I have convinced myself I have a brain tumor

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Hey i am a 22 year old male. I have a really bad case of health anxiety. Last year I got headaches and November I also got headaches then I got headaches in February along with some more symptoms (ear pressure, temple pain, eye twitches, pins and needles, and more recent I have gotten more light headed and then it feels like I see flashes of light ) I been thinking it's a brain tumor. But I had gotten a ct scan back November because i had some of the similar symptoms i have now and they said it was clean nothing showed. But I also been to a doctor who has showed me my ct scan and she has told me I do not have a tumor, then I paid to see a Neurologist and he told me everything looked good he done a neuro exam and he told me that he would give up his practice if I had a brain tumor and that gave me comfort but then the headaches would not stop coming and then the twitches would not stop and then the rest of the symptoms started. At this point I an literally at my end I had a mental breakdown from all the stress and anxiety that it has caused me I am exhausted from worrying about it. I just do not know what to do anymore other a mri but my doctor does not want to give it to me because she is afraid of to much radiation. I am sorry for the long post but I am hoping to find someone with the similar symptoms.

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Edited

    I am sorry that you are going through this but your sensations including twitches, headaches, flashes of light, pins and needles, ear pressure, etc. can definitely be related to stress and anxiety. I am telling you this because I have had everyone of your symptoms all at the same time plus more symptoms when I was in my late 20s. They came on suddenly and I, like you, thought I had some horrible illness. these sensations would come and go.

    all of the testing I had done was perfectly normal. Every single one of my symptoms was due to long-term stress and anxiety. And that sounds like the same thing for you. I am much older than you and I am doing very well now.

    Just because you convinced yourself you have a brain tumor does not make that a fact. You have to look at what the real facts are. And that is that your testing is normal.! Something would definitely have shown up if it was there.

    There are other things that cause your symptoms which are not serious such as severe anxiety about your health. you see, when we worry about our health we are telling our brains that something is wrong even if there’s nothing wrong at all. But the brain will react and cause you to have these symptoms. The body can only take so much stress before it has a breakdown which is what happened to me and is happening to you by having these strange symptoms. These symptoms are NOT harmful! But they are weird and scary. It’s just your body‘s way of reacting to your anxiety.

    You have to let go! You have to find some help in managing your health anxiety or this will keep happening to you. It’s a miserable way to live and I finally learned that I had to get support which I did through a counselor who specializes in health anxiety.

    Please get some support so you can breathe a little easier. You can’t go through life having test after test for reassurance. Your doctor has already told you there is nothing wrong. Work on creating more positive thinking which a counselor can help you with. You’re going to be OK!

    you need to relax your mind as often as possible. There are some great meditations on YouTube for anxiety and overthinking. And some good breathing exercises. The more you calm down your body and mind , the less symptoms you will have. Take care!

    • Posted

      Thank you so much you have no idea how reassuring someone else has had these symptoms and it was not a brain tumor. Thank you for taking the time and responding to my concern. I am so thankful you told me this.

    • Posted

      im so glad that you feel relieved. There are millions of people around the world who get these exact symptoms from anxiety and stress. just always remind yourself that your testing was normal. Those doctors see things all the time and they know exactly what to look for. and you are in the clear! ❤

  • Posted

    Hi Hunter. I'm going through exactly the same thing at the moment. I've had every test under the sun, and the doc says I'm as fit as a fiddle. I've been put on antidepressants and beta blockers which help with the anxiety. I've also been seeing a chiropractor, who's been helping to take the pain out of my shoulders and back. He also knows a bit about health anxiety and anxiety attacks, which has been so helpful. I've started using C.B.D which i think helped with the stress headaches. My next course of action is CBT and a bike. im trying to beat this, as its like hell on earth. stay positive, it will pass. just keep telling yourself that if it was something you'd be gone by now. I'm 4 months in now and i tell myself that all the time.

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