Im M, 29, abd have had severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder since high school and have had it manifest in all kinds of ways but this is new. I recently had a bizarre panic attack/mental breakdown of sorts (I couldnt stop obsessing about thoughts and my thinking and what thoughts are and how brains work) and began my old symptom of frantically pacing which was so bad I was suicidal so I voluntarily went into a behavioral health clinic. While there I started getting a squeezing tension headache (?) and now 13 days later it has STILL not gone away! it gets worse when I focus on it (I know I know, bit "just dont think about it" is easier said tgan done when its the thing I use for thinking thats feeling it) and when it gets bad its REALLY bad and its making me give up hope again. My meds were changed while hospitalized but my dr didnt think it was from that, however it did start in there. I honestly did not feel safe or ready to discharge because of this but my insurance could no longer cover my stay so I was essentially kicked out. This is utterly and severely hindering my ability to function. Could it be just anxiety? Ive read others having similar but theirs lasted YEARS. Im sp exhausted and hopeless I dont have that in me. What should I do? (Ive had an MRI and other extensive checkups in the past year and I doubt its that.
Need Help/Advice. Hopeless
- Thread starter enpi
- Start date
Hi enpi, sorry to see you’re having these problems. I have at times in my life had head pain non-stop for a month. There are two likely reasons. First, being so stressed you can imagine how tense your muscles are. Neck, shoulder even head muscles constantly tensed will hurt and the pain will radiate across the whole area.
The other reason is the build up of cortisol. Might want to google that. It can cause awful symptoms and accumulates when we’re stressed. Even after our crisis ends, it takes weeks or longer for levels to lower. People may be calm for weeks and then have a panic attack, and wonder why. Cortisol.
The other reason is the build up of cortisol. Might want to google that. It can cause awful symptoms and accumulates when we’re stressed. Even after our crisis ends, it takes weeks or longer for levels to lower. People may be calm for weeks and then have a panic attack, and wonder why. Cortisol.
Absolutely. I remember a few instances. Once I had the non stop head pain. Weeks and weeks. I googled and of course I was “diagnosed” with death! Finally I read a book written by a neurologist which explained why we get these pains, why they last so long, and why they are not sinister. Within a few days, the pain subsided since I stopped the constant stressing.
While not related to my neck or head, I went through an especially stressful period in 2012. My upper back on the left side began to really hurt. Then the pain wrapped around to the front. It would just not go away and I stressed about it 24-7. It hurt all the time, even at night. Testing all normal. It turned out to be muscular, just like most of the things I’ve feared over the years. Took 3 months between when it started and when it went away because I would not relax. Over the years since, I’ve gotten that same pain a few times, but it ran its course in weeks, not months since I now knew the benign reason.
Massage has helped me, might want to try that.
Bob
While not related to my neck or head, I went through an especially stressful period in 2012. My upper back on the left side began to really hurt. Then the pain wrapped around to the front. It would just not go away and I stressed about it 24-7. It hurt all the time, even at night. Testing all normal. It turned out to be muscular, just like most of the things I’ve feared over the years. Took 3 months between when it started and when it went away because I would not relax. Over the years since, I’ve gotten that same pain a few times, but it ran its course in weeks, not months since I now knew the benign reason.
Massage has helped me, might want to try that.
Bob
That is so so helpful. Thank you, Bob. Do you by any chance remember (paraphrased of course) any of the reasons the neurologist gave for why anxiety can cause headaches for SO long?Absolutely. I remember a few instances. Once I had the non stop head pain. Weeks and weeks. I googled and of course I was “diagnosed” with death! Finally I read a book written by a neurologist which explained why we get these pains, why they last so long, and why they are not sinister. Within a few days, the pain subsided since I stopped the constant stressing.
While not related to my neck or head, I went through an especially stressful period in 2012. My upper back on the left side began to really hurt. Then the pain wrapped around to the front. It would just not go away and I stressed about it 24-7. It hurt all the time, even at night. Testing all normal. It turned out to be muscular, just like most of the things I’ve feared over the years. Took 3 months between when it started and when it went away because I would not relax. Over the years since, I’ve gotten that same pain a few times, but it ran its course in weeks, not months since I now knew the benign reason.
Massage has helped me, might want to try that.
Bob
Actually I remember the book. You can order it still I think. It’s called It’s Not a Tumor. A North Carolina neurologist, first name Robert.
Basically it was through him I learned how muscles in the body are all connected. If I had neck pain, I could not understand how that was causing pain in my head, even on the top of my head. Just remember that phrase..it’s all connected. Other than that, we tense our muscles subconsciously when we worry and muscles will hurt until they are calmed, and we control how long that will be.
Basically it was through him I learned how muscles in the body are all connected. If I had neck pain, I could not understand how that was causing pain in my head, even on the top of my head. Just remember that phrase..it’s all connected. Other than that, we tense our muscles subconsciously when we worry and muscles will hurt until they are calmed, and we control how long that will be.