Ice cold head

[Geo26]

Still getting an ice cold tingly feeling all over my head and it’s not shifting! I do suffer from health anxiety and this symptom all started about 6 weeks ago after a panic attack so it must be related. Docs are putting it down to anxiety and say it’ll pass. They’ve suggested propranolol but I’m reluctant to take medication. I’ve read it can be an aneurism or tumour with these symptoms but doc won’t refer for a CT scan as they’re sure it’s anxiety. It does come and go and seemed to almost disappear for almost 2 weeks but has come back and with a vengeance! Has anyone else experienced these symptoms with anxiety? Never had symptoms like it... feels like I’ve have a bucket of ice on my head that sometimes aches. Sometimes makes my face feel numb but mostly my scalp/head.

[hypercat54]

Believe me if it was anything serious either the doctor would have picked it up and you would have way more symptoms than this! I presume you are asking Dr Google? Well don't as you will frighten yourself to death in 3 clicks.

Why are you reluctant to take meds if they could help you? If you had a physical illness and needed them would you still not take them? Have you considered counselling? x

[Geo26 in reply to hypercat54]

Thanks for your reply. So I take medication for epilepsy and although it is very well controlled - I’ve only had one 10 years ago - I’m always hesitant taking other meds in case of interaction. GP has said it’s absolutely fine so I should trust them but I struggle to!

Yes I google things sometimes and that’s where you read the negative stuff which is awful for anxiety sufferers!!

On my 4th week of CBT which is hopefully going to help long term but the symptoms are still not shifting! So annoying as this time last week I thought they’d gone!!

[mandyholly]

Hi not gloating here I’ve mostly combatted anxiety not depression but I can relate to having a tingly face when a panic attack was on the way which would be followed by a numb frozen face . It sometimes spread to my head but mainly my face . It was terrifying at the time especially paired with a panic attack but it wasn’t anything serious in my case . In extreme anxiety people’s bodies are in fight, flight or freeze mode as I’m sure you’ve heard before . Anxiety is normal and needed going back to cave man days to sense danger, people with anxiety disorders just have too much . Therapy worked for me, 2 years of psychotherapy and changing my lifestyle completely!! As for your symptoms I’m not a doctor and not a big fan of them when it comes to mental health as I was diagnosed with bipolar after seeing many psychiatrists for 17 years when I actually had ADHD but when you panic your body gets ready to run away or fight danger (even though there’s probably nothing there) so the blood flow goes to your legs and can cause numbness in the face and head, stomach problems ( you can’t run in a full stomach) all sorts of real physical symptoms which are different for each individual. You are not alone on this site and unfortunately it can take years to overcome anxiety but it can be done and if medication helps you why not take it along with therapy ? Doesn’t mean you’ll always need medication. Whatever works for you !! One size does not fit all when it comes to any mental health problem. I wish you well and would say try not to worry but I know that’s difficult but studying Buddhism also helped me and meditation as it taught me to live life in the now in the present moment as if you learn to do that you can’t think or worry about the past or future and stay in the moment ( that takes years of practice too) x

[Geo26 in reply to mandyholly]

Thank you so much for your reply and sorry for the massive delay in responding! My symptoms calmed down and eventually disappeared for a good few months but have started reappearing over the last 2 weeks - on and off at the moment. Trying very hard not to fixate on them on the fear it’ll make them worse and more constant! Surprisingly my anxiety has been very low, almost non-existent lately, especially with everything that’s going on so I’m really unsure why the cold tingly head is started back up again??? Any suggestions? I’d gladly try medication if it wasn’t for my epilepsy. It’s very controlled and the doc prescribed Setraline but the fact the leaflet says ‘could increase seizures’ has completely put me off taking them! Also if they’ve started reappearing when I’m not necessarily anxious why could that be??