice I give...To see an obsession as no more than a habit born from fear and fatigue robs it of its fear-inspiring quality, and with fear gone only memory remains. Time fades memory."
So she is saying we are allowed to have strange thoughts and that they are no danger only an irritation. She is saying don't try to ignore them, accept them instead and consider them of no account.
As to "why we are here" that is the secret of life: we are here to evolve spiritually to a higher form just as the bodies and structures of all living things evolve to a higher form so does our character, intelligence and wisdom. More than this and we enter the realm of what happens when we die but that is beyond the remit of this group.
Im experiencing the same things, i also see lines , floaters, and colors , i experience alot of migraines with aura when i sit too frequently and closely to light, electronics, light waves etc... so maybe limit consumption, or use glasses specifically for the screen time, it helped me a bit ...goood luck
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...goood luck 
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