Pressure in head and sinus related to anxiety?
Posted , 40 users are following.
I frequently have pressure around my nose, eyes, forehead, temples, and back of head and it worsens when I read or socialize. It affects my cognitive functioning and ability to function in general because the pressure gets worse and my brain feels "foggy" and I cannot visually focus. The lights seem too bright and everything is a little bit blurry. I have felt this way for many years. I do not have a runny nose or cough, but have recently noticed that I feel some post nasal drip. I have also noticed that sometimes I see sparks or stars, but not frequenly. I have talked about this to my doctor many times but he thinks that it is something psychological related such as anxiety or depression. He has referred me to a psychaitrist who said the same thing and prescribed me an anti-depressant called "Trintellix" which apparently improves cognitive functioning alongside treating anxiety and depression.
Furthermore, I have done some blood tests and the only thing that came out of this was that I have am low in iron. I have since increased my iron levels and it is now in the normal range. I feel anxious and sad most of the time because of the affect that this physical feeling has on my functioning. It feels like I cannot function normally. I cannot hold conversations because my brain feels foggy and I cannot concentrate.. I am wondering if anybody experienced this before and is it related to anxiety or something else? Thank you so much.
0 likes, 44 replies
jmcg2014 christina33392
Posted
phil76209 christina33392
Posted
Hi ,
I can relate to the bright lights. I have that constantly. I sometimes see stars too and sparks. I'm on paroxetine.
g.90572 christina33392
Posted
jmcg2014 g.90572
Posted
She has already seen a medical professional who thinks it's anxiety
g.90572 christina33392
Posted
jmcg2014 g.90572
Posted
A Dr is capable of making such referrals if they deem it necessary. And that isn't what you said.
g.90572 jmcg2014
Posted
Loribird jmcg2014
Posted
Get a grip jmcg2014,
emilylawless christina33392
Edited
Yes! I get such bad pressure throughout my whole head sometimes just my nose or for head somtimes just the top of head or temples.... Whatever... It varies and does what it wants... Whether I'm anxious or worried or not...: it also badly effects my concentration. And I get very spaced out and foggy brain.. It's been going on for about 6 months for me now... Had MRI and ct scan.... All normal... Dr said its anxiety and add.... It also seems to get worse when I'm looking at my phone or doing school work on the computer for a while
jenni101183 emilylawless
Edited
joe97549 emilylawless
Posted
lema49548 joe97549
Posted
me too. What helps you with the pressure?
RedSquirrel5000 emilylawless
Posted
@emilylawless Hi Emily, Hope you are well. I just saw your reply. I have these same symptoms. with Post Nasal Drip that sort of relieves the pressure in the sinus and calms the headache over 30 min to 1 hour if I avoid screens, driving and such things. - OCD, Anxiety etc in my family and some history of migraines. If you don't mind, have you had any luck figuring out what it is? or how to deal with them? Thanks! -Dave in FL, USA
helen20833 christina33392
Posted
You need an eye test to make sure your eyes are okay
I bought my adult son a Neti Pot because he has similiar symptoms due to sinus problems. It cleans out the sinuses. I got it from Amazon. Lots of people swear by them. It won't harm to look it up, but no googling symptoms!!!!!!!!!!
Helen
Purpledobermann christina33392
Posted
I think you are NOTICING the head pressure more because of anxiety and percieved cognitive impairment and fog most definitely follows due to deep-rooted anxiety yes. BUT I absolutely disagree with everyone here (and your doctor) that your other sensations are necessarily CAUSED by anxiety. And will continue to disagree until your GP and/or psychiatrist take the appropriate steps to rule out an underlying medical condition which is normally done before starting medication or at the very least in parallel. Your symptoms are consistent with chronic sinus inflammation or deep congestion. The steps that should have been taken in parallel to commencing your anti-anxiety therapy were to refer you to an ORL (ear-nose-throat specialist) as well as an eye doctor to check your occular pressure. Not sure why this step would be skipped. People with anxiety often get discounted in any of their concerns. Great that they are starting you on therapy as you are obviously very tense. Now if they would also do the remainder of their job we wouldn't be having this conversation. Blood tests would not turn up anything on a chronic sinus condition nor high occular pressure. I would politely ask them to refer you so that you can exclude the above, while you follow their otherwise good advice and start therapy.