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Brain fog, feeling faint

Mike7777 profile image
30 Replies

I have been getting these symptoms lately and they make my anxiety worse? Anyone get this? Also how do you guys define brain fog? Its like everything around me feels so unreal. Or like im gonna pass out/heavy headed and pressure. Im on an antidepressant and ativan. Could this be it? Help !

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Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777
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Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777

I also see stars or sparkles in my vision.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Mike7777

I do get a flashing bright light in my right eye only in he peripheral vision

Amelie3 profile image
Amelie3

Panic attacks can cause unreal like sensations in the mind and body that’s for sure. In regards to your meds, I would be talking to your doctor about it and how you are feeling. 😊

NeuronerdDoaty profile image
NeuronerdDoaty

I would suggest you try some deep breathing exercises. You may not be getting the oxygen you need. It happens to lots of us.

The Ativan can suppress your breathing somewhat so this makes me feel as if you might need 5-10 minutes of sit down and fill your lungs with air. There are good YouTube videos to follow along with. Brain fog happens when you’re not getting enough.

Brain fog also happens because we have two parts of our brain that never shut down. You might feel quiet and restful but the ‘what if’ and the repercussions part never stops for us. It’s pure brain fatigue which will bring on body fatigue.

Hobbies are helpful for shutting that part down. Repetitious things like puzzles, cards, sodoku, etc are good for quieting that part of the brain. (Not on the computer.)

Best of luck to you

Doaty

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty

I do mindfullness at night and deep breathing. The ativan is a pretty low dose and it helps my insomnia as well. I do have high hemoglobin and red blood cells too, but i dont know why yet.

NeuronerdDoaty profile image
NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777

mayoclinic.org/symptoms/hig...

Do you smoke? Those two things go together. Your body is trying to make up for not getting air somehow.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty

Nope. I used to years ago but i dont smoke or anything..

NeuronerdDoaty profile image
NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777

That’s good. Until you find out stay hydrated and if you’re supposed to use a cpap make sure you use it. I’d like to know you’re healthy.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty

Whats a cpap? I drink so much water. Lol

NeuronerdDoaty profile image
NeuronerdDoaty in reply to Mike7777

For breathing when you’re sleeping.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to NeuronerdDoaty

I dont take one nor has the doc said anything about it

What antidepressants do you take? I get them sometimes all I can do is lay down until it passes. But I only take Xanax and know it's not related. But when I took Zoloft I had bad reaction to it and had to change to Prozac. There are so many different symptoms for anxiety and nobody has all of them. I have quite a few though, mostly my mind blocks out all except the physical ones because I've blocked my emotions for most of my life. Now they are trying to come out but my mind is still trying to protect me by blocking them that's why I have anxiety. Okay and the trauma that caused the PTSD, lol. I hope it gets better for you and I'd ask your doctor if he thinks changing one or both your meds would help with that. The CPAP is for sleep apnea if you stop breathing in your sleep. But you might not know you stop breathing like my ex until I told him and he was 40 and never knew. But I'd have trouble sleeping and with his snoring you could definitely tell when he wasn't breathing at all.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to

I am on lexapro, was on zoloft in the beginning but had to switch. I also take ativan as needed and am starting trazodone today.

56artist_ profile image
56artist_

Brain fog normal with Zoloft felt same at first but is only doing its job I no brain fog all to well anxiety and stress is a big part of fog hang in there

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to 56artist_

Ive felt brain fog even before taking anti depressants

56artist_ profile image
56artist_

Me 2 but anorexia sure I was foggy starving

I have taken Trazodone for many years I took it a half an hour before I wanted to go to sleep and would help me fall asleep and wore off in 4 hours most days that's all I needed. Sometimes I'd wake up after that and need to take another dose to go back to sleep.i really like and didn't have any bad side affects but my aunt can't take it because she responded bad on it. So let your doctor know any bad reaction to it. Sometimes after the second dose I would be a little foggy in the morning and sleep longer for it to ware off completely. I hope it helps because everyone reacts differently to each drug.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to

I havent started it yet, what was your dose ?

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm

I am ha omg constant head pressure and faintness feeling 24/7 even during my sleep it will wake me up. Scares me so bad. I don't know what is causing it. I am not on antidepressants and haven't taken any as I am scared to. Only Ativan 0.25mg when I absolutely need to take it. I took it a couple times for this head pressure and faintess because it causes me more anxiety and it isn't helping much with those symptoms. And fullness feeling in the ears and odd sensations. You are not alone in this. Sorry your feeling this too. Hopefully we can find some answers. It's a daily struggle living this way.

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to Likeabadstorm

I am hoping to get on something better than an antidepressant. I see my psyc tomorow. Ativan helps me. I take .5 - 1mg 3 times a week or more.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Mike7777

Glad it is helping you. It helped me with alcthe other symptoms but just not these so I am scared something is seriously wrong and I'm gonna drop dead

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to Likeabadstorm

Have you seen a doc? You will not drop dead. Trust me. Stay positive.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Mike7777

I've seen a ton since the beginning of all this and symptoms just change and progress. I see a neuro and still waiting to do an eeg. Had one last year in the beginning but no episodes occurred while on it so we couldn't rule out anything. Seen ENT, Eye Dr, my primary, psychiatrist who says my symptoms are very complex and she wants he eeg results before anything, seen cardiology last year (though I wasn't having this sensation like I am now). I had MRI of brain and entire spine, MRA of brain and of the head to look at my auditory canal, the insurance denied the MRA of neck so my ent has to do a peer to peer review to get it approved, he wants to rule out carotid artery stenosis or anything in neck causing issues, I do have multi modular goiter but don't need meds for it. Last year I even had a cardiac stress test and echocardiogram. This pain o have now and pressure is intense and the faintness feeling and pain in my face and jaw (saw a dentist and getting a night guard to to see if this will help with he jaw tightness) getting eyeglasses for farsighted when I used to be near sighted and had lasik years ago. Maybe the glasses may help some too. I'm reaching for anything at this point to see if any of this will help. Did 12 acupuncture treatments too. I keep feeling like maybe it's something being missed since we havent checked out the lower half of my body now. Hard to believe anxiety can cause this extreme physical pain and faintness even while sleeping and stintging in the face and like hands choking my my neck 24/7

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to Likeabadstorm

Yes it could be causing all this. Youve done alot of tests. They would have found something by now.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Mike7777

That's what I keep trying to tell myself and then my medical brain side tells me they are missing something. Viscous cycle. Thanks Mike7777

Naturegirl94 profile image
Naturegirl94

ALL THE TIME! I thought it was something medical for awhile because I’ve experienced anxiety/panic attack symptoms before and this was unlike anything I’ve experienced. I’ve had that happen both before and after taking Zoloft. I notice it more on days where there is too much going on and I don’t have a second to catch a breath. Food and water sometimes helps

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Naturegirl94

So hard dealing with all this. I feel like something is really wrong.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm

Did you feel faint all the time or like waves of faintness through out the day and even at night waking you up in your sleep? It's 24/7 and the feeling like something is wrapped around my throat taking some of the oxygen away from my brain (Not on antidepressants-so before antidepressant use)....this is so hard and has been happening day in and day out

Mike7777 profile image
Mike7777 in reply to Likeabadstorm

Yes throughout the day but i didnt feel that at night no. I understand the throat thing too.

Likeabadstorm profile image
Likeabadstorm in reply to Mike7777

Thanks mike7777. I don't understand why it's waking me in middle of night feeling faint, just doesn't make any sense.

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