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Headache
So, I have been really tense all week, anxiety through the roof since last week. Yesterday I started getting little twinges of a headache. Then I ate som really hard licorice last night and my jaw hurt halfway through it. Then my headache progressed last night into a migraine, which I used to get but haven't for a few months. Anyway, it hurts really bad today, off and on w/pressure between my eyes, kind of dizzy at times. I am freaking out, thinking it is something bad. How do I stop my thoughts from thinking this and accepting it is just a headache? When should I be concerned. This is my problem, one small physical symptom and I go nuts, then I can't differientiate between the anxiety and the original physical symptoms. Like now, I have the headache, stabbing on the left side, comes and goes. Is the pressure/dizziness my normal anxiety (because I get this with my anxiety) or is it part of the headache or a tumor, or menengitas, etc.
Thanks you all for your encouraging posts. It is so nice to have the support of this forum! I made it through my party last night. My mother in law helped a lot and was able to step out for about 20 minutes a lay down and chill before the crowd came. I still have a headache a bit today but no where near what yesterday was! Looks like we are all maybe getting a head cold. Plus the stress!!
FMSXMKR I do wear a night guard because I do clench my teeth when I am stressed, I wear it when I feel my jaw tightening. But even that wasn't relief yesterday.
Thanks again all, I think the headache was a combo of stress and head cold!!!
FMSXMKR I do wear a night guard because I do clench my teeth when I am stressed, I wear it when I feel my jaw tightening. But even that wasn't relief yesterday.
Thanks again all, I think the headache was a combo of stress and head cold!!!
You sound like you may have TMJ, Jess. With the stress of the holidays us anxious people are even more tense and you may be grinding your teeth or just clenching your jaw throughout the day which will, in turn, give you a terrible headache. Not only that, but make your neck and shoulders ache too.
Maybe speak with your dentist about a night guard. I was dx with TMJ a few months ago and had to wear the night guard all day for weeks, then just at night and I can't tell you how much it's helped! I do have to be careful what I eat though. No hard candy or LICORICE or anything that's difficult to chew.
I hope you're feeling better today.
Take care.....
Maybe speak with your dentist about a night guard. I was dx with TMJ a few months ago and had to wear the night guard all day for weeks, then just at night and I can't tell you how much it's helped! I do have to be careful what I eat though. No hard candy or LICORICE or anything that's difficult to chew.
I hope you're feeling better today.
Take care.....
hey, i've had the same symptoms as you all week. for the past month or so my anxiety was pretty much completely gone. then out of the blue this week i started getting dizzy and bad headaches off and on all day. and especially towards the end of the day. it's annoying, let me tell ya. and i've been there too. "oh ****, is it a brain tumor?" "is my head going to explode?" the pressure between the eyes is fun too. feels like i need to clear my sinuses or something. i actually got in a habit of holding my nose and blowing trying to clear it. finally broke that habit recently. anyway, relax if you can and hopefully it passes. try sitting by a fire and drinking a corona. that's what i'm doing right now. good luck.
joe
joe
Back the party wagon up, girlfriend! You're giving a party, you have what, like 47 children there while you're trying to get everything ready? And yet you wonder why you have a splitting headache!? You do not need to go the ER! You need to relax! Parties are suppose to be fun, but trust me, I know that when it's YOUR party, the stress and anxiety increase by leaps and bounds! Take some more aspirin, and while I normally would NOT suggest this at all, if you drink, go outside with your wine and just sip it slowly and relax, take some deep breaths and know that once things get rolling, you'll relax and have a great time. If this party is for good friends, pull one or two aside and tell them that you are stressed beyond belief, that you have one hell of a headache (if you still do) tell them, well, I mean, ask them, to PLEASE help you with all those childen! Ask them to help with the food or whatever..............they are your friends and that is what friends are for. Tell them that if thing get REALLY unbearable for you, that you are making them the "hostess ad lidum" and they are to take over the running of the party, and that includes all the childcare. You can then slip upstairs and go to bed knowing that everything is being taking care of, your friends will understand if you're not feeling well and you need to do this totally guilt free! Later on, after Christmas or whenever, if it does come down to your friends running the party for you, you can treat them all to a nice lunch out as a way of saying thank you and they should know you'd do the same for them!
Now, get off the computer..............pour that glass of wine and get some fresh air and a few minutes alone to gather yourself. You'll be fine and the party will be just what you need to get your mind off yourself!
Please let me know how it went! Wish I could be there to help you! But I'd no doubt be the one on the porch drinking wine acting as supervisor, which I am really good at!
You'll be fine! I promise.
Now, go party!
Peace
Greenlydia
Now, get off the computer..............pour that glass of wine and get some fresh air and a few minutes alone to gather yourself. You'll be fine and the party will be just what you need to get your mind off yourself!
Please let me know how it went! Wish I could be there to help you! But I'd no doubt be the one on the porch drinking wine acting as supervisor, which I am really good at!
You'll be fine! I promise.
Now, go party!
Peace
Greenlydia
My headache is back with a vengence again and am scared again! I am doing a holiday party at my house tonight and preparing for that plus my kids (3) each have friends over. I want to go to the ER but I can't. I just took another Bayer but i am freaking out because I am slightly dizzy.
I have never stopped the therapy, I go once a week. This is why I question whether it is really anxiety. But my doctor says that I get myself into a fox hole when I feel better and I don't practice the things he has taught me all the time. Basically, we do exposure therapy, where I face the symptoms head on in an effort to reduce the fear of them. We don't talk about triggers or any of that. Do I maybe need to find someone else? I am at a loss here.
How am I going to make it through the night with this headache? What if I die or collapse? What if this headache is something bad.
I have never stopped the therapy, I go once a week. This is why I question whether it is really anxiety. But my doctor says that I get myself into a fox hole when I feel better and I don't practice the things he has taught me all the time. Basically, we do exposure therapy, where I face the symptoms head on in an effort to reduce the fear of them. We don't talk about triggers or any of that. Do I maybe need to find someone else? I am at a loss here.
How am I going to make it through the night with this headache? What if I die or collapse? What if this headache is something bad.
Glad to hear you got into some therapy! I am not saying that there is a specific amount of time one needs to spend in therapy, I'm not saying you've been there too long. For some, a couple of months will be all they need and others need much longer. I just feel that after eight months, the really hard edges of your anxiety should be easier to handle, and yet, here you are again with almost the same exact fears. I have to wonder how much this therapist is actually helping you.
When you start to feel better, do you stop your therapy sessons? I hope not. It's a bit like taking antibiotics. We feel much better long before all the pills are gone, but we are told we must finish the whole bottle for it to totally get rid of the infection. It's kind of the same with therapy..........If you do stop and begin to feel yourself slipping back into your old ways of thinking, it's time to call your therapist for an emergency session. Call it a refresher course if you want.............doesn't mean you failed or it failed you. Sometimes we just have to do things a few times before we really understand it.
I'm glad something as simple as an aspirin took care of your headache. If you feel your shoulders and neck beginning to tense up, it might be worth it to learn some good yoga moves to loosen up those muscles to prevent tension headaches.
It's good to have you back but I'm sorry that you're still having some of the same issues.
You'll get it.......never say never!
Peace
Greenlydia
When you start to feel better, do you stop your therapy sessons? I hope not. It's a bit like taking antibiotics. We feel much better long before all the pills are gone, but we are told we must finish the whole bottle for it to totally get rid of the infection. It's kind of the same with therapy..........If you do stop and begin to feel yourself slipping back into your old ways of thinking, it's time to call your therapist for an emergency session. Call it a refresher course if you want.............doesn't mean you failed or it failed you. Sometimes we just have to do things a few times before we really understand it.
I'm glad something as simple as an aspirin took care of your headache. If you feel your shoulders and neck beginning to tense up, it might be worth it to learn some good yoga moves to loosen up those muscles to prevent tension headaches.
It's good to have you back but I'm sorry that you're still having some of the same issues.
You'll get it.......never say never!
Peace
Greenlydia
Thank you for your response. I am actually in therapy, have been for 8 months. I start to get better, then when things are stressfull, I fall back on old habits. My goal is to be able to deal with stress while not having to deal with the health anxiety at the same time, just handle the stress. Incidentally, my headache is now gone, I took a Bayer low dose and am fine now, aside fromt the anxiety!
We've talked often of getting you into some therapy for your health anxiety........please give it some more thought....it is the therapy that will stop you from having all these bad thoughts.
I think you're dealing with a migraine which is being exacerbated by your anxiety. Do you have any medication for migraines? Can you go someplace and lay down and rest for a few hours?
I have migraines too, and one thing I've learned from my neuro is that we all experience them differently. You asked "when should I be concerned?" I can't answer that for you, I don't know what kind of migraines you have, you need to discuss these with your neurologist.
I doubt very higly that you have a tumor or meningitis. You are having one hell of a stress headache that has now progressed, no doubt, into a migraine.
Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can rest and calm down and think about that therapy we always talk about. Wouldn't you like these sorts of episodes to stop? Therapy can do that for you.
I hope you feel better soon......I do understand the pain and fear of migraines.
Peace
Greenlydia
I think you're dealing with a migraine which is being exacerbated by your anxiety. Do you have any medication for migraines? Can you go someplace and lay down and rest for a few hours?
I have migraines too, and one thing I've learned from my neuro is that we all experience them differently. You asked "when should I be concerned?" I can't answer that for you, I don't know what kind of migraines you have, you need to discuss these with your neurologist.
I doubt very higly that you have a tumor or meningitis. You are having one hell of a stress headache that has now progressed, no doubt, into a migraine.
Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can rest and calm down and think about that therapy we always talk about. Wouldn't you like these sorts of episodes to stop? Therapy can do that for you.
I hope you feel better soon......I do understand the pain and fear of migraines.
Peace
Greenlydia
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