Eyes feel overwhelmed

Ugh, this is such a weird sensation to describe! I thought it was ligh headedness but I don't think so. My vision feels like.....bombarded. Like it's taking in too much and it becomes overwhelming? It kind of gives the feeling that I'm not really there because my eyes can't take anymore in? Anyone else get this?

[jessicao]

Omgsh I've been waiting to find someone who can relate to this. I've been feeling it everyday for the past 7 months. You explained it just as I do. It's like I can see but I feel like something is blocking my vision or my eyes and brain aren't connext in fully. So weird and not a pleasant feeling. Do you find it especially hard in light rooms with lots of white and shadows? That's the worst for me. Or just rooms with alot going on

[Hidden in reply to jessicao]

Ahhhh, yes! Especially stores! Like walmart! Or cluttered stores

[jessicao in reply to Hidden]

Yes and fluorescent lights make it even worse

[Dani_Rose in reply to jessicao]

I'm literally gonna cry ( out of happiness I think ) because I thought I was the only one and kinda felt like I was going crazy. Does it eventually send you into a panic attack-dissociative episode and every single thing starts agitating you? Or am I the only one? Ugh.

[Anon87 in reply to Dani_Rose]

This used to send me into an episode for sure because I was so obsessed with the thought that I can “see” and I’m indeed trapped in my body and that my eyes are literally windows to the world. I don’t feel the sensation anymore really just the thought kinda creeps me out

[cananna in reply to Anon87]

How did you find a way past those feelings? This literally describes what I am currently struggling with and I am looking for advice. I *know* that I can and will get through it all because I have always gotten through everything that I have been through. But I know that I am more likely to succeed with advice and help. If you can give me *any* tips I would be amazingly happy!

[Anon87 in reply to cananna]

Hey it just kinda wears off. It was a symptom of DPDR for me. It took a while maybe about 2-3 months for me to get completely over the feeling. My tip is just to try to ignore it because I didn’t have any solutions to help me and thinking about the sensation only made me notice it more. I think being anxious fuels the sensation a lot too. Let me know if this helps or if you need to chat further.

[VisuallyoverwhelmedK in reply to Anon87]

What is DPDR?

[Anon87 in reply to VisuallyoverwhelmedK]

A horrible sensation that I wouldn’t wish on my worse enemy. Imagine being over aware of your body while simultaneously being out of it.

[cananna in reply to Anon87]

DPDR seems to be what mine was too and it has lessened a lot over these months. Your reply helped a lot and I started dismissing any thoughts looking to explore/explain/understand the sensation

[Hidden in reply to Anon87]

Totally feel you I don’t know where I am or where I’m meant to be going when it hits me, doesn’t last long but long enough to be scared, I blame it on major anxiety which I’ve just started treatment for.

[Anon87 in reply to Hidden]

Mine has subsided. I started seeing a therapist but she was an LCSW and I think I need a more refined professional. I’m going to give this no sugar thing a shot and see where it takes me

[Aazz]

Yes and do you also have a hard time scanning with your eyes like when you are scanning with your eyes at the products at the supermarket? If you know what I mean?

[VisuallyoverwhelmedK in reply to Aazz]

Yes! For 3 yrs now. So overwhelming that i get lightheaded and need to take diazepam to calm everything. I want this to go away!!! Frustrating

[Elleyfreeman]

I have this😩

[Diananm]

I have the same exact thing for a year now 😩😩 i went to eye doctors neurologists did an mri everything is fine but j cant seem to know why its really frustrating !!!!

[mommabear27]

Ive had this, still go through it from time to time. Is your neck tight, ive found that when mine is tight specially on the sides is when my vision goes haywire.

[Hidden in reply to mommabear27]

Oh gosh, it's sooooooo tight. I never even thought about that!

[AnxiousAmy]

I know this is an old post... But I just wanted to say how relieving it is to hear of people having the same unexplained things happen to them. I have yet to go to Walmart and not get anxiety because of my eyes/head feeling like they are under so much pressure! I had to leave walmart early today because I couldn't take it anymore. Kind of like a tension headache and it's always around and In between my eyes. Has anyone ever found out the link between anxiety and this eye strain issue?!! I mean, why does anxiety cause this? I also find it difficult to scan objects, or move my eyes quickly.. They always fee strained.

[Hidden in reply to AnxiousAmy]

I had glitchy vision and terrible focus in public. I zoned, and couldn't even read things. Now I still get in public but it doesn't scare me and it isn't as frequent. So trust me when I say push through, and it will start to go!

[VisuallyoverwhelmedK in reply to Hidden]

How do we push thru without freaking out?

[hcordova in reply to AnxiousAmy]

Hi Amy.

Hope everything is well! Just read your post and explains exactly on how am I also feeling with my eyes/head when visiting places such as Walmart. Did you ever get the chance to share this with a professional? If you did, what kind of feedback did you get?

Thanks!

[Hidden in reply to hcordova]

I just wanted to say that I no longer experience this symptom. On occasion I do, but it doesn't worry me and it doesn't last. Now I KNOW it is all anxiety-related. I didn't take any meds, it just took forcing myself to go into stores and learn to not react to the feeling until gradually, over time, it faded.

[pjg612]

Google "tight neck visual disturbance." When the neck tightens, it restricts the blood flow to the brain and causes the eye issues. Physical therapy helps, but so does stretching the neck. The physical therapist willm show you how to do it.

[Neverz]

I have all of these symptoms as well as cognitive dysfunction can't remember things and horrible concentration.

My head feels like it's filled with air , like it's missing and I have a mild balance problem as well.

Is all of this really anxiety ?!

[mghp]

Hey, this post is so old but I was just wondering if/how you managed to overcome this? I feel like I get this all the time and it’s such a hard/weird one to describe!

[jessica940]

I had this happen to me after a whiplash injury to my neck. It's all neck related, stiff, tight muscles. Then the feeling gives you anxiety because it feels awful. I still have it but I'm getting regular work done on my neck

[Hidden]

I have this too, especially when i'm in busy places/stores with lots of colours and movement. My eyes can't keep up with what I'm seeing and I also have trouble moving my eyes and scanning quickly. I get a squeezing and straining sensation in my eyes when this happens. I get panic attacks and avoid going to stores because of this. I do have TMJ and tight neck and shoulder muscles but I am not sure if this contributes to the problem. I have work done on my neck but i haven't had any improvement with this problem.

[Hidden]

I have been diagnosed with Vertical Heterophoria and finally all of my symptoms make sense. If you haven't heard of this condition, Google it and see if the symptoms apply to you too! The condition is treated with Prism glasses.

[Charbey]

Jessica940 - I was rear ended 2 two times and I never went to hospital because I didn't feel like I needed to and that was almost four years ago and then all the sudden just over the years working out using my neck and stuff the wrong way I had super tight trap muscles all the way up to my neck which affected my vision in a way that it would seem off and weird I would see like little floaters go across the TV or light colored curtains and not black spots or anything scared me to death I jumped on Google and self-diagnose which was the worst thing I could have done I wish I knew a year ago then all of this can cause your eyes to see flashes or whatever cuz I maybe things would have gotten so bad

[stigga100 in reply to Charbey]

So what did you do to sort it? Has it sorted as I suffer with this for 9 years and have a severely stiff neck.. ?

[Charbey in reply to stigga100]

For my neck I was in physical therapy for 7 months. It was the longest road and still is. Never would have thought neck issues and anxiety and panic attacks could cause so many problems.

[stigga100 in reply to Charbey]

So was your tight neck causing the visual problems and anxiety it was the anxiety causing the neck problems and vision

?

[Charbey in reply to stigga100]

From my trap muscles all the way up to the base of my skull the muscles got so tight. The lift side of my neck was inflamed. That's what caused a lot of the visual problems it was due to years of stress a car accident that I was in that I never received medical attention for. But the day that my neck finally had enough I jumped on Google Doctor Google and what I read there put me in pure anxiety and panic mode

[stigga100 in reply to Charbey]

What treatment did you get for your inflamed neck?

[Charbey in reply to stigga100]

Physical therapy, massages. I was using essential oils. I had to get my muscles to loosen.

[Charbey in reply to stigga100]

So mine was a mixture of things. But I also had a lot of the eye symptoms of anxiety and I still do here and there

[Hidden]

Hi, I could be walking to work or even just shop places I go all the time but sometimes get this sudden rush through my body which makes my head feel like it’s under water and nothing seems real and don’t know where I am or going it only lasts about 40seconds to a minute but while in the process freaks my out totally it’s happening more often now, and I’m receiving treatment for my chronic anxiety, hopefully il get sorted not enjoying life too much atm!

[Wolfy2013]

I know this is really old but I’m going through something very similar. 4 months ago I banged my head at work and convinced myself I was going to get internal bleeding. Went to the doctors 3 times and they assured me I was ok. I don’t mind admitting I got in a bit of a state about it. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve shaken it off, and it seems to have caused me to stress about getting other illnesses.

Two weeks after banging my head, I started getting the feeling people are posting here. Been to the docs several times and they just say it’s anxiety. I have pains on the right side of my neck too, but I’m prone to aches anyway... I’m getting really pissed off with this weird spaced out/squinting feeling now...

[Rand1960]

I get it too. Still looking for help.