Early signs of chronic anxiety as a subset of Parkinson's Disease

[Grumpy77]

So about 25 years ago, I hardly knew anything about Parkinson's. But now with hindsight and better knowledge, I think the Parkinson's Disease signs from an anxiety point of view were very clear

Back in the days then (just about 30 yo at that time), I noticed a number of instances were most people were calm and cool but I always got very stressed, agitated, nervous and hypertensive.

One example for instance, on some occasions when I'm taking a London underground train and it gets stuck in the middle of the tunnel, particularly when it is overcrowded and jam packed, I start to get very hypertensive and if it lasts beyond 10 minutes, I begin to get seriously stressed, agitated and hyperventilate... WHILE other people around me remain calm, cool and quiet.

Also the same happens when I'm in a lift (elevator) that gets stuck between floors.

Another example is during secondary school or or college examinations were time pressure is very tight, I am prone to and tend to visibly panic at a much higher rate than the average student

One final example was the one time in my life that I was in handcuff, I found it extremely stressful and was again hyperventilating. Whereas many times both in real life and on TV, I've seen several people in handcuffs remain very calm, cool with absolutely no signs of stress or anxiety

As an extension of this last example I sometimes wonder how people locked up little prison cells cope. Merely thinking about it disrupts my brain and induces stress and anxiety on me

So what's the difference between people, who all through their lives (even in old age), can always remain calm under extreme claustrophobic conditions and those who (like me) get very stressed and anxious at the slightest signs of any restrictions?

Even though chronic anxiety can be an independent illness on it's own, I think these early signs can also be indications of chronic anxiety as a SUBSET of Parkinson's Disease. Decoding these early signs could help early onset PD slow down progression

What do you think?

[Alma4]

The anxiety could come from something else rather than Parkinson’s. Was one of your parents more anxious and had a catastrophic type thinking? My dad was very similar to what you are describing ... but at the same time many more people are and they don’t get Parkinson’s.

[Grumpy77 in reply to Alma4]

Actually I never noticed the any signs of anxiety, stress or panic with either parent... neither had Parkinson's (although mum has dementia). So maybe mine came from a cruel genetic mutation or my oppressive upbringing ☹️

[jeeves19]

I can be very calm indeed a lot of the time actually BUT have always had a temper and get nervous when doing any public speaking.

[honeycombe3]

I think that the panic response to various stimuli to which Grumpy refers is much more extreme than the stereotype. I worked with children and young people with Severe and profound learning difficulties for around 40 yrs. One of the most common phenomena was hypersensitivity to sound.. So balloons popping could cause responses from pleasant surprise to hysterical panic, mainly the latter.

Over the past 5 - 10 yrs I have become progressively more prone to panic attacks to the extent that there are certain images/sounds and other stimuli of which even the thought can make me feel ill (nausea, clamminess,heart palpations, cramps etc). One of the main problems associated with this has.been the erosion of my teeth because of my fear of the dentist. This started gradually but despite regular dental check-ups I have 2 molars broken off at gum level. Apparently the NH S here in UK has decided to fund only the extraction of bad teeth for those like me who can no longer tolerate fear of pain or choking. It is not that I have ignored the situation. For 8 yrs i have had had hypnotherapy and I have in vain requested a referral to a psychiatrist.

Sorry this has been so long I hope someone might it usef ul.

[Grumpy77 in reply to honeycombe3]

I sympathize with you. Please do not give up in your efforts to see a psychiatrist, continue to document your physical, emotional and medical evidence through your GP. Find an NHS support nurse to assist you OR visit your local Disability Direct office for assistance and you will eventually prevail

[bassofspades]

I find myself getting anxious about literally nothing, like my mind going into fight or flight for no reason . And though I realize it is caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance , i can't seem to get it back in balance no matter what I try. The slightest stressor sets it off. And i mean slightest!

[Grumpy77 in reply to bassofspades]

Hope you have found a way to manage your stress and anxiety to a level you can cope with

[bassofspades in reply to Grumpy77]

I have not, unfortunately!

[honeycombe3 in reply to bassofspades]

This sounds exactly like my condition. Try raising it with your surgery. Mine is very patient orientated and is highly respected in the area, but some issues are not up for discussion and one of these seems to be dentistry.

[aspergerian in reply to bassofspades]

bassofspades,

I'm the same way. "Fight or flight" is my primary way of being. Tiresome.

[Jenzo]

I relate to the anxiety, panic attacks and stress reaction. I've had a stressful job but no more than others and I burn inside with stress to the point it affected my muscles and neck and back. I get massive burning knots. I too have often wondered if during my earlier days some of this might have been triggered by loss of dopamine or is the loss of dopamine due to my stress reaction. Either way I feel even after years of relaxation clinics, meditation etc. I'm still the sort who feels and obsesses over stress intensely. I still work as I'm just 49 but it's ever present. Interesting to ponder, wondering about the shared connection -thank you. Wishing you the best.

[OREOLU in reply to Jenzo]

Hi Grummy, my friend I agree with you 100% that an early non motor symptom of parkinson disease is anxiety. Right from my high school years,like around 13yrs old,I usually experince panic attacks,before class tests or exams,or before oral interviews.And my father did not help my situation,because he was extremely strict,that I would freak out at the sight of his car,whenever I was outdoor playing with kids in the neighborhood,thereby violating his no playing outdoor alone rules,unless Iwas with my mom or trusted family friends. And between 17 and 18yrs old,I became a hypochondriac,which made me consulted a cardiologist,who finally diagnosed anxiety,and placed me on an anti-anxiety medication.I saw a heart doctor because,I thought,the problem was with man heart,which was always racing(palpitations)during flight/fight situations. At 21yrs old,while in college,I volunteered to be included in a graduating medical student's dissertation,that involved cardiac stress test on treadmill,and it was found that I have a benign heart mummur. But because my blood pressure would shoot up sometimes,when I get anxious/palpitations,the supervising college professor,who also was a clinician,placed me on small dose of beta blocker to calm my heart down. Unfortunately I am still on the beta blocker till today.But I stopped the anti-anxiety drug replaced with mirtazapine by my neurologist. So finally,I would say to all Pwp,diagnosed as young onset,that if you had anxiety as a younger person,that could have been a sign of Pd developing in you,without noticing.And if,Pd has been diagnosed earlier at that time,its progression would been slowed down.I believe this is the onset of my Pd journey.

[Grumpy77 in reply to OREOLU]

Like you I also had an extremely strict father who put so much fear into me. This constant childhood fear and instability could have been the root of my chronic anxiety. A lesson to learn (too late for me) is for parents to be very sensitive to their children's emotions and there's absolutely no need to be excessively strict on a child

Second thing is for those of us who have these issues as the possible root causes of their Parkinson's, there is a suggestion of a therapy (or hypnotherapy process) that could be tailor-made as part of our healing process.

The chaos that messes up the brain starts with a messed up and confused mind as a result disrupted hormones... this suggests that we could retrospectively construct a therapeutic process that could part of a healing process. There are a few such bespoke therapeutic processes... park_bear talks about Qigong... Just a food for thought

[grower]

I wasn't anxious in pre-PD days but certainly am now. Can manage days at home with family fine but the thought of having to socialise makes me very anxious. Plus my wife tells me I ruminate over things a lot more, worrying an issue to bits:/ Am on Mirtazapine for it, maybe it helps a bit? Hard to say