Visual disturbances - could it be anxiety
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi there
I'm struggling at the moment...at the start of September I started to get some strange issues with my vision, mainly after images, and bright spots against light backgrounds. I also see kind of a shimmering against walls and it feels like its hard for me to take it all in and concentrate. I had two eye exams which both came back clear, no sign of anything nasty. I've also had problems with tingling in my fingers and my neck aches when I'm in certain positions. a few weeks after I started getting ringing in my ears, which seems worse when I'm sat or laid down. I had routine blood tests which were clear, a ct scan on my brain which was clear and an mri on my back and brain which were clear apart from slight degeneration in two of my vertebrae but they don't think thats an issue. I was asked if I'd been stressed and I certainly have so they thinks its caused by anxiety. I've got therapy sessions starting soon but I wondered if anyone else has had anything similar? it feels like such a physical cause that I'm worried its to do with my neck but I honestly don't know if I've just got myself in a horrible stressed/anxiety loop that I'm exasperating everything. my neck is stiff and seems to pop and grind all the time but I don't know if I'm focusing on it too much. im finding things so difficult atm and get so down, and just wondered if anyone had experienced this. I think maybe I just wanted to get it off my chest too, I feel like I'm going mad. thanks in advance
0 likes, 7 replies
jan34534 rachael95086
Edited
you’re not going mad. You have anxiety and stress. When I was in my 20s I had a bunch of symptoms, all at once including numbness and tingling, ringing in my ears, shortness of breath, stiff muscles around my neck, squiggly looking things in my vision as well as floaters in my eyes. I thought I had something horrible but all tests were normal. I had more symptoms than those also. Too many to list.
Honestly, anxiety and stress can definitely cause your symptoms as they did mine. Then I realized that I did have a lot of stress in my life and I had to start working on that in order to relieve the symptoms. The symptoms are not dangerous. They are just very bothersome. you’ve been tested thoroughly. When you go to counseling, don’t stop even when you start to feel better. It’s important to have that support. The more you stress out about the symptoms the more you will have them. Just know that you are OK but need some help right now managing this. Take care
rachael95086 jan34534
Posted
thankyou so much for your reply, it actually brought a tear to my eye when i read the first line, just to hear from someone who has shared their experience, although I'm so sorry you ever had to go through it aswell. Did you manage to overcome your anxiety and stop the symptoms?
I've also got so many more symptoms i havent listed, and I cry so easily, I feel like I've lost myself. thankyou again for taking the time out to reply, you've made a positive difference to me, i'm ever so grateful ❤
staci88515 rachael95086
Posted
I have had anxiety for decades. Recently, I started having panic attacks. My vision is by far my worst symptom. I have flashes, after images, extreme light sensitivity, static, and lately I see stars when I bend down and stand up. I feel like something is terribly wrong with me. It sucks and no matter how many people tell me they have the same issues, it never eases my health anxiety. I want to go to the doctor, but I have such anxiety and panic, I can't go.
rachael95086 staci88515
Posted
I'm so sorry you are experiencing this, I can empathise. I have similar symptoms to you vision wise. I totally understand the anxiety and panic. I was like that and going to my docs caused me alot of anguish, however getting clear results back really did ease things for me eventually. I am by no means an expert but it does seem like it could be anxiety thats having a hand in your symptoms. thats certainly what I'm starting to think about myself from alot I've read and been told. I read a really helpful and positive blog from someone online. I think its called over to aila, my visual snow journey, and honestly it really helped me feel better. I've also found tgat running really helps me, I almost don't notice any of my symptoms when I run apart from my neck ache. if you ever need to talk message me, im no pro but ill happily listen. take care
Jacob11119 rachael95086
Posted
I have many of the symptoms you described. They have been going on for over a year now. Have had many tests and the doctors haven't found anything wrong but I'm concerned they've missed something or that whatever I may have just hasn't shown up on tests yet. I do believe it could be caused by chronic stress and anxiety, but I still find it hard to not focus on symptoms and then starts the downward spiral all over again. Has anyone recovered from these symptoms or found answers? I have read many posts across many forums and I have yet to find success stories. It would be meaningful if people would come back and say whether their symptoms disappeared or if they ended up getting a diagnosis. My hope is all these people recover and never think to look back on these frightening symptoms. I hope everyone that reads this post finds a way to break the vicious cycle of their mystery symptoms and begin to thrive once again, rather than everyday being a survival.
karen95078 Jacob11119
Posted
just read your post and wanted to say I also suffer from anxiety which causes visual disturbances, aches and pains as well as other symptoms. I can go for months with nothing and feeling 'normal' then suddenly it creeps back for no particular reason. I am currently going through this at the moment and hate it. The worst part is trying to carry on as normal especially at work but its so hard some days and I come home exhausted trying to keep it together. I am currently taking sertraline which hopefully will start helping soon. I hate feeling this way and there is no particular reason why i get like this. As I have been through it before I am just hopeful I will get back to myself soon.
Jacob11119 karen95078
Posted
You are not alone. I work a very demanding job that requires me to be on point and I have a wife and 2 young daughters that I am responsible for. Most days have been a struggle for the last 3 years. Mine started with facial tingling that lasted for almost a year and then it went to visual disturbances that will hit the 2 year mark in January. I hope you get to the bottom of what's causing you discomfort and rid it from your life for good!