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ALS/MS anxiety

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Rfw
Rfw

hello,

I am a 22 year old guy with anxiety and OCPD and I was wondering if any one else has had a similar experience to mine. I only recently discovered health anxiety and think I might have it. A few months ago I was having panic attacks and was terrified that I was developing schizophrenia. I consulted a temporary psychologist on a mental health app and they assured me it was anxiety. Recently, for the last month and a half or so I have been experiencing some tingling in the face and also some muscle twitches in my thigh, calve, back, eyes and ribcage. The tingling and twitching seems to come and go and is not consistent. I googled my symptoms am now very worried that I have MS or ALS. I have consulted a doctor various times and they do not seem to think I have MS and they are not really worried about ALS. Is it possible this is all due to anxiety? I am still somewhat new to my anxiety diagnosis and the physical symptoms are very tough as it is hard for me to attribute physical symptoms to my mental anxiety and I get caught in a cycle of worry. Has anyone else struggled with this or experienced symtoms similar to those of ALS or MS which caused more anxiety?

I am thinking about seeing specialist but the other primary care doctors I have seen were not worried. Advise?

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • jan34534
    jan34534 Rfw

    Posted

    so I wanted to let you know that my anxiety symptoms started in my 20s. I had suddenly numbness and tingling on my arms and legs, floaters in my eyes, muscle twitching in my arms, legs, back, even my eyelids, lightheadedness, weakness etc. Along with several other sensations. I went to a neurologist and everything came back normal. over the years when I was very anxious, I would get some of these sensations back. I want to let you know that I am now in my 60s and I am perfectly healthy. I also know for a fact that the muscle twitches are very common with stress and anxiety. I am a prime example of that. Many other people on the site have gotten that also due to anxiety. I also spoke with a top rated neurologist who told me that ALS is not a sensory disease which means you’re not going to feel muscle twitching and other sensations. I also thought that I had MS way back but all of my tests were normal. those really are not MS symptoms. MS symptoms are more specific than that.

    Every single one of my sensations were due to stress and anxiety!

    please don’t Google because it will not pertain to your individual situation. They only talk about extreme conditions and not what is usually causing those symptoms.

    when we have anxiety it causes negative and scary fearful thoughts. Remember that. Your doctors are correct in not being concerned.

    The best thing you can do is speak with a counselor who can help you manage the anxiety so these sensations will diminish or go away. By the way most athletes get the muscle twitches with how they use their bodies. Like I said it’s very common and it’s called benign fasciculations.

    I hope this helps a little bit. You’re going to be OK! Get some help with the anxiety and you’ll feel better. Even if some of those sensations come and go, don’t be overly concerned. Because that makes them stick around longer. Try to have a more relaxed attitude and relax your mind as much as you can. Message me anytime!

  • ana32759
    ana32759 Rfw

    Posted

    Hello!

    I went through the same thing almost a year ago. first and for most, twiching and tinglig are NOT the first symptoms of ASL, it appears later and also in your age it's very very very rare. anxiety causes variety of physical symptoms including the ones you stated. now it might seem hard and scary but trust me in a month or two, you will understand that it's all anxiety and nothing more and the less you worry, more your symptoms will decrease. I had and still have health anxiety and it makes you believe things that you look back to months later and laugh through pain of how irrational you were

    best of luck and trust me, everything is much easier/ better in reality then in your head- fellow person in their 20s who feels the stress you feel! ❤️

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