numbness and tingling in top and back of head

Hi, I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for nearly two years now. It all started when I noticed I had an irregular heart beat. I had a baby 5 months ago and have been suffering from postnatal depression, tension headaches and stress. Along with the tension headaches I had a numbness in the back of my head. The last few days I have had numbness and tingling on top and side of my jead as well as down the left side of my jaw. I also have TMJ and have to get a bite guard. I have been to see my doctor and she is sending me for a cat scan to rule out MS. I have been prescribed a beta blocker for my irregular heart and I am wondering if that is causing the numbness in my head. I have also been taking diazepam for the last month. I am just getting to that fed up point now and just wanting to feel better and feel well enough to take care of my son. Hopefully they can eliminate anything serious from the cat scan and if it is just anxiety I can get the appropriate help.

Hi and welcome!

First of all, congratulations on the birth of you son! I certainly hope that you can get the answers to the quesions that you have so that you can fully enjoy this wonderful time with him!

As far as the topic question that you asked...anxiety can indeed cause this symptom. I have seen it posted about here, as well as other anxiety literature sources, so at least you know that anxiety is a possible cause.

It could also be a side effect of your medication...your pharmacist would actually be a great person to talk to about this, as they are really knowledgable about these things.

It could also certainly be related to your headaches/tension and TMJ...so if you think about it, it's no suprise that you are experiencing this...and I wouldn't worry that it is from another more serious source.

Which makes me wonder why your doctor is testing for MS...is this just to rule it out for peace of mind, or are you showing other signs for it?

I hope that your test turns out well for you, and you can then start to focus of working on the anxiety.

I know that it is difficult to find time with a new baby, but I would ask for a therpay referral from your doctor next time you go in. I had to make the commitment when my daughter was young...and even a couple of hours a week seemed impossible to 'give up' to therapy...but it was so worth it, both for me and for my family!

In the meantime, check out our Anxiety/Panic Resources (main page, 1st post) You will find lots of self-help ideas that you can get started on right away there.:)

Keep talking with us as well...we are here to listen and support anytime.:)

Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Post Edited (Scaredy Cat) : 7/14/2012 5:34:47 PM (GMT-6)

Hi, thank you for your fast reply.  In the past I had a bit of dizziness and kept dropping things as well as having pain in both shoulders.  I don't really have the dizziness now thankfully but I still occasionally get pain in my arms and shoulders that is why the doctor wants to rule out MS.  I am not sure if the pain in my arms is because I am carrying my son about or not and the pain in my shoulders may be related to being so tense.  I think the waiting for the cat scan is the worst.  Anxiety is the worst feeling ever and it is so hard to determine what is real pain and what is just anxiety related!!

I get tingling in my head, more recently, I have noticed when I have showers my nerves seem to be in tune, like my nerves or something are being repaired and I am getting a lot more good sensations in my neck,

Nothing beats a nice hot shower to relax the muscles, only had 1 mild attack lately but I have been off the alcohol lately, limiting sugar intake and trying to eat well , hey I will do anything to get me well again,

Some times a get a dull pain in my chest like a burning pain that last a sec

2 very important rules to follow

1. Relax
2. Relax

How easy is that ;) finding time to relax and just shrug things off , I am trying not to stress about everything , one day at a time for me at the moment.

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"Leaving on a jetplane , dont know when i will be back again....."

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once

Depression, Anxiety - what ? i need more ? ;)

15mg mirtzapine, 15mg lexapro

I have been trying so hard to relax and be more positive but it is so hard. Especially having a small child to care for. I have started an anxiety programme which I hope will start to help and I have been referred for cognitive behavioural therapy. When I feel the numbness in my head I think it is something really serious and panic. It is such a horrible feeling to have :(

Hi ali l Congratulations on your new baby boy. Which doctor said you have prenatal depression? It could very well be that, however I am so happy you are having the CT scan. Is this baby your first? I know for a fact that carrying or even sitting down and holding for an extended time can cause neck and arm problems. I had that very problem 36 years ago. I had a good chiropractor who helped my neck and upper back. I was using a carrier when I shopped. I switched to a stroller. That was a big help. At home I used a sling that held my baby close to my body in front. Stress places a huge amount of pain on us, good stress or bad, stress is stress. Good luck to you. I will be watching for news on your Scan. untll later....Cat

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I am 61 years young. I have neuropathy in both feet and hands. I have spinal stenosis and arthritis in my back. I am bipolar and with panic attacks. I cannot walk. I choose to stay home all the time. I love living in the country. Its very peaceful.

Thanks guys, it really is reassuring to know there are other people out there with the same issues. I have had a good day today and the numbness hasn't given me much bother. My Mum has come to stay for a while to help out and be there for me whilst my husband is at work, that alone has helped so much

Glad that you had a good day, and that your mom is now around to help!

Keep us posted as to how you are doing.:)

S.C.

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Thanks for sharing your pain, my cousin too was facing the similar problem n took help from your question.., she is fine now.

Having another good day so far, got a slight tension headache today but the weather is lovely so I am going to get myself out and try and think positive. I called the hospital about the CT scan and they still have to get referral from my doctor.....It is the waiting around that makes me feel more anxious than anything else!!!!

Just wanted to comment on your initial concern as well Ali. That was the very first anxiety symptom that I had as well, I too let it drive me crazy into thinking about all of the possibilities that it could be from. I thought it was a sickness, then I thought it was an extreme anxiety disorder, my mind wouldn't shut off. I guess it's because I've always had health anxiety in the past and once I actually started experiencing anxiety symptoms, it through me into a huge anxiety panic attack.

Anyways, just know that the weird sensations on the top and back of your head are completely normal for anxiety. I used to get them A LOT when I first started dealing with my anxiety issues. I used to feel like my head wasn't even there because the feeling was so strange, for me it was more lightheaded and tingling and it went from the top of my head all the way down to my neck. I would take the advice of others that have already reached out to help you out and the key is just try and relax as best as possible. It definitely has to be tough with a newborn but whenever you can, just try and take some time out and do things you enjoy and that also are relaxing.

For example I would try and go and work out when I was first dealing with my anxiety symptoms when they were really bad. Even though exercise is amazing, it didn't help me when I was worrying and very tense. It actually kind of made it a little worse for me atleast right afterwards anyway. I'm sure the long term benefits are still positive but it would just make me more tense and sore and that was complicating things lol. Not sure what you're interests are but I started getting into reading, mostly biographies of some sports players or people that I liked. Hopefully a relaxing hobby is just what the doctor ordered and will help eliminate the headaches. For me the headaches lasted awhile though, best advice I can give you if they continue to linger is to just try and ignore it as much as possible. The more you dwell on it, worse it was, for me anyways.

Best of luck

Thanks so much for your reply. I get lightheaded sometimes too, especially when in a certain situation. I am in ikea today and there are a lot of people around so I feel a bit panicky!! Sometimes I don't like being in a crowd. I am really really trying to be more relaxed, it will just take some time. Thanks for your reassurance tho, it certainly helps :)

Hi guys, quick update. I got a date for my CT scan for a couple of weeks time so I can eventually find out what is going on. The numbness has calmed down a bit but is still there occasionally. I am feeling more positive about things and let's just hope I can get some answers!

Hi!

Hi jbone and welcome!

I am sorry that you have been having trouble witn anxiety, panic attacks and their symptoms.

It is great that you went to get checked out medically, as this is always the first safe and logical step in getting to the bottom of these physical symptoms.

The medication that you were prescribed in a benzodiazapine. There are pros and cons to taking this medication...but you will find that to be true with just about any type of Rx. Benzos do not typically have the side effects of an SSRI, and can be taken on an 'as needed' basis for panic attacks...as opposed to other A/D meds that have to be taken everyday consistently. The Clonazepam should also give you almost immediate relief, which is another plus...it can effectively stop a panick attack in most cases.

The downside is that you may sleepy when taking this med, and there are possible dependency issues. You should talk to your doctor about your concerns, and certainly tell him/her if you have any issues after trying it. You should also check and make sure that it is safe, and there are no interaction warnings with taking your meds and your suppliments.

I can also recommend talking to your doctor regarding a therapy referral, if you are not already seeing someone. I suffered from panic disorder to a somewhat severe extent, and was able to recover from the attacks with CBT courses.:)

Also, check out our Resources Guide (main page, 1st post) for great self-help links and videos for panic attacks. The breathing and relaxation exercises can make a huge difference if practiced daily!

Keep posting with us as well...we are here to listen and support.:)

Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Post Edited (Scaredy Cat) : 9/11/2012 10:12:20 AM (GMT-6)

Hi, I got a CT scan and it came back normal. I have had blood tests, chest x ray etc and everything is coming back normal. I had been feeling really great and feeling more positive and less stressful and anxious about things but last few days I've been feeling rubbish again. I have pain in my chest, some numbness on and off all over my head and achy arms. I also get a fuzzy head and sometimes feel I might pass out (which never happens) I have also been really feeling my irregular heartbeat for a good few weeks so they are putting me on a 24 hours monitor to see what is going on. I just want to be better for my son, it is very frustrating!

Hi ali and thanks for the update.

I am so glad to hear that so far all of your tests have come out fine.:) I am pretty sure that your holter monitor will show that all is well with your heart too, so try not to worry about it.

Irregular heartbeats and palpitations often go hand in hand with anxiety, and are usually benign. The less you think about them, the better off you will be, so try to stay distracted and ignore them when they happen.

Anxiety often ebbs and flows. I can also go a long time with absolutely no problems...then it seems like the symptoms will come out of nowhere and bother me for awhile, before going away again...

Practicing your coping mechanisms when you are having a rough period of stress and symptoms will help you to get through it, and may make it go away quickly:)

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing soon!

S.C.

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hi all. New to this forum, but have posted in a few places. Ali, I'd just like to say how weird it was to read what you have recently been experiencing because I've had the same exact feelings in the last day or two. I thought I had a virus or something because I don't usually feel like that with my anxiety and stress. But, I am also perimenopausal (actually just turned 50, so pretty close to menopause itself) and I believe my hormones may be goofy right now. It could be hormonal issues causing some of your anxiety to be really bad as well. They do play a number on us women! Scaredy Cat is right about the coping mechanisms; breathing techniques and meditation are the best way to calm yourself. You just have to remember that a panic attack and anxiety attacks will not kill you! You just have to let them run their course and be done with it. Unfortunately the anxiety can lead to panic, which will lead to depression. Therefore, it is important to get it all under control to keep your state of mind healthy. Now that you have had all those tests done, you know that you are perfectly normal and that nothing physically is wrong. Concentrate now on your emotional and mental portion of your body. I hate anxiety and all the feelings it brings along with it. I swear when it hits again it feels like it never went away; and that could be after years of it being in check! I definitely understand where you are coming from and you are in my prayers! You will get through it...you are stronger than anxiety and if you just don't let it gain control of you, it will calm down.

Thank you for that. I get so frustrated because I had started feeling really great and positive but it is like I am back to square one again. I have such a fuzzy head and feel lightheaded most of the time and imagine I am going to faint (which I never do) I have been told that your hormones are all over the place after having a baby until they are about 1!!! I have also become really forgetful but everyone assures me this is just 'baby brain' and will go away in time. I try my hardest to keep calm and positive as much as I can.

i have to agree with renee about breathing techniques and meditation to help anxiety. a coping skill i have been using lately is to listen to guided meditations and guided imagery recordings on you tube. i have a few that i really like. i get my head phones and plug them into my smartphone...then i find one of the videos i like, lay down in bed to relax, and just close my eyes and follow along with the meditation/imagery (most of them tell you to sit, but i like to lay down). i usually use the videos that are 10-15 minutes long, but there are some that are shorter and longer. if you want to check it out, try searching "guided meditation" or "guided imagery" on you tube. they have really helped me calm my nerves, work on my mindfulness in the moment, and practice deep breathing!

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dx: dysthymia, generalized anxiety, health anxiety (hypochondriasis)

Frizzbee, what a great idea! I never thought to find something on youtube for guided meditation or guided imagery! That is such a fantastic suggestion! Love it. I'm going to do that next time I'm feeling anxious. Especially if my way isn't working at that moment.

Yes, Ali, you do have "baby brain" for quite a while after having a baby. Your hormones are so messed up for a while its not even funny. I remember all those ups and downs after having my first daughter. They were horrible. I thought I was going loony at some times! :) But, it does get better. So you just hang in there and adore that little baby boy of yours.

Frizzbee, I have all who suffer from anxiety in my prayers, so my prayers are for all of us; just wanted to let you know that. I don't like making someone feel like I don't care about their sufferage. I believe we are all together and I pray for every single one of us who suffers from this debilitating thing called anxiety. I pray that each day is gentler and kinder to us, and that we continue to grow strong and less prone to the ills of anxiety. God Bless all.

Thank you for all your kind and reassuring words. I am just at a loss what to do now. I have had a racing heart for a few days now and I saw my doc on Tuesday and she has referred me for a 24 hours monitor. I can sometimes feel my heart beating loudly in my chest and I can feel the irregular beat quite often! Tonight I have felt really strange and I don't know if I should go back to the doctor and keep on at her about how I am feeling. I don't feel stressed or anxious like I have been before and that is making me think that these symptoms are not anxiety related but something else. I just don't know what to do anymore.

Ali, do you take any meds for your anxiety? If so, what do you take? If not, I can suggest GABA, a natural supplement, or another natural product called Hyland's Calms. GABA is something your brain makes, and Hyland's Calms contains all natural ingredients that will help eliminate or lessen some of the anxiety and stressfulness you feel. The only thing I would suggest is to take this at bedtime as it will cause some drowsiness. I have taken the Hyland's Calms before and it really makes you feel very relaxed and gives you a feeling of serenity. I do remember going to bed and falling asleep with a smile on my face. I slept pretty well too.

Just some suggestions if you are not into taking medications that have been prescribed, or prefer a more natural approach.