Ear/neck/throat symptoms

I know I posted about this a couple of days ago so bear with me. It's just got me uptight. I know I tend to hold my head/shoulders very tightly with anxiety. My shoulders are like rubber bands (according to chiropractor). The ligaments and muscles in my neck are apparently very tight as well. Swallowing sometimes sends discomfort in the left side of my neck and right up into my left ear. I've been a little congested and constantly clearing my throat too. I keep thinking I've got some serious illness or something : (

[Agora1]

Hi lovemybear The minute I read your posts regarding holding your head and shoulders very tightly, I brought my own shoulders down away from my ears.

I've always held stress in my shoulders and neck. Let me tell you that the more

we think about something being wrong, the tighter the muscles and ligaments get.

I have felt what you do for years now. The only difference is it no longer worries me

about it being something serious. The thoughts we think, the posture we hold, play

a big part in not allowing our body/mind to relax.

The ears have muscles down the ear canal which also can tighten causing

a squeezing, pressure feeling in the ear. Ear,neck, throat, all connected with muscles

that are as your chiropractor says "like rubberbands" Breathe You are okay xx

[Hidden in reply to Agora1]

Thank you. You nailed exactly how I feel. I don't even realize I'm doing it most of the time. I find myself so often breathing very shallow which obviously doesn't help when you're already anxious.

[Agora1 in reply to Hidden]

It happens to all of us lovemybear. Honestly x

I sometimes catch myself holding my breath as I

go up steps and then feel breathless when I reach the top.

Oops...it happens. Learned behaviors are hard to break but

we just need to remind ourselves that in time we will get the

hang of it. xx

[gemp54]

Interestingly I just spotted your post after coming on here to post about throat related symptoms of my own. Take a look at my post and see if any of that relates to you. I have also been told by my physio that my neck, shoulder and back muscles are like tight rubber bands. I've had the throat related symptoms in my post but I've also had some ear related problems. Mostly a feeling that they're blocked and popping or crackling sounds on and off although that's improving now. I did forget to mention in my post that I also get an irritated type of cough but that seems to go when I'm not thinking about it. I also seem to get wome congestion and post nasal drip at the moment. I was having a lot of tension and tightness on one side of my neck and that's only just eased off but I think it's because my focus has now shifted to my throat related issues. Anxiety can do so many horrible physical things to our body and unfortunately that just reinforces the anxiety and the feeling something is wrong. I hope you get some relief from your symptoms soon. X

[Vicky_2019a in reply to gemp54]

Hi,

Do you feel air hunger, yawning, nasal congestion all the time, how do you manage them, I am unable to distract them, please advise.

[Vicky_2019a]

Hi,

Do you feel air hunger, yawning, nasal congestion all the time, how do you manage them, I am unable to distract them, please advise.

[1uglychild]

The congestion is what is key to the rest of the symptoms. It’s allergies and sinus issues. Just before I read this I noticed my left ear canal is thoroughly itchy and the other is slightly stuffy. Stuffy nose today too. In most places of the world we are still in allergy season. Sinus pressure and congestion will cause all kinds of weird symptoms. Yesterday my jaw was tender, but I know from experience it’s just sinus congestion. I’ve had the severely tense neck and shoulder issue you have and that tends to cause pain in the arms and fingers.

If you can, try to schedule and appointment with an allergist. They can help clear up a lot of weird things you are experiencing. As anxiety sufferers we need to diminish as much pointless stress as we can. Try some Flonase for the congestion and it should help with the ears too. I’ve had allergies for a long time and I know how weird they can make you feel. We usually think allergies = stuffy nose and itchy eyes, but it can be a lot more. My husband’s can be really bad. He had chest pains that put him in the ER, it was allergies. He would always be really tired in the evenings and fall asleep at the drop of a hat. The GP ran all kinds of test, blood work came back good. His allergist put him on Singulair and no more tiredness. The allergies cause the airways to swell up and he wasn’t getting enough oxygen in his blood stream causing extreme fatigue..

So don’t worry,I’m pretty sure it’s no weird disease you have, just common run of the mill allergies.

[Hidden in reply to 1uglychild]

Your post described me to a "T" and told me something I didn't know. I have had some nasty allergies this season. I have Flonase and keep forgetting to take it. I've been tired, eyes itch, sneezing, coughing and always clearing my throat. Ear pain too.

[1uglychild in reply to Hidden]

It has been an awful season! I even got bruises around my eyes early in the spring. Talk about something to freak anxious people out!

With anxiety we always need to remember the most simple benign cause is most likely the reason we are freaked out. I know it’s hard to accept that though. The very worst period of anxiety I ever suffered came at the same time I had a major sinus infection. I had pain all over my head, and some very weird symptoms. My anxiety had a hard time believing it was just sinuses though and it was hard to mentally get better while I kept feeling so miserable physically. I think it was after three different antibiotics trials that I stated to recover. All that time I “knew” what was wrong and yet couldn’t mentally just have faith in the doctors verdict. Hopefully the Flonase will give you some relief, and just try to keep in mind that there are more people who have allergies than people who have horrible mystery throat ailments.

Take care!