Head pressure for almost 3 months

[Drewnaluaj]

Hi all,ive been having head preasure for almost 3 months now...all day everyday and I fear it's something bad like brain tumor,blood clot or annerysm. I've had ct's,mri's,mra's,mrv's,all are good, nothing bad was found. ..it all started when i went to the ER cuz i had felt my arm tingling and dizzy. After that i been to the ER 8 more times in 6 weeks...no one found nothing wrong. Was told i was having panick attacks. All my docs are saying it anxiety. Could that be possible that my head pressure is caused by anxiety? I worry all day everyday thinking I'm gonna have a stroke. I'm 41 yrs old,healthy,no high blood pressure no high C holestrol.

[Agora1]

Hi Drew, it sounds like physically you are in good shape. Unfortunately, anxiety

is telling you different. Once we have that fear in our mind, it is very difficult to break

the fear of fear cycle. Head pressure is another one of those common anxiety symptoms due to over sensitive nervous system as well as muscle tension. I had it myself at one

time. It's a horrible feeling. It's nothing that OTC medication can help with. Being well hydrated can help in keeping the muscles working properly as well as starting a

relaxation "me time" for you everyday. Breathing deeply while you tune out the world

around you can help bring that pressure down. You may hold all your stress and anxiety in your upper shoulders and neck which just prompts the pressure in your head to rise.

I'd like to Welcome you to this amazing support group. You will find that you are not alone in having anxiety and panic attacks and the worry that comes along with it. With the help of others on this site sharing their own journey with this issue, you will get the support and understanding you need to go forward. I'm glad you are here. xx

[Drewnaluaj in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. I do need some kind f help with this and listening to other people stories and hearing their support will prabably help

[dukenu]

Yup, anxiety can make you feel any number of ways and it will make you believe and focus on any physical discomfort as perhaps life threatening. Just notice that it is your CONCERN WITH THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOM that plays over and over in your head; its a thinking vicious circle where you might have some physical discomfort, you worry about it and are concerned with it, so you think about it more and more and this worry perpetuates further said symptom and aggravates it. At least your symptom is relatively benign, I have a kind of nausea/dizzy symptom that anxiety triggers and I've been obsessing over it for several days now. I perpetuate the symptom by worry and Im caught in a loop. The only way out of it, at least for me, is to focus on something other than the symptoms aka distractions,. At first for brief moments of time I forget about the symptoms, I realize that during the distracted moment I was normal, and continue to tell myself that I'm doing it to myself. Continue to increase distracting activity (anything you might find captures your attention...for me looking at youtube about my hobby helps) to where you can spend greater amounts of time forgetting about the symptoms. With practice you will lengthen the amount of time you are not worrying and eventually you will realize that its true...that its your own thought processes that keep you worried and you are producing symptoms. I went for almost a year without this problem but recently I played a video game--which I hadn't done for a long time--and I felt dizzy. Now Im battling this same battle again, but I know I will get out of it, with patience and doing what I know works. Good luck.

[GoWest]

I have had constant head pressure 24/7 for 12 years. It continues on the best of days and worst of days. I have a wonderful life and no anxiety. Try to find a doctor who will test you for intracranial hypertension. Also see about possible sinus issues. Then there is chiari Syndrome. Do not give up, and do not label yourself.

[Drewnaluaj in reply to GoWest]

Thank you. I will check Into that

[Drewnaluaj in reply to GoWest]

Question? So u have had head pressure for 12 years now. Did anyone diagnose you with anything or is it jus normal. It jus scares me to have head pressure for that long. Please let me know

[GoWest]

I had a spinal tap and the exit pressure was a little high. I also had physical therapy. I had lost balance. Loud noises and flashing lights make it worse. Try to see a neurologist and a good eye doctor.

[GoWest]

But next concern - certain blood issues can cause headache. Do you know if you have high hematocrit levels? This would suggest maybe a bone marrow problem. I have had too much iron/red blood cells all my life. Next problem - maybe not drinking enough water. Can you tell I am not depressed - just obsessed with finding the cause of the headache.

[Drewnaluaj in reply to GoWest]

I've had alot of blood test,nothing was ever said that there was a problem with my blood so I'm thinking that's fine. Never heard of hemarocrit levels but I will research that. And I don't have headaches jus pressure. And honestly I don't have symptoms like blurred vision or loss of balance or anything like that,pretty much jus the pressure is always there. I love my neurologist she's is working with me to rule out things one at a time. I'm jus really scared it could be some thing bad and that's where my anxiety kicks in jus not knowing what is causing all this

[GoWest]

Ask the doctor about intracranial hypertension. Diamox helps some people. Hematocrit is a common test to see if your iron levels are too high. I understand your concern. So frustrating when they can’t find the cause or treatment.

[dukenu]

Do you ever have moments where you don't notice the head pressure? Or do you notice that it gets worse as your anxiety increases? I started to notice my mind was playing tricks on me because even if for brief moments of time my symptoms went away, then I knew it was my anxiety. The mind is a powerful thing, I have had leg pain, jaw pain...all kinds of pain...in different places in my body during stressful times and I've come to realize that its anxiety. When the stress goes away, so does the pain. You don't have to decide if its either anxiety or a real serious medical issue now, do things to deal with the anxiety and if you find it relieves your head pressure, then you have a clue its anxiety that produces the perceived head pressure.

[Implo]

Hey, any update on your progress? I'm in a similar situation, 5 months in

[Drewnaluaj in reply to Implo]

None at all...jus trying to ignore every thing and live my life