It's rare for me to make an additional comment but I felt it was warranted here because after six days, I seem to have made enormous progress thanks to this video. The day after I watched it, seven to ten anxiety attacks started throughout the day. I told myself "anxiety attacks are not dangerous. I can control my emotions." I even started tapping my chest, which I know nothing about but figured it couldn't hurt. I was also very conscious not to breathe deeply but rather to regulate my breathing as normally as possible." NONE of those anxiety attack threats came to fruition! The next day it only threatened three times. I did the same thing all three times and NONE became a full-on attack. On the third day, there were NO threats of panic attacks! If at all, they were so mild and I was able to talk them down within a minute or two so that I wouldn't even count them. Now I'm on the sixth day and I'm so happy! Please give it a try : D
I do what my grandmother taught me 65 years ago: throw things at the rockpile in the yard. It's such a release and after all these decades, I feel seen by and approved by her.
Thank you for doing this video. Deep down I know that I'm suffering with anxiety and that I'm terribly hyperstimulated, especially over the last few months but I just can't to stop thinking of the worst case scenario all the time when I have the symptoms - Which seems to be pretty much constantly lately. At the moment I've got the horrible churning stomach thats making me feel sick and also making me feel like I can't breathe properly. Earlier I had the 'whole body tingling with nerves' feeling. I also have constant tension in my neck and scalp that makes me feel lightheaded or have blurred vision or headaches. I'm struggling to go out because I'm scared of being panicky/anxious when I'm out but I also feel panicky/anxious at home. I must admit I am my own worst enemy. Every day I get up and think I'll clean, watch some TV, meditate, do some exercise, read...BUT I'll put the TV on and be googling at the same time. I'll read a book, but it'll be an anxiety book, I'll meditate but find it hard to focus and I'll clean while listening to podcasts about...Anxiety!!! 😔 I feel like it's taking over my life... It is taking over my life!! I've been off work for 2 months now because I couldn't work like that any longer. I'm scared to take medication although I do take a 10mg propranolol or 2 most days now. I regularly check my blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and oxygen levels. I've had blood tests and an ecg which were all fine.... This may sound like a silly question but does this definitely, definitely sound like anxiety?? I'm sitting here shaking my head because I've asked that question, it's as if I'm constantly looking for reassurance but even when I have it, it's not long before Im seeking it again...Its exhausting isn't it. I hope we all get better soon!! 🩵🩷
I sounds like anxiety. Because of your struggle, I highly recommend connecting with one of our recommended therapists to help you overcome it. It would be a shame to struggle and struggle when there are many ways to eliminate anxiety issues, including medical and health fears. I encourage you not to waste years like I did. It's not worth it. Life can be great again when you work through anxiety.
@@anxietycentre Thank you so much for your reply Jim. I'm currently on a waiting list for CBT here in the UK. I've been waiting since March and my first appointment will be in July. Hopefully that will help me but I do wish I'd have seen your therapists weeks or months ago because I feel like this wait has just given me more time to focus and dwell on how I'm feeling even more and therefore made me worse. I keep trying to tell myself that it's definitely anxiety - I feel like people who do actually have physical health problems don't worry like we do, unless they also have anxiety. For example people with heart or blood pressure problems don't constantly check theirs like I do. People with other issues don't tend to Google like I do or worry about going out to different places. They just get on with things and don't let it take over their lives like anxiety sufferers seem to do. Anxiety really can make us be our own worst enemy can't it. Even after all of this time I'm still really struggling to accept that the symptoms can't harm me. I wake up every day with the horrible butterflies in my stomach and that symptom seems to trigger off the others. I always think if I could have a few days where I got a break from that then I'd start to feel better. Thanks again for your reply Jim, I really do appreciate it and I also appreciate all that you are doing to help people ☺
This is exactly how I feel as well, and been checking to see if this is all anxiety or if there is something wrong with me constantly. Mine started with a light pressure in my scalp around 4 months ago, the feeling like I’m falling while walking, and pins and needles in my legs. After that, I went to the doctors to check my blood pressure and blood. The results came all good. My symptoms almost disappeared for around 2-3 weeks. However, a few weeks later I started feeling the pressure in my head almost constantly, and my anxiety about my health kept intensifying until one day I started checking my whole body and thinking that something is wrong with me. I would stress about it every moment. I went on holidays where I supposed to relax but what I kept thinking about is that there is sth wrong with me. I woke up on a second day of holiday and couldn’t feel my whole body, I felt sick, I couldn’t eat, I was shaking, my muscles were twitching, my mouth was dry, I was dissociating, felt dizzy, headaches intensified. I was like this for almost two weeks until my family managed to calm me down a bit. I came back to the UK, and started feeling a little better, I felt the symptoms but I started to just be okay with them more. Also, doing yoga and some Vagus nerve exercises. However, what still makes me frustrated, that even at the calm state, I would still feel either a pressure in my head, pins and needles in my whole body, would wake up all sweaty, would start feeling nauseous out of nowhere or that it’s hard to breathe. I’m currently doing all the tests and scans to see if I’m okay as my anxiety about my health is so so intense right now. I never experienced this before and it’s sometimes very hard to believe that it is all anxiety... I also feel like I also always need reassurance that it’s all just anxiety and that I’m going to be okay.
@@RoniVeko123 That is the big hurdle that needs to be overcome in order to start to heal from this: Am I sure that it's the anxiety? It most assuredly is, but as long as there is even a tiny doubt in your mind, the symptoms will continue. They are real and quite frightening. It's anxiety's role to convince you that something's wrong in a misguided effort to keep you safe. The key is inner reassurance, but it is much, much easier said than done. Stay strong. You don't suffer alone.
I havent heard/read that you are praying, repenting, surrendering,forgiving and being grateful for all the blessings. Lay them and lift it all to GOD🙏 there is power in prayers🙏
Also saying calming mantras for hours will not help. You need to let your body rage w anxiety while you go on with your day as normal. Making it be of no consequence to your functioning is the way to teach your body that the alarms don’t need to be ringing all the time. Claire Weekes. Seriously.
Yes but they will linger. If you let them scare you they will stick around, get worse, or morph into new symptoms. It takes patience. They stay for a while unfortunately. Give yourself a couple of months to really calm it all. If you freak out w/in that time it will take longer. Have faith in the process and it will get better
Unfortunately I still freak out about symptoms so it’s a work in progress. Mine change so when I get a new symptom I freak out about it (health anxiety) and it takes me some time to work on it. It’s almost like as soon as you are ok w a symptom your body finds a new one so you can get anxious again! I’m working on accepting it all . I have stopped googling symptoms -which is huge.
@@zma7707ere’s what I don’t get. If I bring this all down, but fall into some bad thinking habits again. Does that mean that I’m back to square one in my stress symptoms? That basically I’ve re stressed my body all over again and will have to take months to de stress it? It feels like this is saying you’re not allowed to mess up once in a while. But mess ups are learning experiences, part of the journey.
Knowledgeable is power. The more we educate ourselves about anxiety and accept that it’s part of who we are as human being, the easier it gets. What has helped me is accepting it and working to manage it. Relaxing the body with deep breathing, meditation and somatic exercises has helped.
Hi Jim. Recently signed up to your site. Very informative. Thank you for the work you do. I have dealt with severe anxiety for 25 years. And just when I thought I had experienced the worse it had to offer I get hit with facial and head numbness on a daily basis. For the last 5 months. MRI was all clear. It’s just so hard to convince myself that this is from being in a Hyper-stimulated state for so many years and my body just couldn’t take it anymore. This numbness occurs whether I stressed or not. Even when I do the work I need to it’s still there. I rarely have a day when it doesn’t occur. It’s just so hard to think that Stress and anxiety has caused this. I know I have a long road but I just need some reassurance. Again, I have read endless papers on hyper stimulation and the havoc it causes when you live in that state for years. Just so hard when you are your own worst enemy to snap out of it. Thank you again Dan
Hi Dan! Thank you for your kind comments! Often, worry gets us into hyperstimulation and keeps us there. So, yes, we are often our own worst enemy. And when the body become hyperstimulated, it can take much longer than we expect to eliminate it. So it's common to have persistent symptoms even when you think you are doing everything correctly. Many of us have felt that way during recovery. However, if you stay the course and be patient, you should see hyperstimulation diminish, and along with it, symptoms, including persist symptoms. It just takes longer than we expect. Facial and head numbness are common symptoms of hyperstimulation, especially if a person clenches their teeth and jaw. We see a lot of that.
@@anxietycentre thank you for the response. It’s just so hard. When I feel like things are getting better but this fullness/numbness stays lingering in my face and head. Again, thank you
@@sfredacorp what mistake u did ,, so that u suffered 25 years.. And what changes u made ,so that you are thinking,u r recovering?? Can you explain please?
Hi dan i can relate to your symptoms i too had facial numbness and it felt very scary it affected my mouth and nose area was noticable when i talked. Been having panic and anxiety attacks for months. And yes its difficult living alone like i do too. Hope you having a better day today. 🕊🦋🙂
I am hyperstimulated but when it comes to sleep, I can sleep very well at night and actually I am always sleepy and tired when my stress levels are high or very high. I also suffer from dpdr. But it is very difficult for me to rest during the day because I have this anxious energy all the time and I just can't rest at all. I always feel like I have to do something or figure something out or I am missing out on things and I just have to be on the go all the time. It is very hard. I literally get urges to do something or open youtube or search for some solutions, AGHH it is just so hard to function optimally. I am glad I found a channel which is so relatable because I have never heard someone talk about hyperstimulation before. Thank you
@@anxietycentreI forgot to mention that I suffer from CPTSD, so I am always in a hypervigilance state but my symptoms are same with that of a person with hyperstimulation so are these videos for me? To rest for me is very difficult so should I apply these tips and practice daily rest?
I always feel comforted when i listen to this lady and her journey she describes her feelings and struggles so honestly and reminds me of myself and the long battle we all face coping with this its so exhausting im only 2/3 months since mine began. And its a lonely journey that will take time. I hope she is in a better place now. Big hugs to everyone experiencing this. 🦋💗🕊🙏
@michelecull3261 May the day come quickly for each & everyone of us battling anxiety.Bless you and many prayers to you am 10 months,but just started following anxiety centre.
How are you doing now Michele? I agree with you that it is a lonely journey and an exhausting battle. I keep saying that I just need a few days of being symptom free then maybe I could get on top of it all and get better but it's just relentless at the moment. I know the way I react to it doesn't help but it's hard not to react when we feel so bad isn't it
@@snm7654 Hi yes its a long and difficult journey mine started around xmas time im now on medication for anxiety and depression there was no other way it was relentless and i was desperate the worse time is when im on my own or waking up first thing after having poor sleep. The meds are working after taking them for 5 weeks now. I hope you are not alone in this and not suffering to badly. How are things at the moment. 🕊🌼💗😔
@@michelecull3261 The morning anxiety is horrendous isn't it. Almost every day I wake up with the horrible butterflies in my stomach and the all over nervous feeling which always triggers off yet another day of anxiety/panic. I just can't seem to accept that the symptoms won't harm me/kill me. I should be used to them by now but they frighten me just as much now as they did months ago. It doesn't help that I'm on my own alot of the time while my partner is at work or playing golf. I also struggle to go out so I'm stuck at home most of the time trying to fill up the day with TV, meditation, doing exercises on CZcams, sleeping etc etc. I find that I'm always looking inwardly as to how I'm feeling, or checking my pulse etc which I know is only fuelling my anxiety even more....I need someone to give me a good shake or a good slap to stop me from doing all of this to myself. My doctor has given me betablockers and an anti depressant but the betablockers make me feel tired and aware of my BP and heart rate. I haven't dared to take the anti depressants because I'm scared of the side effects....I feel like I'm scared of everything lately. I'm due to start CBT next week, I've been on the waiting list for 4 months. I'm glad things are getting better for you 🩷
@@snm7654 Yes i agree the mornings are the worst even though i take meds now i still have those panicky anxious feelings over the slightest things but they have become less intense i was offered beta blockers too. I live on my own and only really go out if i have too like food shopping. and its quickly. I have health anxiety too i had it horrifically all of june. I hope you find your beta blockers helpful and meditation etc i was seeing a counsellor for 3 months but i dont think it was helping so i stopped. It works for some but not everyone. Mental health services are difficult too here in uk such long waiting lists unless you can afford to pay. I try and keep busy if i can with small things if i dont then i start feeling anxious thoughts again.
I have had the odd bouts of anxiety since I was 15, nothing too long. But, several months ago, in the summer, I started suffering from terrible health anxiety along with extreme panic attacks that have ebbed and flowed. The difference this time is I've got a constant weight on my shoulders that I just can't shake off, it's like a permanent cloud hanging over me. Each and every anxiety attack seems to be worse than the last, the fear of impending doom and imminent death is horrifying. I am convinced I have a heart problem but all tests say I'm ok, but, this stress and anxiety is that bad I am worried that it is causing my real physical damage.
Hey man I’m only 19 , I have health anxiety too, and panic attacks . Though I have been able to control my panic attacks , I’m constantly obsessing over my body from the weird symptoms, I get random heart palpitations and weird sensations , it’s not going to damage your heart I can assure you , your nervous system is just haywire atm and your body is intercepting everything as a threat , the key is once you constantly stress over feelings you get hyper stimulated bc your body starts to think being in a heightened stress response is normal so you got to learn to not freak out about it , we got this bro
@@PacManCj God knows what it is, I'm seeing the cardiologist for a 24 hour ECG but everything so far as come back ok. I keep having these light headed, floaty feelings and inside my head sometimes feel like it's vibrating, I do hope I can snap out of it whatever is causing it.
I suspect that like most things in our lives, people who suffer anxiety attacks will suffer more of them and more intense ones as we age. I really appreciated the woman who asked questions and did not simply go along with answers that did not sit right with her but continued to question. This was extremely helpful. It was also helpful to me to hear that these attacks are not dangerous because I think the more I was afraid of their possible implications, the more anxious I became. Also, to try to actively be aware that they are not dangerous seems very helpful because the anxiety dissipates. The tip about breathing--but NOT DEEP breathing is so good to know.
Jim is so on target wow .. hyper stimulation is what ive neen having several weeks fear that is being reinforced like im stuck woth a phobia that came back its all in my mind
you replied!!! 🙂 oh that made my morning!! thank you so much Jim. I read it! I have one more and I’m sorry it’s so long I just want to make sure I explain this right to you --> things seem louder and more rumbled in my RIGHT ear. Is that still from all of this?? I just left the ent again today and he did a tuning fork. I told him the sound it made is louder in the right than the left like everything else I hear loud and rumbled and he said he’s not comparing sides.??? Made me feel confused?? Because my right ear feels more distorted and clogged?? And has been this way for the month….. so even things seeming so much louder and and yet rumbled even if it’s in one ear more than the other (in my case the right ear is louder/distorted) it’s still the hyperstimulation? And the things running giving off that high pitching ringing/ whistling sound to my ears along with its normal compressor sound (which those sounds are loud and sounds rumbled) will subside? Even regular sounds like a chip bag, toilet paper or the sink running has a whistle to it and seems so loud and distorted which is odd because I know it normally doesn’t sound like that but I’m sure you have experienced it like this too?? Even My Ac running in my house sounds so loud and rumbled to my ears being inside. Yet if it’s people talking I feel like I’m almost deaf to what they are saying. It’s like things get loud when it’s things that run and they ring, and if it’s people they are talking so quiet! If I go outside, I even hear a constant light ringing out there in the background. I’m trying my best to ignore it and tell myself it’s what you experienced yourself because NObODY else has ever heard of this. My family doesn’t understand what’s goin but my Mom said it’s the anxiety. When you posted about pitch and clarity maybe that explains why the tv is on but it seems like the clarity is off. I can hear them but it sounds like it’s hard to understand them more than before like it’s not clear audio. (The tv sounds are louder than the people and they sound hard to understand like they are mumbling and soft) The radio plays a lot of tricks on me because one song might sound echoed and another might sound ok. My own voice even seems louder and deeper to me which is also scary? Including others sounding deep voiced yet they sound soft or harder to hear. If you get a moment Jim (and I know your very busy at the centre) it would make my day to be able to talk to you on the phone if possible. It means a lot being able to speak with you just on here. Will it slowly all start going back to normal?? I’ve never struggled as much with this as I have anything. How will my body know that it’s over? I’ve been calm for two weeks but I will say it’s in the back of my mind worrying about my ears being stuck like this or thinking I damaged them. The loudness/muffled distorting and the ringing/whistled sound with things running really makes it hard not to react with fear and anxiety but I am working my hardest on letting it all be and telling myself this will fade and go back to normal. You think it will for me also, having experienced it?? Even if it’s caused hyperacusis, (the loudness and the rumbles, & the high pitched ringing/whistling to things) will leave too once stress and anxiety are better?? This will all go away Jim????
Yes, all the symptoms you mentioned are common for anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. You can read more about anxiety and auditory symptoms here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/auditory-symptoms/ Since these are classic symptoms of hyperstimulation (chronic stress), they will subside when you reduce your stress and give your body time to recover. I had all those symptoms back when I struggled with anxiety disorder and hyperstimulation. Once I recovered, I've not had them since. So yes, you can get rid of them. Hyperstimulation-caused auditory symptoms aren't permanent. When you eliminate the cause (hyperstimulation), you'll eliminate hyperstimulation symptoms. Again, containing your worry, reducing stress, increasing rest, passively-accepting your symptoms in the short term, and being patient will eliminate hyperstimulation and its symptoms, including all auditory symptoms. Because of your anxiousness and hyperstimulation, I encourage you to connect with one of our recommended therapists to help you through this. Regarding insurance: www.anxietycentre.com/therapy/anxiety-therapists-that-take-health-insurance/ Once again, no, hyperstimulation-caused auditory symptoms aren't permanent, and they aren't causing permanent damage. They are temporary symptoms of stress. They will resolve when you eliminate your unhealthy stress. But you have to be patient. Eliminating hyperstimulation and its symptoms takes more time than most people expect. This is why you have to be patient as your body recovers.
Thank you for your very kind comments. The Skype discussions I have are with Recovery Support members. If you want to join the conversation, become a member, then watch for the next discussion. We should be having one coming up shortly once I can sit at my desk again.
@@anxietycentre Jim can I ask from your experience do you believe anxiety symptoms can last 24/7 for a very long time? I've beat so many symptoms but still have blurry vision and floaters and it's been going for 18 months straight. All eye exams are normal, it feels like I'm in a bad dream
Dear Jim 😊 Thank you heaps for this video dear it made me sure that I think my body is hyper stimulated but the extreme as the symptoms in my head, heart, whole body and other symptoms are sooooo strong and scary and is there 24/7 😭😭 my body started these symptoms 10 months ago in December last year and I noticed the day before the symptoms started I had this severe pain and cramp from umm something else too embarrassed to say dear it’s a female monthly thing anyways the cramp was the worst I had and I didn’t take Panadol and I think that extreme pain put my body into hyper stimulation mode 😭😭😭😭 now after 10 months the symptoms are still sooo intense and strong and 24/7 and soo scared what’s next been bedridden all this time as the symptoms get worse when I move around or walk and haven’t been out except to hospitals when the symptoms get scary soo disruptive in life and soo hard to live with 😭😭 was wondering if this is normal for hyperstimulation dear it’s soo bad my mother has to help with me a lot aww I did the mri brain scan, ecg of my heart and they said it’s normal dear so this must be hyperstimulation 😭😭😭
Types of symptoms I get dear 😭 -hard to describe them and could find on google dear -various types of head symptoms (head floating feeling, random sharp pains in different parts of the head, head on fire, this other scary symptom I can’t describe but really strong and scary it’s like something in my head is about to burst or something, lightheadedness, other strong symptoms -heart heaviness or random fast heart beats or sometimes heart feels like it’s floating -nausea and vomitting -arm pains on my right arm and right thighs -whole body strong symptoms -random cramps
Extra information dearest -symptoms keep changing and alternating between them and as one symptom eases another symptom comes -symptoms in the recent months are multiple (more than one symptom sometimes 2 symptoms at the same time a d 3-4 symptoms at the same time) Earlier months was just one symptom - always in bed can’t function and do daily things everything is on my room can’t cook or can’t clean my room always have to lay down to ease the symptoms -suffering experience its constant and no breaks
Everything you mentioned is common for anxiety and hyperstimulation. Have you considered working with one of our recommended therapists to help you turn this around?
Aww dearest Jim aww you are really sweet for the confirmation of my mystery condition aww all these months of google searching what my condition is finally ends 😭😭 never thought extreme stress or constant stress or extreme fear can cause sooo much pain 😭😭😭 it’s like my body is going crazy and out of control and doing it’s own thing 😭😭😭😭 usually any condition people have can be easily managed when treating the symptoms but this thing I have is soo hard to treat nothing works and it’s like my severe symptoms keep going and only eases in it’s own after a while 😭😭😭 awww dearest Jim you are sweet for the lovely suggestion with the therapists awww your advices and suggestions is always treasured in my heart dear 😊happy to connect with them and fix this 😭😭😭
Hey Jim, I read your article on article on “Auditory Symptoms”…. I had a few beeps in my right ear that started my anxiety up a few weeks ago. The beeping stopped after a few minutes but I sat in silence a few days with no tv and radio. After that listening for it. Then once I went back to it- Everything is sounding somewhat echoed, louder, and I’ve created a high pitched ring in my head that everything makes noise sounding like- the ac, fridge, my car running, just being outside…… I’ve stayed anxious for 2 weeks being very hyper stimulated and upset over this. People even sound deeper voiced than they normally do, and the radio sounds higher pitched or echoed like in a tunnel and so does my tv now. Two different ents checked my ears and both audiologists gave me a regular hearing test and said my ears are Perfect. My question is what do I do to get my hearing back to sounding normal how it’s supposed to after focusing on how everything is sounding after two weeks? I’m afraid I’ve distorted my perception of hearing psychologically from being so focused on how it sounds and then being anxious, upset and crying. I even diagnosed myself with diplacusis over this. And I don’t think I have that because after watching a video about it is when my tv and radio started sounding funny to me. Any tips or suggestions on how to make my hearing go back to normal would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙏🏼
All the symptoms you mentioned are common for hyperstimulation (chronic stress), including anxiety-caused stress. You can get rid of them by following the information on tinnitus here:www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/ringing-in-the-ears/ Since they have the same cause, the solution applies to both. I had all the symptoms you mentioned (and more) when I was dealing with anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. They all subside when you eliminate hyperstimulation.
@@anxietycentre thank you for the reply. Ive been waiting for it and I’ve been crying so much. People on the tv sound like themselves yet deeper voiced and sound muffled? Even the tv being on is creating a ring sound to my ears. People I talk to sound deeper too. Including myself. It’s like I have muffled hearing yet everything is louder at the same time?? Every thing that permits sounds seem distorted- or like it’s a sound I’ve never heard before- All of this is hyperstimulation Jim?? Especially the tv sounding different and people? The radio seems higher pitched and echoed? Some songs sound not as bad as others. Hearing all of this sound different is what has kept my anxiety going along with the sounds that seem unfamiliar when they cut on- like ac and other compressors (almost like swimmers ear minus the rumbles) is there a certain way I need to calm down? Do I just ignore the symptoms and go on about my day? It’s been hard to watch tv or music bc it sounds so weird to me. Which is what I usually do to distract myself or calm down. My Mom says I need to watch the tv and listen to music so it will go back to sounding normal to me yet I have avoided it because of the way it sounds to me. Do I need to start watching it again?? (The tv) It’s hard to function and this has been 3 weeks for me. I’m tired, scared and exhausted. I thought maybe I messed up my hearing?? Never heard people sound deeper in person or on tv before yet still sound familiar to me yet they don’t…. It will go back to normal??? All of this?? The beeping is still there in my ear off an on also. I look forward to your reply and I greatly appreciate it. I’ve been so upset and worried I’m stuck this way. I wouldn’t have damaged my ear to cause my hearing to HEAR different permanently would I? I’m afraid the anxiety and stress from this might have damaged something in my ears causing distortion to the way I hear things. They all just sound so weird and different to me. I’m struggling Jim 🥺😢
First, you don't have to worry about that symptom. It's common for hyperstimulation, including anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. Second, I had that symptom, too. It scared me too when I first got it, thinking my hearing would always be affected that way. But, it does go away. You can read more about it here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/auditory-symptoms/
@@anxietycentre oh thank you Jim for the fast reply! I can’t tell you how much it means to me today. I have the tv on and it’s giving off this awful sound to it, everything is. A certain “pitch that comes through things” that’s not in my head or ears but how I hear it when things are on or go by- the cars, the ac on, the tv, and added to that- from my previous reply the people sound deep on tv and so do people I talk to. Did this exact thing happen the same way with you? Hearing awful pitches or an awful tone that comes through things that doesn’t sound right when it’s on or running?? It is not the tinnitus causing the sounds to be distorted I don’t think bc that beeping comes and goes on it’s own. So is this my anxiety causing my hearing to feel distorted because these things do not sound like they did before to me. And This will go back to normal on its own?? I have the biggest fear I am stuck this way hearing these awful sounds and pitches that come through things that are on. I got through my last anxiety episode that was major like this by calling your centre. This one is worse than before. Do I need to distract myself? Do I keep the tv on even hearing the people and the pitch the tv is giving off sound like this?? When the ac or things run like my car they sound awful. Giving off an extra tone that wasn’t there before I don’t think. It all does when I listen Do I Continue on through my day ignoring it and try to become less anxious?? Is there anything in particular I need to be doing during my day? I havent done anything other than sit around listening to how everything sounds. Which is awful bc it all sounds terrible. What do I do to stop myself from paying attention to how everything sounds to wait it out to go back to normal??? Do I still play the tv and radio?? Thank you Jim so much
Jim, some of the music I hear in the background of the tv or radio sounds like it doesn’t go together- the notes and tones, pitches are off key and don’t match, especially if it is just notes 🎶. It’s like they sound scary or don’t mix together or something how they normally should. is this hyperstimulation causing this also? This is a very scary symptom to me. Did you have this symptom also???
Do you have any videos on the freeze response? I seem to find it difficult to move without activating anxiety or panic response. I feel weighed down like a force field is around me..i can't move or speak even rolling over in bed is hard to do. Any task feels like too much. If i stand up i cry i feel afraid. I feel safe curled up in bed dont move dont speak
Hey Jim, I have been more calm since talking to you last week, practicing accepting the ear loudness/ ringing distortions with tv, radio, ac, sinks, bags, shower and the muffledness with the radio/tv weird tunneled sound. So that’s going on 3 weeks now Jim where I haven’t had overwhelming anxiety and scared behavior regarding my ears. Even tho it still all sounds pretty awful. I haven’t reacted to them with fear or panic, I’ve managed to sit with it and accept it but it’s hard to do. I am sad and depressed over it but not anxious. I’m Just now sleeping without waking up once or twice a night from the anxiousness about my ears and how it all is going to sound once I wake up. This is probably day 5 of decent sleep all through the night. The thinking I still have is “how do I know this is hyperstimulation” and not something still wrong with my inner ears that the ents/Audioligists are missing? I’ve been like this since the end of March and they are still hearing things so loud and distorted, still making things ring. Radio and tv still sound funny. It makes me feel a bit apprehensive that this is something worse or my ears are stuck like this but I’m trying to tell myself to trust in the evidence of your article and believe that i’m experiencing what you did (having all my same symptoms too) I still have some fear and Doubt that I have done something to them that I can’t undo from all that worrying and stress I had once I heard the beeps in my ear. I feel like If I had just let the beeps be there and I wouldn’t have freaked out and got worked up for days/weeks this wouldn’t have happened. Bc the distortions and loudness is way worse than those were and I feel like I caused this to happen because of how upset I got and how much attention I started paying to my ears. The more I paid attention the more upset and worse it became. I have allowed all of it to sound so loud and rumbled, yet muffled, and ringing/ distorted with accepting it in hopes it will fade away as your last reply said to do. It still feels so hard to watch the tv and listen to my music but I’m not reacting to it with fear and anxiety. It’s just difficult to listen to it. I also fear maybe it is noise induced hearing loss but my hearing test didn’t show any losses. My music and tv just still sound muddled down and the clarity is off still. Will it always sound weird to me? Because they sound deeper and tunneled or something. Before you told me to stop researching I came across “diplacusis” a few weeks back where it’s a change in pitch and how you hear different m. How do I know I didn’t cause that to happen instead of it being hyperstimulation? If my body feels more calm each day, will my ears reset it’s the stress/hyperstimulation/anxiety (possibly hyperacusis) Since I was overly stressed and anxious for 3 weeks and just now in the last two weeks really calming down, does the ear symptoms gradually leave or does it happen mostly all at once? I’m a little apprehensive I’ll be one of those still like this a year later with this still happening when I’m only a month in but I don’t wanna be so I’ve really took your advice to not react at all no matter how awful it sounds to me. I’ve just sat with it and listened to it all anyway- as awful as it is. How do I know it’s the hyperstimulation still and not something else I’ve done to them Jim? How did you know it was for you? Because it still really feels like the inside of my ears are ruined hearing it all like this. I’m trying my best. Passively accepting it for the time as my body recovers is hard but I have been. Will my ears really start hearing things normally again as I continue this like you said? I’m praying so but I’m still a little scared not knowing the future outcome of this. Will be waiting for your reply & thank you in advance Jim 🙏🏼
Trust in the facts - your medical tests showed your hearing is normal despite your symptoms. This is classic for hyperstimulation. Contain the "what ifs." Continue to be patient and wait for your body to benefit from the reduction in anxiety and stress. It takes time.
@@anxietycentre thank you so much for replying as always, Jim. I’m trying so hard not to let my body get worked up at all and let it be since I talked to you last. When you had this was your music and tv muffled/tunneled and distorted too?? It’s like they sound the same somewhat yet the background music isn’t right or have the Clarity and sounds it did before. Or they are further away/ Deeper voices (on both the tv and radio) When I hear it like this my body wants to react with fear and anxiety bc I have for so many weeks at the beginning, but I’m not. I’m containing it. I’ve been letting it be even though it brings me depression. Just the fearful thoughts of is this my ears/damage or is this from all that I got worked up about from weeks/ a month ago. My biggest fear is it will all sound this way permanently now- even the loud/hyperacusis ringing along with other things muffled down but I keep having to re-read your auditory symptoms article to make my mind believe that this is what it is and not something else, and that like you said it will go away as I learn to accept it how it sounds right now until my body gets the hint.? I’m trying to hard to tell myself I won’t be stuck this way but my mind has a hard time Believing it. I even thought maybe noise induced hearing loss but my Audiogram shows no signs of any hearing loss at all. They only thing they can find is Eustachian tube dysfunction.
It's common to not completely believe the medical opinions. Since doctors are human and can miss things, it's wise to seek another opinion or two. However, if all opinions agree, you can be confident your symptoms are anxiety-related. Constantly wondering can fuel anxiety and stress, which keeps symptoms going. Have you had more than one medical opinion?
@@anxietycentre yes Jim, I have been to 3 ENTS, and 3 Audioligists. Each test has came back that I have “normal hearing”, normal tymponametry, normal bone conduction test, and tuning fork test. They did say I had Eustachian tube dysfunction from allergies, but that’s it. I told them I was having hearing distortion and asked them about diplacusis, hyperacusis and even told them how this all started from getting those beeps in my right ear & They said I was fine. Diagnosed me with just tinnitus. After that I noticed when I was outside I was hearing a ringing that nobody else heard but only if I was outside or heard things running. And most things got very loud and rumbled to my my ears. That’s when I got online to try to figure it out myself because I was so anxious and upset. That’s when I came across your article on the auditory anxiety symptoms. (Which I related to most, I think) All of my hearing distorting began once I had back to back panic attacks over the beeps in my ear that I woke up from out of my sleep in March. Then over the next few days/weeks is when things got very loud, yet muffled, things started having rings to them that make sound like the air conditioner, the shower, washer, etc. Then my chip bags and toilet paper and stuff started having whistles to it. On top of my music and tv got distorted sounding tunneled, muffled and different clarity which led me to read about the stress and blood pressure hearing loss scare. It made me think I had damaged my hearing from being so upset and stressed out and keeping my blood pressure elevated (which is back down now). So it was between thinking diplacusis, hyperacusis , stress induced hearing loss in my mind all this time. Or maybe even noise induced hearing loss because I have listened to loud music. Or hidden hearing loss because things in a restaurant is very loud now to me and I can barely hear others talking. I just want my music and tv and all my sounds to go back to normal. So I’m following your advice mostly bc your the only one that has helped me. You saying you had all my symptoms is what makes me feel like I have hope that this is what’s going on with me. And my ears also play tricks on me about feeling full or plugged, just weird inside feeling in them rotating ears also like something is in one or both randomly. Along with popping and cracking. My own voice even started sounding different and louder to me. Ever since I focused on my ears from the beeping that woke me up that morning is when all this started happening. And now at this current moment I’m experiencing a hissing sound also, even tho I’m calm. So I’ve been trying to tell myself it is exactly what you experienced saying you had all these symptoms and that it will gradually get less and less until it’s gone if I just don’t stress about it anymore. You think so, Jim?
I think you've got sufficient evidence that your hearing is fine, other than the effects of stress. So yes, I think you'll be fine if you stop worrying and stressing about your hearing symptoms. And you have to be extremely patient as your hearing returns to normal. The body doesn't recover quickly from elevated degrees of hyperstimulation. it took a long time for my hearing symptoms to completely subside.
Hello Jim, I appericate your advice and support for those suffering. Im currently suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and soon afterwards Tinnitus since last October. Then for nearly 4 weeks had ear fluttering in my right Ear and sometimes sensations in my left Ear drum. Im doing Craniosacral therapy with (Julian Cowan Hill) and found it very relaxing after first session to calm my mind and nerves. I was wondering what other thinks I can try to calm the Anxiety disorder to the Tinnitus that is trigger my Ear fluttering? Im looking to hire a Nutrionist too see why my Immune system is so weak to fight off infections and disease since catching Long Covid last summer.
Containing anxiety, reducing stress, increasing rest, and being patient can eliminate hyperstimulation in time. Here is an article that can help: www.anxietycentre.com/tips/60-ways-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety/ That said, long covid can be a factor.
I discovered your content recently and it’s been very helpful. I’ve been in the anxiety cycle for 6 months now following a scary incident but slowly healing through acceptance. I find that my body has almost fully healed. Physical symptoms almost all gone. However my mind funnily enough has started to race a lot lately , my brain is desperate to find a new threat to worry about since it’s no longer worrying about the body , it’s now becoming obsessed with the mind. For example all of a sudden I’m hyper aware of my thinking and can’t seem to focus on anything else except what’s going on in my mind. I’ll also hyper focus on things like breathing, blinking, swallowing, certain sounds and I fear not being able to enjoy life with my mind acting this way. Any advice on how to practice acceptance and enjoying life while being “stuck” in your mind.
Hi ella ive been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for 6 months too im still not sure how i got this way but it does worry me sleeping is still not good and waking up is worse i have to get up immediately or i feel weird. Very lonely experience and like yourself i feel like im living in my head or mind and looking for more things to scare myself. So exhausting i live alone dont know if that makes me more vunerable. I hope you are in a better place if thats possible. Big hug to you. 🙏🕊🦋🌼
@@michelecull3261 hi Michele ! I promise you anxiety is not a lifelong sentence. It’s a normal response that’s gotten a little too stuck and exaggerated in our case. Even the term “disorder” is pointless. All that’s happening is our nervous system has become highly sensitized . I’m one year since I fell in the cycle, and happy to say in a much better place. I had exactly what you describe. Terrible sleep issues, panic attacks and for me the worst was just being stuck in my head and also weird moods. I can’t say I’m “fully” recovered , maybe 90% there. What’s left now is the memory of my worst days that still sticks and gives me intrusive thoughts but it’s definitely not everyday. I still get stuck in my head from time to time but i just let it be. It’s fine and it always passes. You’ll be fine💖 practice acceptance and indifference and go live your life and show anxiety whose boss. Thoughts, feelings, moods , always go up and down. Practice riding the waves while living your best life. Change focus on what’s important to you !
@@ellaofthewoods Thanks for your reply ella i try to keep positive the best i can and sometimes i feel okish but at times i struggle ive had medical tests but nothing ever showed up and am having counselling but it isnt helping. I had covid last august and i think its caused my nervous system to kick off with the anxiety i have now. I never had this before. Its been hellish. Im glad you are in a better place and feeling ok right now. Its a long and emotional journey. 🕊🙏😔
@@michelecull3261 read Paul David’s book “at last a life” and Barry mcdonaugh’s “the dare response” it explains how the nervous works and how to heal it. You’ll get through it 💕
@@ellaofthewoods Thanks Ella i will take a look. Very thoughtful of you to suggest these books. They sound an interesting read. Hope you are having a good day. 🌟🕊💗
Hi Jim, I started to work remotely shortly after Covid hit. In the weeks after I notice a ringing noise in my left ear. I went to an ENT and was told I have perfect hearing (I’m 28 years old). They said it was caused from stress. I couldn’t fully understand how that can be. I’ve always been an anxious person but I guess being at home a lot more really heightened the stress. To this day I still have tinnitus and not a day goes by where it doesn’t bother me. My body is stuck in hyperstimulation. I’m struggling to get out of it. I’ve read a lot of your articles and it explains my symptoms to a tea. It feels like my ear pressure is off in my ears. Whenever I yawn my left ear pops. I can make my ears pop/crackle on command. Just odd ear symptoms. Any suggestions on how to overcome it? Do you think I can benefit scheduling with one of your therapist? How many sessions does it typically take to get a full understanding of it all? Thanks, Christopher
Reducing stress and not worrying about your ear symptoms would likely eliminate those symptoms in time. However, if you're anxious, addressing your anxious behavior with a therapist can also help reduce stress. Anxious behavior is a common cause of persistent symptoms once the body become hyperstimulated and symptomatic.
Hi Jim I was reading on your website that most forms of depression can be resolved be by working on your underlying factors similarly to anxiety disorder. Can you expand on what you mean by “most forms” thanks.
There are some forms of depression (only a few) that are caused by brain injury, such as from physical harm (like a car accident) and damage due to chemicals (such as powerful recreational drugs). However, these are rare and can still be helped through behavioral therapy.
My skin has been burning for 8 days now , like most of my body. Before i found your article on this i was so scared i went to 3 different emergency hospitals. I ended up in a really weird mindset I didn’t know who i was. I have finally convinced myself that its the anxiety and slowly feeling more in control but the burning wont go away its just always there 😢. Will it ever go because its so irritating that it’s causing more stress. Thanks for your help. Cheers Michelle
Those are common symptoms of anxiety. I’ve dealt with physical sensations just like that and, what I think what your describing, depersonalization. Depersonalization was one of the scariest things I went through until I found out it’s very common with anxiety and a disregulated nervous system.
I am in this constant state and have been for a few years now. It is exhausting and I can barely live with it much longer. I fear it will kill me. I am unable to calm it down and it never calms down itself. I am terrified and don't know what to do anymore. Jim says it does go down by itself that's not my experience at all. Been to the docs and emergency in tears over and over with no answers or help given. Please help Jim.
Hyperstimulation will subside on its own when we reduce stress, increase rest, contain anxious behavior, not stress about the symptoms, and give the body time to recover. However, a lot of anxious people don't do those things, especially containing their anxious behavior and not stressing about their symptoms, which continues to fuel hyperstimulation and symptoms. This is why we recommend connecting with one of our therapists, so that the therapist can help you identify and address the areas that are causing hyperstimulation and its symptoms to persist If you don't know what those areas area, they'll keep the body stressed and symptomatic. This is a common scenario we regularly see.
I had the same problem. I had the 3 fight or flight hormones trapped in my body and they were not leaving. I learned a bit about sound healing and this really works. I found 3 videos on youtube. They are sine tones. 46, 418 and 620. They are 1 hour each. I put the 3 of them on loop and they run at night. They clear the hormones. Sometimes you may feel funny as when the hormones clear the area they were in it may spasm. For instance I got brain fog when my brain was clearing. Give it a few weeks. Just keep doing it.
The problem I have is that when I'm hyperstimulated I don't want others to notice or/and I'm afraid that is going to hinder me in things that I'm about to do. This of course creates even more stress.
Developing healthy boundaries is a good way to put people's opinions in perspective...so they don't bother you. Having healthy boundaries allows us to live authentically and without being discouraged by everyone else's opinions.
So I've been having chronic back pain, my doctors recommended me to get an MRI scan, But MRI scans stimulate nerves in the body, will that make hyperstimulation worse? I scored 75 on the hyperstimulation test a month ago, and the severity of my symptoms have went down, the only main symptoms I have now is just brain surges happening almost everyday but its not too difficult to deal with.
I've not heard of people complaining about an increase in symptoms due to having an MRI. That's not to say it can't happen, but that it's not something I heard people mention. Great job on reducing your stress. As you continue to work at it, your hyperstimulation test results should diminish, and so will your symptoms. Chronic back pain is a common indication of elevated stress.
Is there a way to tell the difference between the condition POTS and anxiety? They sound sooo similar. I asked my doctor and she didn’t know what pots was… made me lose some faith in whether I’m being correctly and thoroughly tested..
Yes, they do produce similar symptoms. And anxiety can cause and aggravate POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). If you address your anxiety and stress issues and your POTS subsides, you'll know the cause. If it doesn't subside, it could be its own condition. That's about the only way you'd truly know. It's surprising your doctor didn't know what POTS is.
Anxiety and hyperstimulation-caused lightheadedness/floating feeling is most often caused by an overly stressed vestibular system, which makes it more difficult for the body to find its balance (hence feeling lightheaded, off-balance, and floating feeling). When we're standing up, the brain can more easily find its balance from the objects around us. However, when we lie down, the brain can have a more difficult time finding its balance, which causes an increase in the sensation of feeling off-balance. However, that's not always the case. We can feel more lightheaded when standing up, moving our head, or moving around, too. I had both. As the degree of hyperstimulation increases, we can have more instances and situations that cause lightheadedness.
oh you replied! Thank you thank you. 🙏🏼So Jim, I just need to try my best to ignore it how things sound and keep my stress at bay so it will go away? Is that what containment means?? Not reacting to it? Will I even know when it’s gone? It’s hard watching tv knowing they still sound muffled down. When you had this did you continue watching the tv and listening to music even tho it sounded funny to you? The high pitch sound I hear when things come on with things is scary Jim. It’s very hard not to feel anxious hearing it all like this but I am trying. My ears still feel blocked and people talking and certain things are still muffled also. But if it’s in a store or if it’s the lawnmower it’s very loud to me. Does containment mean not reacting at all to what any of it sounds like so it will go away? Aka not letting it bother me? You don’t think it’s my ears? It’s the hyperstimulation?? If I feel more calm compared to when I was how come it still all sounds funny to me?? Did you just continue on about your day when this happened to you and ignore it?? I left my number on your anxiety number voicemail. Can you call me? If not I’ll wait for your reply again. It’s very helpful talking to you when you wrote the article about the auditory symptoms. I’ve never experienced this before in my life and I’ve had anxiety often but never with my ears. All of this started when I woke up to some beeping in my right ear. Once I freaked out about that is when all the distortions started happening over the next few weeks. I feel like I’m still not hearing things normally but I have been more calm now going on two weeks….
Everything you mentioned is super common, including the beeping sound. Since anxiety symptoms are symptoms of stress, they will subside when you eliminate your unhealthy stress and give your body sufficient time to recover. As it recovers, it stops sending symptoms, including auditory symptoms. So yes, reduce your stress, contain your anxiousness, and be patient as your body recovers and eliminates symptoms. It will take time, though, as the body doesn't recover quickly from hyperstimulation.
Hi Jim your methods helped me 2 years ago . Now i seem to get slightly light headed and floating feeling for no reason and I know its anxiety.could last a day or so .. sometomes longer . Is this a normal feeling?
Feeling lightheaded and "floating" are common signs of anxiety and stress, especially chronic stress (hyperstimulation). If you've had some stress recently, that could be the cause.
I am getting a groinal fight or flight response. Just randomly it seems. I thought it was a weird menopause symptom since I suspect I'm due for that soon but I am beginning to think its anxiety. So am trying to reduce the stress I apparently didn't know I had. Has anyone else experienced this?
Does this seem like a hyper stimulated state? So I been having spasm in my tongue and eyes and internal vibration, tremors, worst when I lay down and when I wake up but the tongue is constant, since I’ve been working on my anxiety and stress the feelings of internal vibration has pretty much disappeared other then when I first wake up. Any feedback would be helpful thanks!
@@anxietycentre thanks for the feedback the last few days I have woke up vibration free !!! I have accepted my symptoms and do not fear them anymore and it seems to get better and better with everyday
I have been working on my health anxiety for some time, managed to remove all long term symptoms but now they have creeped back in. For 2 weeks now I have had tenseness in my calves, tingling in my left arm and hand. The tingling has also come back to my face. Why are they not going away? Even when I ignore them?
We have a video coming about that. But in the meantime, you can read an article about that here: www.anxietycentre.com/faq/why-did-my-anxiety-symptoms-return/
Is it possible to damage your heart with anxiety? I have frequent panic attacks and my heart beats a little quickly sometimes, I'm very afraid of having a heart attack despite being very young and in good health and being told by doctors that my health is good. I can't imagine the heart does well with that much stimulation, it's a muscle like everything else and if you use your muscles too frequently, they get sore.
I think my anxiety attacks stem from a fear of heart problems. I am convinced that I have got heart damage or coronary disease. I've had several ECG's, trop blood tests, chest x-rays and a stress test, all clear. I've just had full blood work done and my cholesterol is on the high side of normal, well, all day I've been thinking of an impending heart attack, about a hour ago I had a brief but extreme panic attack, after the attack my body was trembling for tens of minutes. The thing is, chronic stress can raise cholesterol and cause heart attacks and cardiac arrest. I'm stuck in a viscous circle and there's no way out. A couple of days ago I started taking 40mg of propranolol, that's until I read about the negatives of weaning off them. I took two of the tablets and immediately stopped the treatment. I'm a male of 38, a proud one at that, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy and can't see a way out.
I've listened to both parts now - thank you! I have a question I wondered if you could help me with. I try to practice deep relaxation once a day. This is typically a body scan, loving kindness meditations or relaxing hypnosis. I often get hypnic jerks/body jolts when I do these (I often start to doze when relaxing). Why do I get these when I am relaxing? I try to tell myself they are nothing to fear but it is hard when they sometimes literally make my heart race and it feels like a big jolt of adrenaline. What can I do? Overall, I feel my anxiety symptoms are decreasing but this one seems to persist.
Whenever I lie down before I drift off into sleep, I feel my heart beating rapidly and this has been going on for quite a while now… is this hyper stimulation?
It can be. Racing heart when trying to go to sleep is common for hyperstimulation. However, we always recommend discussing your symptoms with your doctor to ensure they are solely anxiety/stress related, as there are many medical conditions that can produce symptoms that mimic anxiety/stress symptoms.
How long does this process take? I have been to a lot of doctors and er rooms. Nothing is wrong i have had anxiety when I wake up just like her starts if little and builds and it been going on for 8 months now I have health anxiety over this. It’s crazy!!! Does the morning anxiety leave. Comments please
We give some recovery guidelines in the Recovery Support area (chapter 14). Yes, the morning anxiety does subside as the body recovers and you work on your anxious behavior.
Please can you tell me can I go to the gym when i experience this?? Can I workout to distract myself or do I need to rest? Does gym cause my stress as well? I got anxiety 2!
Regular deep relaxation is just as important as sleep, if not more so. We explain the advantages of regular deep relaxation in the Recovery Support area.
@@anxietycentre thank you. Great news. Only thing is to bypass the wired and tired sensation. And I noticed I can do that with simple relaxation and simple resting.
Regular deep relaxation also teaches us cognitive control, which can lead to better containment. It also can teach us to tolerate discomfort, also helpful in recovery and dealing with symptoms. Both very helpful for recovery and lasting success!
@@anxietycentre yes, thank you very much. The other symptoms subsided a few months ago, only insomnia is a little more stubborn. I get weird and lucid dreams. Also a little more sensitive when I have a full schedule. That is where my anxious behaviour started.
There are many. We mention a lot of them in Chapter 6 in the Recovery Support area. However, it helps to have context, too, about how to self-soothe, extinguish fear, and have a realistic expectation of recovery. All that information needs to be taken together to be truly effective.
I would love to know how this women is doing now????? My body does the same awful thing,, so uncomfortable. Can't ride it through always have a crying fit. Did she go on meds??
Me too! I can handle the mild to moderate anxiety for the most part, but when it gets severe, I fall apart. So, so hard to accept and live life when you feel so bad.
@@JenniferPost oh ,, thank you. I just feel so alone going though this. I've been dealing with this over a year. Don't know if I should try meds,, but that makes me more anxious. You just can't win with this shit.
@@tracystandish3420 I have vestibular migraine that is triggered by anxiety. The meds I'm taking have made a huge difference. I was concerned about taking them, but it is such a relief to get some relief after over 3 years of misery.
Hi Tim I'm experiencing dp dr and when I go for a walk and walk up a hill my feelings get stronger and I can feel my pulse in my chest I don't know why this is happening can you help me gerry
Hyperstimulation can make normal activities have more of an impact on the mind and body. We explain why in the Recovery Support area of our website if you'd like more information.
@@anxietycentreyes , also when you push on my chest on the joints it hurts to press on , I’m told that’s Costocondritis , can Gerd and Acid Reflux and esophagus Spasms all cause a Pressure / Squeezing feeling in the sternum ?
Yes, it can. Anxiety and chronic stress (hyperstimulation) can cause esophageal spasms, as well as GERD and Acid Reflux because of how they affect the digestive system.
@@anxietycentre yes the Symptoms come and go , but I’m on some Acid Medication to help it , and all of that can cause Radiating Pains to the Arms Shoulders and Jaw , see i worry about the Symptoms which i shouldn’t because then they don’t stop
If your doctor has attributed your symptoms solely to anxiety, you don't have to fear them. The ones you mentioned are common anxiety symptoms. Being afraid of them can keep them going. So, you want to work at calming yourself down. You can read about each of those symptoms here from our anxiety symptoms article: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/
Thank you so very much.Am reading all your post.I never went through anything quite like this and Ive had high anxiety most of my adult life.I also posted on your latest video.Am a mess right now.I don't think I've cried this much in my whole life as I been lately.You truly are a wonderful human being!!!
@@anxietycentre Thanks so much Jim (or whoever is posting with his picture). I do appreciate it. I will study these approaches tomorrow and see if I can incorporate them into my life as much as possible. I am in the process of reading through "Unlearn Your Pain" The idea of digging up all my past rage and whatnot seems intensely unpleasant. Anyhow, I realize you don't have time for counseling any more - perhaps I should try the members area of your site to see if i can get more information there. I am grateful that in spite of my pain I have been able to get a lot of work done and fulfill some challenging family responsibilities. However, I need a long term gameplan that will get me on the right track and making progress not just treading water. Again, thanks.
Ok now I’m concerned a tad bit and I want to believe it’s that my body is in a state of hyperstimulation. I feel like this because my temples have started to flare up over time and I’m a younger person so medical emergency has almost been ruled out but I’ve been looking for an answer somewhere saying that because my body is in this state that it cause the body to just have this continuous feeling of pulsing veins
I only got 4 mins in and had to stop watching... I don't agree that crying reinforces the idea that these feelings are bad. Crying releases cortisol, that's why we feel better after. Why would crying have to confirm the idea that these feelings are bad? To me that reinforces the idea that many of us internalize at a very young age, that we "shouldn't" cry. We absolutely should if and when we need to. Especially when the anxiety is due to triggers that activate trauma responses.
Occasional crying is cathartic and can help express emotions and temporarily reduce stress. However, regular crying can aggravate hyperstimulation and its symptoms because crying releases stress hormones, increasing stimulation rather than reducing it.
@@anxietycentre that's interesting, thanks for sharing. Are you familiar with sensory processing sensitivity, or "highly sensitive people?" Our nervous systems are a little different, and we feel our emotions more deeply than non-HSPs, process both external and internal sensory stimuli more deeply, and therefore can be easily overstimulated. Those of us HSPs with childhood trauma are even more prone to depression and anxiety than non-HSPs who experience trauma. In the times where I'm in that stress-response hyper stimulation, I *have* to cry frequently. I react to triggers very easily and frequently, and crying is the only way I can get out of the fight-or-flight mode and near panic attacks. I'm in therapy and working on stress mgmt, distress tolerance, coping skills, cognitive reframing, healing trauma, etc, and as much as I'm able, I make adjustments in my life to minimize stress. But until I can recover from the stress-response hyper stimulation state, crying frequently is just not optional.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I'm very familiar with the concept of HSP. Have you been tested for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Also, have you had your IQ tested and rated? I ask because ADHD, ASD, and high IQer's are often highly sensitive, making emotional regulation more challenging until healthy coping skills are learned and employed. Yes, trauma can compound the issue. It's great you are working with a therapist. There are many skills we can learn to overcome being highly sensitive and anxious. I've had to do that work myself since I was a highly sensitive person growing up, who also experienced childhood abuse/trauma. It's also noteworthy to keep in mind that elevated stress can make us more emotionally unstable. Crying is often a symptom of hyperstimulation. I had to deal with that, too, during my recovery.
@@anxietycentre I'm not sure, I may have had an IQ test at some point in school, but I don't know the results. I did excel in school, started taking college classes my junior year of high school. I've never been tested for ASD, but I'm familiar with the traits and I don't have any other than the sensory sensitivity. I'd never had any suggestion or cause to be tested for ADHD when I was young, though I did have a previous psychiatric nurse practitioner suggest it about 8 years ago. She prescribed Mydais, which I stopped after 3 days because it made the anxiety worse and had no affect on concentration. When I told my therapist, she was very confused, because my difficulty concentrating at that time was easily explained by anxiety and depression. I'm familiar with the symptoms, and I don't have any of those either, other than the concentration. I do have bipolar disorder, which my father had as well, I was diagnosed 12 yrs ago and have been on meds and in and out of therapy ever since. But I recently came across some information from a psychiatrist who talked about how complex PTSD can sometimes look like mania, and that one major difference was, where someone in a manic episode will get very little sleep, they feel fine without it, they feel like they don't need it. Whereas with complex PTSD, we very much feel the lack of sleep. And when I look back, I'm not sure I've ever had a single episode where I *didn't* miss the sleep. Discussed this with my psychiatrist last week, and am going to be starting with a new therapist, EMDR, next week. So I guess we'll see.
I forgot to mention that the difficulty concentrating is not chronic, only when I'm depressed or anxious, which is not always. Same with the emotional reactivity. It *is* always with me to a certain degree, but often in a way I can cope with. Only debilitating when I'm under a great deal of stress, which I have been for over a month with work.
We don't recommend taking a cold shower when hyperstimulated because the cold stresses the body, which can aggravate hyperstimulation since hyperstimulation is chronic stress. While you might feel a bit better immediately after the shower, the stress from the cold can exacerbate hyperstimulation hours later.
There are a lot of reasons why some people make better progress than others. The degree of hyperstimulation, the level of work they do, how persistent they are doing their work, and the differences in the physical body can all contribute to success, plus much more.
Jim I read this article from and ENT post somewhere & it has me still worried some 🫣👇🏼 When you’re stressed, the extra adrenaline can decrease or stop circulation in the inner ear, damaging or even destroying the essential tiny hair cells inside your ear. This can cause gradual hearing loss over time, or even sudden hearing loss if circulation stops completely. If your hearing loss is a reaction to stress then it's often reversible: first cut out the stress for improved circulation (easier said than done - but take a look at this handy NHS stress buster guide for some starting points) and then even consider rehabilitation of your hair cells through sound therapy. If you’re concerned about stress-induced hearing loss then look out for symptoms such as blocked ears, an inability to hear sounds at certain frequencies, a sensation of pressure in your ears, loss of hearing in one or both of your ears, sounds seeming more distant than usual, or tinnitus. How do I know I didn’t damage my hair cells from being so stressed with high blood pressure that might have restricted my blood flow to my ears and did some damage from last month?? I was anxious and overly stressed/crying with high blood pressure for 3 weeks Jim. I passed all my hearing test on the Audiogram several times now. And they said I have “normal hearing” but would that have shown if I damaged hair cells because I’m still concerned that this won’t gradually fade, with things seeming further away or muffled yet loud 🙁🥴👆🏼
A few things: 1. I encourage you to stop Googling and searching for answers. You can discover all kinds of scary things that will keep you stressed and symptomatic, even though most (if not all) won't apply to your situation. Since your hearing tests came back normal, you haven't damaged your ears. 2. You need to stop worrying about your symptoms. That worry will keep them going. Focus on stress reduction, rest, and containing your worry. When you do that, you'll see some positive results, but in time. Results don't occur right away. 3. I encourage you to become a Recovery Support member and learn about anxiety and recovery. There are many articles in there you'd find helpful. 4. Connect with one of our recommended therapists. Marie has openings at the moment and she can help you with your anxiety and symptoms. Going it alone typically isn't that helpful.
@@anxietycentre I can’t thank you enough for being kind and caring enough to respond to me each time. I’m going to try to stop googling then bc it makes it worse. That is my ocd part trying to figure this out because I’ve been stuck focusing on it for a month already. With you saying you went through all the symptoms I have described, I try to tell myself you had it too and know what I’m talking about. It’s hard to think my hearing will go back to what I considered normal knowing how all of it sounds right now. My ears feel like blown busted speakers that don’t transmit or hear anything how it did before and it makes me fearful that it will continu, day after day. I have reduced a lot of the anxious stress that I started with March 24th and I guess because I’ve not seen many results it has me fearful my hearing is stuck this way being a month in. I’ve went to so many ents and audiologists afraid they are missing something or nerve damage/hair cells or what not that it consumes my thoughts. I’ve diagnosed myself with hidden hearing loss, diplacusis, hyperacusis, so many more because it seems all of them apply. And then your article also. I’m trying hard to do what you said applying it to my days not to be anxious or feel stressed if that really is what’s making it continue. I do have Eustachian tube dysfunction according to my ents but all of this started when I had those beeps in my that woke me up in my right ear and then I got upset anxious and stressed about it . Then I did reading and research about the ears and then all of the distortions came and it just got worse from there which made me think I damaged something from the stress/anxiety about those beeps. I’m going to try my best once again to tell myself it takes time to make it go away and try to ignore the hearing weirdness/symptoms and pray it is the anxiety/stress still left in my body causing it. When you say stop worrying about the symptoms does that mean JUST LET THEM ALL BE- the weird tones, the loudness/muffledness/ distorting tv and radio, weird air conditioner Sounds, even the shower and chips bags and just try not to care about it? And eventually it will just be gone??? All of them??? If I was only stressed half a month but it was severely how long does the hypersensitivity or hyperstimulation from the auditory part take to calm down once your body is actually back to normal? Does it go away little by little or how does that work, Jim?
Yes, accept that your body is stressed and producing symptoms, passively-accept them (allow them to exist without reacting to them), contain your anxiety, reduce stress wherever you can, and be patient. As your body recovers from chronic stress (hyperstimulation), it will stop producing symptoms of stress, including yours.
It's rare for me to make an additional comment but I felt it was warranted here because after six days, I seem to have made enormous progress thanks to this video. The day after I watched it, seven to ten anxiety attacks started throughout the day. I told myself "anxiety attacks are not dangerous. I can control my emotions." I even started tapping my chest, which I know nothing about but figured it couldn't hurt. I was also very conscious not to breathe deeply but rather to regulate my breathing as normally as possible." NONE of those anxiety attack threats came to fruition! The next day it only threatened three times. I did the same thing all three times and NONE became a full-on attack. On the third day, there were NO threats of panic attacks! If at all, they were so mild and I was able to talk them down within a minute or two so that I wouldn't even count them. Now I'm on the sixth day and I'm so happy! Please give it a try : D
You make a lot of sense. Glad to have found you. Thank you for your counsel.
You are so welcome!
I do what my grandmother taught me 65 years ago: throw things at the rockpile in the yard. It's such a release and after all these decades, I feel seen by and approved by her.
Thank you for doing this video. Deep down I know that I'm suffering with anxiety and that I'm terribly hyperstimulated, especially over the last few months but I just can't to stop thinking of the worst case scenario all the time when I have the symptoms - Which seems to be pretty much constantly lately. At the moment I've got the horrible churning stomach thats making me feel sick and also making me feel like I can't breathe properly. Earlier I had the 'whole body tingling with nerves' feeling. I also have constant tension in my neck and scalp that makes me feel lightheaded or have blurred vision or headaches. I'm struggling to go out because I'm scared of being panicky/anxious when I'm out but I also feel panicky/anxious at home. I must admit I am my own worst enemy. Every day I get up and think I'll clean, watch some TV, meditate, do some exercise, read...BUT I'll put the TV on and be googling at the same time. I'll read a book, but it'll be an anxiety book, I'll meditate but find it hard to focus and I'll clean while listening to podcasts about...Anxiety!!! 😔 I feel like it's taking over my life... It is taking over my life!! I've been off work for 2 months now because I couldn't work like that any longer. I'm scared to take medication although I do take a 10mg propranolol or 2 most days now. I regularly check my blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and oxygen levels. I've had blood tests and an ecg which were all fine....
This may sound like a silly question but does this definitely, definitely sound like anxiety?? I'm sitting here shaking my head because I've asked that question, it's as if I'm constantly looking for reassurance but even when I have it, it's not long before Im seeking it again...Its exhausting isn't it. I hope we all get better soon!! 🩵🩷
I sounds like anxiety. Because of your struggle, I highly recommend connecting with one of our recommended therapists to help you overcome it. It would be a shame to struggle and struggle when there are many ways to eliminate anxiety issues, including medical and health fears. I encourage you not to waste years like I did. It's not worth it. Life can be great again when you work through anxiety.
@@anxietycentre Thank you so much for your reply Jim. I'm currently on a waiting list for CBT here in the UK. I've been waiting since March and my first appointment will be in July. Hopefully that will help me but I do wish I'd have seen your therapists weeks or months ago because I feel like this wait has just given me more time to focus and dwell on how I'm feeling even more and therefore made me worse.
I keep trying to tell myself that it's definitely anxiety - I feel like people who do actually have physical health problems don't worry like we do, unless they also have anxiety. For example people with heart or blood pressure problems don't constantly check theirs like I do. People with other issues don't tend to Google like I do or worry about going out to different places. They just get on with things and don't let it take over their lives like anxiety sufferers seem to do. Anxiety really can make us be our own worst enemy can't it. Even after all of this time I'm still really struggling to accept that the symptoms can't harm me. I wake up every day with the horrible butterflies in my stomach and that symptom seems to trigger off the others. I always think if I could have a few days where I got a break from that then I'd start to feel better.
Thanks again for your reply Jim, I really do appreciate it and I also appreciate all that you are doing to help people ☺
This is exactly how I feel as well, and been checking to see if this is all anxiety or if there is something wrong with me constantly. Mine started with a light pressure in my scalp around 4 months ago, the feeling like I’m falling while walking, and pins and needles in my legs. After that, I went to the doctors to check my blood pressure and blood. The results came all good. My symptoms almost disappeared for around 2-3 weeks. However, a few weeks later I started feeling the pressure in my head almost constantly, and my anxiety about my health kept intensifying until one day I started checking my whole body and thinking that something is wrong with me. I would stress about it every moment. I went on holidays where I supposed to relax but what I kept thinking about is that there is sth wrong with me. I woke up on a second day of holiday and couldn’t feel my whole body, I felt sick, I couldn’t eat, I was shaking, my muscles were twitching, my mouth was dry, I was dissociating, felt dizzy, headaches intensified. I was like this for almost two weeks until my family managed to calm me down a bit. I came back to the UK, and started feeling a little better, I felt the symptoms but I started to just be okay with them more. Also, doing yoga and some Vagus nerve exercises. However, what still makes me frustrated, that even at the calm state, I would still feel either a pressure in my head, pins and needles in my whole body, would wake up all sweaty, would start feeling nauseous out of nowhere or that it’s hard to breathe. I’m currently doing all the tests and scans to see if I’m okay as my anxiety about my health is so so intense right now. I never experienced this before and it’s sometimes very hard to believe that it is all anxiety...
I also feel like I also always need reassurance that it’s all just anxiety and that I’m going to be okay.
@@RoniVeko123 That is the big hurdle that needs to be overcome in order to start to heal from this: Am I sure that it's the anxiety? It most assuredly is, but as long as there is even a tiny doubt in your mind, the symptoms will continue. They are real and quite frightening. It's anxiety's role to convince you that something's wrong in a misguided effort to keep you safe. The key is inner reassurance, but it is much, much easier said than done. Stay strong. You don't suffer alone.
I havent heard/read that you are praying, repenting, surrendering,forgiving and being grateful for all the blessings. Lay them and lift it all to GOD🙏 there is power in prayers🙏
Also saying calming mantras for hours will not help. You need to let your body rage w anxiety while you go on with your day as normal. Making it be of no consequence to your functioning is the way to teach your body that the alarms don’t need to be ringing all the time. Claire Weekes. Seriously.
Have you cured pain symptoms this way
Yes but they will linger. If you let them scare you they will stick around, get worse, or morph into new symptoms. It takes patience. They stay for a while unfortunately. Give yourself a couple of months to really calm it all. If you freak out w/in that time it will take longer. Have faith in the process and it will get better
@@zma7707 as it sorted yours yes all started in my throat 6 years ago fear yes
Unfortunately I still freak out about symptoms so it’s a work in progress. Mine change so when I get a new symptom I freak out about it (health anxiety) and it takes me some time to work on it. It’s almost like as soon as you are ok w a symptom your body finds a new one so you can get anxious again! I’m working on accepting it all . I have stopped googling symptoms -which is huge.
@@zma7707ere’s what I don’t get. If I bring this all down, but fall into some bad thinking habits again. Does that mean that I’m back to square one in my stress symptoms? That basically I’ve re stressed my body all over again and will have to take months to de stress it?
It feels like this is saying you’re not allowed to mess up once in a while. But mess ups are learning experiences, part of the journey.
Knowledgeable is power. The more we educate ourselves about anxiety and accept that it’s part of who we are as human being, the easier it gets. What has helped me is accepting it and working to manage it. Relaxing the body with deep breathing, meditation and somatic exercises has helped.
Thanks, but meditation may be harmful for some PTSD sufferers.
This is 100% me. I experience that same thing that lady was talking about. God bless her though❤
Hi Jim. Recently signed up to your site. Very informative. Thank you for the work you do. I have dealt with severe anxiety for 25 years. And just when I thought I had experienced the worse it had to offer I get hit with facial and head numbness on a daily basis. For the last 5 months. MRI was all clear. It’s just so hard to convince myself that this is from being in a Hyper-stimulated state for so many years and my body just couldn’t take it anymore. This numbness occurs whether I stressed or not. Even when I do the work I need to it’s still there. I rarely have a day when it doesn’t occur. It’s just so hard to think that Stress and anxiety has caused this. I know I have a long road but I just need some reassurance. Again, I have read endless papers on hyper stimulation and the havoc it causes when you live in that state for years. Just so hard when you are your own worst enemy to snap out of it. Thank you again
Dan
Hi Dan! Thank you for your kind comments! Often, worry gets us into hyperstimulation and keeps us there. So, yes, we are often our own worst enemy. And when the body become hyperstimulated, it can take much longer than we expect to eliminate it. So it's common to have persistent symptoms even when you think you are doing everything correctly. Many of us have felt that way during recovery.
However, if you stay the course and be patient, you should see hyperstimulation diminish, and along with it, symptoms, including persist symptoms. It just takes longer than we expect. Facial and head numbness are common symptoms of hyperstimulation, especially if a person clenches their teeth and jaw. We see a lot of that.
@@anxietycentre thank you for the response. It’s just so hard. When I feel like things are getting better but this fullness/numbness stays lingering in my face and head. Again, thank you
@@sfredacorp what mistake u did ,, so that u suffered 25 years..
And what changes u made ,so that you are thinking,u r recovering??
Can you explain please?
Just let it be there it's the fighting keeping it alive
Hi dan i can relate to your symptoms i too had facial numbness and it felt very scary it affected my mouth and nose area was noticable when i talked. Been having panic and anxiety attacks for months. And yes its difficult living alone like i do too. Hope you having a better day today. 🕊🦋🙂
I am hyperstimulated but when it comes to sleep, I can sleep very well at night and actually I am always sleepy and tired when my stress levels are high or very high. I also suffer from dpdr. But it is very difficult for me to rest during the day because I have this anxious energy all the time and I just can't rest at all. I always feel like I have to do something or figure something out or I am missing out on things and I just have to be on the go all the time. It is very hard. I literally get urges to do something or open youtube or search for some solutions, AGHH it is just so hard to function optimally. I am glad I found a channel which is so relatable because I have never heard someone talk about hyperstimulation before. Thank you
You're very welcome!
@@anxietycentreI forgot to mention that I suffer from CPTSD, so I am always in a hypervigilance state but my symptoms are same with that of a person with hyperstimulation so are these videos for me? To rest for me is very difficult so should I apply these tips and practice daily rest?
I always feel comforted when i listen to this lady and her journey she describes her feelings and struggles so honestly and reminds me of myself and the long battle we all face coping with this its so exhausting im only 2/3 months since mine began. And its a lonely journey that will take time. I hope she is in a better place now. Big hugs to everyone experiencing this. 🦋💗🕊🙏
@michelecull3261
May the day come quickly for each & everyone of us battling anxiety.Bless you and many prayers to you am 10 months,but just started following anxiety centre.
How are you doing now Michele? I agree with you that it is a lonely journey and an exhausting battle. I keep saying that I just need a few days of being symptom free then maybe I could get on top of it all and get better but it's just relentless at the moment. I know the way I react to it doesn't help but it's hard not to react when we feel so bad isn't it
@@snm7654 Hi yes its a long and difficult journey mine started around xmas time im now on medication for anxiety and depression there was no other way it was relentless and i was desperate the worse time is when im on my own or waking up first thing after having poor sleep. The meds are working after taking them for 5 weeks now. I hope you are not alone in this and not suffering to badly. How are things at the moment. 🕊🌼💗😔
@@michelecull3261 The morning anxiety is horrendous isn't it. Almost every day I wake up with the horrible butterflies in my stomach and the all over nervous feeling which always triggers off yet another day of anxiety/panic. I just can't seem to accept that the symptoms won't harm me/kill me. I should be used to them by now but they frighten me just as much now as they did months ago. It doesn't help that I'm on my own alot of the time while my partner is at work or playing golf. I also struggle to go out so I'm stuck at home most of the time trying to fill up the day with TV, meditation, doing exercises on CZcams, sleeping etc etc. I find that I'm always looking inwardly as to how I'm feeling, or checking my pulse etc which I know is only fuelling my anxiety even more....I need someone to give me a good shake or a good slap to stop me from doing all of this to myself.
My doctor has given me betablockers and an anti depressant but the betablockers make me feel tired and aware of my BP and heart rate. I haven't dared to take the anti depressants because I'm scared of the side effects....I feel like I'm scared of everything lately. I'm due to start CBT next week, I've been on the waiting list for 4 months.
I'm glad things are getting better for you 🩷
@@snm7654 Yes i agree the mornings are the worst even though i take meds now i still have those panicky anxious feelings over the slightest things but they have become less intense i was offered beta blockers too. I live on my own and only really go out if i have too like food shopping. and its quickly. I have health anxiety too i had it horrifically all of june. I hope you find your beta blockers helpful and meditation etc i was seeing a counsellor for 3 months but i dont think it was helping so i stopped. It works for some but not everyone. Mental health services are difficult too here in uk such long waiting lists unless you can afford to pay. I try and keep busy if i can with small things if i dont then i start feeling anxious thoughts again.
I’m trying to juggle multiple things, intrusive thoughts while hyper stimulated really stir shit up
Yes, it sure can.
I have had the odd bouts of anxiety since I was 15, nothing too long. But, several months ago, in the summer, I started suffering from terrible health anxiety along with extreme panic attacks that have ebbed and flowed. The difference this time is I've got a constant weight on my shoulders that I just can't shake off, it's like a permanent cloud hanging over me. Each and every anxiety attack seems to be worse than the last, the fear of impending doom and imminent death is horrifying. I am convinced I have a heart problem but all tests say I'm ok, but, this stress and anxiety is that bad I am worried that it is causing my real physical damage.
Hey man I’m only 19 , I have health anxiety too, and panic attacks . Though I have been able to control my panic attacks , I’m constantly obsessing over my body from the weird symptoms, I get random heart palpitations and weird sensations , it’s not going to damage your heart I can assure you , your nervous system is just haywire atm and your body is intercepting everything as a threat , the key is once you constantly stress over feelings you get hyper stimulated bc your body starts to think being in a heightened stress response is normal so you got to learn to not freak out about it , we got this bro
@@PacManCj God knows what it is, I'm seeing the cardiologist for a 24 hour ECG but everything so far as come back ok. I keep having these light headed, floaty feelings and inside my head sometimes feel like it's vibrating, I do hope I can snap out of it whatever is causing it.
It’s like he had the conversation with me!!! I wonder how this gal is doing!
I suspect that like most things in our lives, people who suffer anxiety attacks will suffer more of them and more intense ones as we age. I really appreciated the woman who asked questions and did not simply go along with answers that did not sit right with her but continued to question. This was extremely helpful. It was also helpful to me to hear that these attacks are not dangerous because I think the more I was afraid of their possible implications, the more anxious I became. Also, to try to actively be aware that they are not dangerous seems very helpful because the anxiety dissipates. The tip about breathing--but NOT DEEP breathing is so good to know.
Jim is so on target wow .. hyper stimulation is what ive neen having several weeks fear that is being reinforced like im stuck woth a phobia that came back its all in my mind
Jim when you get back from your hip surgery will you be making more CZcams about symptoms. Especially morning symptoms of anxiety
you replied!!! 🙂 oh that made my morning!! thank you so much Jim. I read it! I have one more and I’m sorry it’s so long I just want to make sure I explain this right to you --> things seem louder and more rumbled in my RIGHT ear. Is that still from all of this?? I just left the ent again today and he did a tuning fork. I told him the sound it made is louder in the right than the left like everything else I hear loud and rumbled and he said he’s not comparing sides.??? Made me feel confused?? Because my right ear feels more distorted and clogged?? And has been this way for the month….. so even things seeming so much louder and and yet rumbled even if it’s in one ear more than the other (in my case the right ear is louder/distorted) it’s still the hyperstimulation? And the things running giving off that high pitching ringing/ whistling sound to my ears along with its normal compressor sound (which those sounds are loud and sounds rumbled) will subside? Even regular sounds like a chip bag, toilet paper or the sink running has a whistle to it and seems so loud and distorted which is odd because I know it normally doesn’t sound like that but I’m sure you have experienced it like this too?? Even My Ac running in my house sounds so loud and rumbled to my ears being inside. Yet if it’s people talking I feel like I’m almost deaf to what they are saying. It’s like things get loud when it’s things that run and they ring, and if it’s people they are talking so quiet! If I go outside, I even hear a constant light ringing out there in the background. I’m trying my best to ignore it and tell myself it’s what you experienced yourself because NObODY else has ever heard of this. My family doesn’t understand what’s goin but my Mom said it’s the anxiety. When you posted about pitch and clarity maybe that explains why the tv is on but it seems like the clarity is off. I can hear them but it sounds like it’s hard to understand them more than before like it’s not clear audio. (The tv sounds are louder than the people and they sound hard to understand like they are mumbling and soft) The radio plays a lot of tricks on me because one song might sound echoed and another might sound ok. My own voice even seems louder and deeper to me which is also scary? Including others sounding deep voiced yet they sound soft or harder to hear. If you get a moment Jim (and I know your very busy at the centre) it would make my day to be able to talk to you on the phone if possible. It means a lot being able to speak with you just on here. Will it slowly all start going back to normal?? I’ve never struggled as much with this as I have anything. How will my body know that it’s over? I’ve been calm for two weeks but I will say it’s in the back of my mind worrying about my ears being stuck like this or thinking I damaged them. The loudness/muffled distorting and the ringing/whistled sound with things running really makes it hard not to react with fear and anxiety but I am working my hardest on letting it all be and telling myself this will fade and go back to normal. You think it will for me also, having experienced it?? Even if it’s caused hyperacusis, (the loudness and the rumbles, & the high pitched ringing/whistling to things) will leave too once stress and anxiety are better?? This will all go away Jim????
Yes, all the symptoms you mentioned are common for anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. You can read more about anxiety and auditory symptoms here:
www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/auditory-symptoms/
Since these are classic symptoms of hyperstimulation (chronic stress), they will subside when you reduce your stress and give your body time to recover.
I had all those symptoms back when I struggled with anxiety disorder and hyperstimulation. Once I recovered, I've not had them since. So yes, you can get rid of them. Hyperstimulation-caused auditory symptoms aren't permanent.
When you eliminate the cause (hyperstimulation), you'll eliminate hyperstimulation symptoms.
Again, containing your worry, reducing stress, increasing rest, passively-accepting your symptoms in the short term, and being patient will eliminate hyperstimulation and its symptoms, including all auditory symptoms.
Because of your anxiousness and hyperstimulation, I encourage you to connect with one of our recommended therapists to help you through this. Regarding insurance:
www.anxietycentre.com/therapy/anxiety-therapists-that-take-health-insurance/
Once again, no, hyperstimulation-caused auditory symptoms aren't permanent, and they aren't causing permanent damage. They are temporary symptoms of stress. They will resolve when you eliminate your unhealthy stress. But you have to be patient. Eliminating hyperstimulation and its symptoms takes more time than most people expect. This is why you have to be patient as your body recovers.
I feel bad for this lady 😢 I can hear her pain. Hopefully she will let go of the analysis, and hopefully she will feel better soon.
It's torture
I assume the people that talk to you are clients, I would love to talk to you, your a very wise man with very good tips on anxiety
Thank you for your very kind comments. The Skype discussions I have are with Recovery Support members. If you want to join the conversation, become a member, then watch for the next discussion. We should be having one coming up shortly once I can sit at my desk again.
@@anxietycentre can I ask how I become a member
@@anxietycentre Jim can I ask from your experience do you believe anxiety symptoms can last 24/7 for a very long time? I've beat so many symptoms but still have blurry vision and floaters and it's been going for 18 months straight. All eye exams are normal, it feels like I'm in a bad dream
@@chrisnewton2325 I've had eye floaters 24/7 for 25 years but they do not bother me nowadays it's muscle pain what does
Dear Jim 😊
Thank you heaps for this video dear it made me sure that I think my body is hyper stimulated but the extreme as the symptoms in my head, heart, whole body and other symptoms are sooooo strong and scary and is there 24/7 😭😭 my body started these symptoms 10 months ago in December last year and I noticed the day before the symptoms started I had this severe pain and cramp from umm something else too embarrassed to say dear it’s a female monthly thing anyways the cramp was the worst I had and I didn’t take Panadol and I think that extreme pain put my body into hyper stimulation mode 😭😭😭😭 now after 10 months the symptoms are still sooo intense and strong and 24/7 and soo scared what’s next been bedridden all this time as the symptoms get worse when I move around or walk and haven’t been out except to hospitals when the symptoms get scary soo disruptive in life and soo hard to live with 😭😭 was wondering if this is normal for hyperstimulation dear it’s soo bad my mother has to help with me a lot aww I did the mri brain scan, ecg of my heart and they said it’s normal dear so this must be hyperstimulation 😭😭😭
Types of symptoms I get dear 😭
-hard to describe them and could find on google dear
-various types of head symptoms (head floating feeling, random sharp pains in different parts of the head, head on fire, this other scary symptom I can’t describe but really strong and scary it’s like something in my head is about to burst or something, lightheadedness, other strong symptoms
-heart heaviness or random fast heart beats or sometimes heart feels like it’s floating
-nausea and vomitting
-arm pains on my right arm and right thighs
-whole body strong symptoms
-random cramps
Extra information dearest
-symptoms keep changing and alternating between them and as one symptom eases another symptom comes
-symptoms in the recent months are multiple (more than one symptom sometimes 2 symptoms at the same time a d 3-4 symptoms at the same time)
Earlier months was just one symptom
- always in bed can’t function and do daily things everything is on my room can’t cook or can’t clean my room always have to lay down to ease the symptoms
-suffering experience its constant and no breaks
Everything you mentioned is common for anxiety and hyperstimulation. Have you considered working with one of our recommended therapists to help you turn this around?
Aww dearest Jim aww you are really sweet for the confirmation of my mystery condition aww all these months of google searching what my condition is finally ends 😭😭 never thought extreme stress or constant stress or extreme fear can cause sooo much pain 😭😭😭 it’s like my body is going crazy and out of control and doing it’s own thing 😭😭😭😭 usually any condition people have can be easily managed when treating the symptoms but this thing I have is soo hard to treat nothing works and it’s like my severe symptoms keep going and only eases in it’s own after a while 😭😭😭 awww dearest Jim you are sweet for the lovely suggestion with the therapists awww your advices and suggestions is always treasured in my heart dear 😊happy to connect with them and fix this 😭😭😭
Hey Jim, I read your article on article on “Auditory Symptoms”…. I had a few beeps in my right ear that started my anxiety up a few weeks ago. The beeping stopped after a few minutes but I sat in silence a few days with no tv and radio. After that listening for it. Then once I went back to it- Everything is sounding somewhat echoed, louder, and I’ve created a high pitched ring in my head that everything makes noise sounding like- the ac, fridge, my car running, just being outside…… I’ve stayed anxious for 2 weeks being very hyper stimulated and upset over this. People even sound deeper voiced than they normally do, and the radio sounds higher pitched or echoed like in a tunnel and so does my tv now. Two different ents checked my ears and both audiologists gave me a regular hearing test and said my ears are Perfect. My question is what do I do to get my hearing back to sounding normal how it’s supposed to after focusing on how everything is sounding after two weeks? I’m afraid I’ve distorted my perception of hearing psychologically from being so focused on how it sounds and then being anxious, upset and crying. I even diagnosed myself with diplacusis over this. And I don’t think I have that because after watching a video about it is when my tv and radio started sounding funny to me. Any tips or suggestions on how to make my hearing go back to normal would be greatly appreciated. Thank you 🙏🏼
All the symptoms you mentioned are common for hyperstimulation (chronic stress), including anxiety-caused stress. You can get rid of them by following the information on tinnitus here:www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/ringing-in-the-ears/
Since they have the same cause, the solution applies to both. I had all the symptoms you mentioned (and more) when I was dealing with anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. They all subside when you eliminate hyperstimulation.
@@anxietycentre thank you for the reply. Ive been waiting for it and I’ve been crying so much. People on the tv sound like themselves yet deeper voiced and sound muffled? Even the tv being on is creating a ring sound to my ears. People I talk to sound deeper too. Including myself. It’s like I have muffled hearing yet everything is louder at the same time?? Every thing that permits sounds seem distorted- or like it’s a sound I’ve never heard before- All of this is hyperstimulation Jim?? Especially the tv sounding different and people? The radio seems higher pitched and echoed? Some songs sound not as bad as others. Hearing all of this sound different is what has kept my anxiety going along with the sounds that seem unfamiliar when they cut on- like ac and other compressors (almost like swimmers ear minus the rumbles) is there a certain way I need to calm down? Do I just ignore the symptoms and go on about my day? It’s been hard to watch tv or music bc it sounds so weird to me. Which is what I usually do to distract myself or calm down. My Mom says I need to watch the tv and listen to music so it will go back to sounding normal to me yet I have avoided it because of the way it sounds to me. Do I need to start watching it again?? (The tv) It’s hard to function and this has been 3 weeks for me. I’m tired, scared and exhausted. I thought maybe I messed up my hearing?? Never heard people sound deeper in person or on tv before yet still sound familiar to me yet they don’t…. It will go back to normal??? All of this?? The beeping is still there in my ear off an on also. I look forward to your reply and I greatly appreciate it. I’ve been so upset and worried I’m stuck this way. I wouldn’t have damaged my ear to cause my hearing to HEAR different permanently would I? I’m afraid the anxiety and stress from this might have damaged something in my ears causing distortion to the way I hear things. They all just sound so weird and different to me. I’m struggling Jim 🥺😢
First, you don't have to worry about that symptom. It's common for hyperstimulation, including anxiety-caused hyperstimulation. Second, I had that symptom, too. It scared me too when I first got it, thinking my hearing would always be affected that way. But, it does go away. You can read more about it here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/auditory-symptoms/
@@anxietycentre oh thank you Jim for the fast reply! I can’t tell you how much it means to me today. I have the tv on and it’s giving off this awful sound to it, everything is. A certain “pitch that comes through things” that’s not in my head or ears but how I hear it when things are on or go by- the cars, the ac on, the tv, and added to that- from my previous reply the people sound deep on tv and so do people I talk to. Did this exact thing happen the same way with you? Hearing awful pitches or an awful tone that comes through things that doesn’t sound right when it’s on or running?? It is not the tinnitus causing the sounds to be distorted I don’t think bc that beeping comes and goes on it’s own. So is this my anxiety causing my hearing to feel distorted because these things do not sound like they did before to me. And This will go back to normal on its own?? I have the biggest fear I am stuck this way hearing these awful sounds and pitches that come through things that are on. I got through my last anxiety episode that was major like this by calling your centre. This one is worse than before. Do I need to distract myself? Do I keep the tv on even hearing the people and the pitch the tv is giving off sound like this?? When the ac or things run like my car they sound awful. Giving off an extra tone that wasn’t there before I don’t think. It all does when I listen Do I Continue on through my day ignoring it and try to become less anxious?? Is there anything in particular I need to be doing during my day? I havent done anything other than sit around listening to how everything sounds. Which is awful bc it all sounds terrible. What do I do to stop myself from paying attention to how everything sounds to wait it out to go back to normal??? Do I still play the tv and radio?? Thank you Jim so much
Jim, some of the music I hear in the background of the tv or radio sounds like it doesn’t go together- the notes and tones, pitches are off key and don’t match, especially if it is just notes 🎶. It’s like they sound scary or don’t mix together or something how they normally should. is this hyperstimulation causing this also? This is a very scary symptom to me. Did you have this symptom also???
Do you have any videos on the freeze response? I seem to find it difficult to move without activating anxiety or panic response. I feel weighed down like a force field is around me..i can't move or speak even rolling over in bed is hard to do. Any task feels like too much. If i stand up i cry i feel afraid. I feel safe curled up in bed dont move dont speak
I feel exactly like you,, wondering if you are still feeling like this? Or what you did to get over this.
Hey Jim, I have been more calm since talking to you last week, practicing accepting the ear loudness/ ringing distortions with tv, radio, ac, sinks, bags, shower and the muffledness with the radio/tv weird tunneled sound. So that’s going on 3 weeks now Jim where I haven’t had overwhelming anxiety and scared behavior regarding my ears. Even tho it still all sounds pretty awful. I haven’t reacted to them with fear or panic, I’ve managed to sit with it and accept it but it’s hard to do. I am sad and depressed over it but not anxious. I’m Just now sleeping without waking up once or twice a night from the anxiousness about my ears and how it all is going to sound once I wake up. This is probably day 5 of decent sleep all through the night. The thinking I still have is “how do I know this is hyperstimulation” and not something still wrong with my inner ears that the ents/Audioligists are missing? I’ve been like this since the end of March and they are still hearing things so loud and distorted, still making things ring. Radio and tv still sound funny. It makes me feel a bit apprehensive that this is something worse or my ears are stuck like this but I’m trying to tell myself to trust in the evidence of your article and believe that i’m experiencing what you did (having all my same symptoms too) I still have some fear and Doubt that I have done something to them that I can’t undo from all that worrying and stress I had once I heard the beeps in my ear. I feel like If I had just let the beeps be there and I wouldn’t have freaked out and got worked up for days/weeks this wouldn’t have happened. Bc the distortions and loudness is way worse than those were and I feel like I caused this to happen because of how upset I got and how much attention I started paying to my ears. The more I paid attention the more upset and worse it became. I have allowed all of it to sound so loud and rumbled, yet muffled, and ringing/ distorted with accepting it in hopes it will fade away as your last reply said to do. It still feels so hard to watch the tv and listen to my music but I’m not reacting to it with fear and anxiety. It’s just difficult to listen to it. I also fear maybe it is noise induced hearing loss but my hearing test didn’t show any losses. My music and tv just still sound muddled down and the clarity is off still. Will it always sound weird to me? Because they sound deeper and tunneled or something. Before you told me to stop researching I came across “diplacusis” a few weeks back where it’s a change in pitch and how you hear different m. How do I know I didn’t cause that to happen instead of it being hyperstimulation? If my body feels more calm each day, will my ears reset it’s the stress/hyperstimulation/anxiety (possibly hyperacusis) Since I was overly stressed and anxious for 3 weeks and just now in the last two weeks really calming down, does the ear symptoms gradually leave or does it happen mostly all at once? I’m a little apprehensive I’ll be one of those still like this a year later with this still happening when I’m only a month in but I don’t wanna be so I’ve really took your advice to not react at all no matter how awful it sounds to me. I’ve just sat with it and listened to it all anyway- as awful as it is. How do I know it’s the hyperstimulation still and not something else I’ve done to them Jim? How did you know it was for you? Because it still really feels like the inside of my ears are ruined hearing it all like this. I’m trying my best. Passively accepting it for the time as my body recovers is hard but I have been. Will my ears really start hearing things normally again as I continue this like you said? I’m praying so but I’m still a little scared not knowing the future outcome of this. Will be waiting for your reply & thank you in advance Jim 🙏🏼
Trust in the facts - your medical tests showed your hearing is normal despite your symptoms. This is classic for hyperstimulation. Contain the "what ifs." Continue to be patient and wait for your body to benefit from the reduction in anxiety and stress. It takes time.
@@anxietycentre thank you so much for replying as always, Jim. I’m trying so hard not to let my body get worked up at all and let it be since I talked to you last. When you had this was your music and tv muffled/tunneled and distorted too?? It’s like they sound the same somewhat yet the background music isn’t right or have the Clarity and sounds it did before. Or they are further away/ Deeper voices (on both the tv and radio) When I hear it like this my body wants to react with fear and anxiety bc I have for so many weeks at the beginning, but I’m not. I’m containing it. I’ve been letting it be even though it brings me depression. Just the fearful thoughts of is this my ears/damage or is this from all that I got worked up about from weeks/ a month ago. My biggest fear is it will all sound this way permanently now- even the loud/hyperacusis ringing along with other things muffled down but I keep having to re-read your auditory symptoms article to make my mind believe that this is what it is and not something else, and that like you said it will go away as I learn to accept it how it sounds right now until my body gets the hint.? I’m trying to hard to tell myself I won’t be stuck this way but my mind has a hard time Believing it. I even thought maybe noise induced hearing loss but my Audiogram shows no signs of any hearing loss at all. They only thing they can find is Eustachian tube dysfunction.
It's common to not completely believe the medical opinions. Since doctors are human and can miss things, it's wise to seek another opinion or two. However, if all opinions agree, you can be confident your symptoms are anxiety-related. Constantly wondering can fuel anxiety and stress, which keeps symptoms going. Have you had more than one medical opinion?
@@anxietycentre yes Jim, I have been to 3 ENTS, and 3 Audioligists. Each test has came back that I have “normal hearing”, normal tymponametry, normal bone conduction test, and tuning fork test. They did say I had Eustachian tube dysfunction from allergies, but that’s it. I told them I was having hearing distortion and asked them about diplacusis, hyperacusis and even told them how this all started from getting those beeps in my right ear & They said I was fine. Diagnosed me with just tinnitus. After that I noticed when I was outside I was hearing a ringing that nobody else heard but only if I was outside or heard things running. And most things got very loud and rumbled to my my ears. That’s when I got online to try to figure it out myself because I was so anxious and upset. That’s when I came across your article on the auditory anxiety symptoms. (Which I related to most, I think) All of my hearing distorting began once I had back to back panic attacks over the beeps in my ear that I woke up from out of my sleep in March. Then over the next few days/weeks is when things got very loud, yet muffled, things started having rings to them that make sound like the air conditioner, the shower, washer, etc. Then my chip bags and toilet paper and stuff started having whistles to it. On top of my music and tv got distorted sounding tunneled, muffled and different clarity which led me to read about the stress and blood pressure hearing loss scare. It made me think I had damaged my hearing from being so upset and stressed out and keeping my blood pressure elevated (which is back down now). So it was between thinking diplacusis, hyperacusis , stress induced hearing loss in my mind all this time. Or maybe even noise induced hearing loss because I have listened to loud music. Or hidden hearing loss because things in a restaurant is very loud now to me and I can barely hear others talking. I just want my music and tv and all my sounds to go back to normal. So I’m following your advice mostly bc your the only one that has helped me. You saying you had all my symptoms is what makes me feel like I have hope that this is what’s going on with me. And my ears also play tricks on me about feeling full or plugged, just weird inside feeling in them rotating ears also like something is in one or both randomly. Along with popping and cracking. My own voice even started sounding different and louder to me. Ever since I focused on my ears from the beeping that woke me up that morning is when all this started happening. And now at this current moment I’m experiencing a hissing sound also, even tho I’m calm. So I’ve been trying to tell myself it is exactly what you experienced saying you had all these symptoms and that it will gradually get less and less until it’s gone if I just don’t stress about it anymore. You think so, Jim?
I think you've got sufficient evidence that your hearing is fine, other than the effects of stress. So yes, I think you'll be fine if you stop worrying and stressing about your hearing symptoms. And you have to be extremely patient as your hearing returns to normal. The body doesn't recover quickly from elevated degrees of hyperstimulation. it took a long time for my hearing symptoms to completely subside.
Hello Jim, I appericate your advice and support for those suffering. Im currently suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and soon afterwards Tinnitus since last October. Then for nearly 4 weeks had ear fluttering in my right Ear and sometimes sensations in my left Ear drum. Im doing Craniosacral therapy with (Julian Cowan Hill) and found it very relaxing after first session to calm my mind and nerves. I was wondering what other thinks I can try to calm the Anxiety disorder to the Tinnitus that is trigger my Ear fluttering? Im looking to hire a Nutrionist too see why my Immune system is so weak to fight off infections and disease since catching Long Covid last summer.
Containing anxiety, reducing stress, increasing rest, and being patient can eliminate hyperstimulation in time. Here is an article that can help: www.anxietycentre.com/tips/60-ways-to-reduce-stress-and-anxiety/
That said, long covid can be a factor.
I discovered your content recently and it’s been very helpful. I’ve been in the anxiety cycle for 6 months now following a scary incident but slowly healing through acceptance. I find that my body has almost fully healed. Physical symptoms almost all gone.
However my mind funnily enough has started to race a lot lately , my brain is desperate to find a new threat to worry about since it’s no longer worrying about the body , it’s now becoming obsessed with the mind.
For example all of a sudden I’m hyper aware of my thinking and can’t seem to focus on anything else except what’s going on in my mind. I’ll also hyper focus on things like breathing, blinking, swallowing, certain sounds and I fear not being able to enjoy life with my mind acting this way. Any advice on how to practice acceptance and enjoying life while being “stuck” in your mind.
Hi ella ive been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks for 6 months too im still not sure how i got this way but it does worry me sleeping is still not good and waking up is worse i have to get up immediately or i feel weird. Very lonely experience and like yourself i feel like im living in my head or mind and looking for more things to scare myself. So exhausting i live alone dont know if that makes me more vunerable. I hope you are in a better place if thats possible. Big hug to you. 🙏🕊🦋🌼
@@michelecull3261 hi Michele ! I promise you anxiety is not a lifelong sentence. It’s a normal response that’s gotten a little too stuck and exaggerated in our case. Even the term “disorder” is pointless. All that’s happening is our nervous system has become highly sensitized . I’m one year since I fell in the cycle, and happy to say in a much better place. I had exactly what you describe. Terrible sleep issues, panic attacks and for me the worst was just being stuck in my head and also weird moods. I can’t say I’m “fully” recovered , maybe 90% there. What’s left now is the memory of my worst days that still sticks and gives me intrusive thoughts but it’s definitely not everyday. I still get stuck in my head from time to time but i just let it be. It’s fine and it always passes. You’ll be fine💖 practice acceptance and indifference and go live your life and show anxiety whose boss. Thoughts, feelings, moods , always go up and down. Practice riding the waves while living your best life. Change focus on what’s important to you !
@@ellaofthewoods Thanks for your reply ella i try to keep positive the best i can and sometimes i feel okish but at times i struggle ive had medical tests but nothing ever showed up and am having counselling but it isnt helping. I had covid last august and i think its caused my nervous system to kick off with the anxiety i have now. I never had this before. Its been hellish. Im glad you are in a better place and feeling ok right now. Its a long and emotional journey. 🕊🙏😔
@@michelecull3261 read Paul David’s book “at last a life” and Barry mcdonaugh’s “the dare response” it explains how the nervous works and how to heal it. You’ll get through it 💕
@@ellaofthewoods Thanks Ella i will take a look. Very thoughtful of you to suggest these books. They sound an interesting read. Hope you are having a good day. 🌟🕊💗
Hi.. is it normal to have muscle spasm in legs and upper body in this state ? I have that
Jim, I wish you would do counselling.
Hi Jim, I started to work remotely shortly after Covid hit. In the weeks after I notice a ringing noise in my left ear. I went to an ENT and was told I have perfect hearing (I’m 28 years old). They said it was caused from stress. I couldn’t fully understand how that can be. I’ve always been an anxious person but I guess being at home a lot more really heightened the stress. To this day I still have tinnitus and not a day goes by where it doesn’t bother me. My body is stuck in hyperstimulation. I’m struggling to get out of it. I’ve read a lot of your articles and it explains my symptoms to a tea. It feels like my ear pressure is off in my ears. Whenever I yawn my left ear pops. I can make my ears pop/crackle on command. Just odd ear symptoms. Any suggestions on how to overcome it? Do you think I can benefit scheduling with one of your therapist? How many sessions does it typically take to get a full understanding of it all? Thanks, Christopher
Reducing stress and not worrying about your ear symptoms would likely eliminate those symptoms in time. However, if you're anxious, addressing your anxious behavior with a therapist can also help reduce stress. Anxious behavior is a common cause of persistent symptoms once the body become hyperstimulated and symptomatic.
Did this go away for you? I’m going through this and talking to Jim about it now.
@GG_GoneGirl777 look up the Ashton manual ❤️it will help
@GG_GoneGirl777 I've had these years.ago.muslle pain for me now
@@lisarodriguez5388 what does the Ashton Manual have to do with tinnitus? I thought it was primarily about coming off Benzodiazepines.
Hi Jim I was reading on your website that most forms of depression can be resolved be by working on your underlying factors similarly to anxiety disorder. Can you expand on what you mean by “most forms” thanks.
There are some forms of depression (only a few) that are caused by brain injury, such as from physical harm (like a car accident) and damage due to chemicals (such as powerful recreational drugs). However, these are rare and can still be helped through behavioral therapy.
@@anxietycentre amazing how the brain will look for small thing in dampening you getting better like this question that's my brain on my muscle pains
My skin has been burning for 8 days now , like most of my body. Before i found your article on this i was so scared i went to 3 different emergency hospitals. I ended up in a really weird mindset I didn’t know who i was. I have finally convinced myself that its the anxiety and slowly feeling more in control but the burning wont go away its just always there 😢. Will it ever go because its so irritating that it’s causing more stress. Thanks for your help. Cheers Michelle
Those are common symptoms of anxiety. I’ve dealt with physical sensations just like that and, what I think what your describing, depersonalization. Depersonalization was one of the scariest things I went through until I found out it’s very common with anxiety and a disregulated nervous system.
@@stevenwhitman2758 thank you for you reply, did yours go away ?
I am in this constant state and have been for a few years now. It is exhausting and I can barely live with it much longer. I fear it will kill me. I am unable to calm it down and it never calms down itself. I am terrified and don't know what to do anymore. Jim says it does go down by itself that's not my experience at all. Been to the docs and emergency in tears over and over with no answers or help given. Please help Jim.
What symptoms u having skin symptoms
Hyperstimulation will subside on its own when we reduce stress, increase rest, contain anxious behavior, not stress about the symptoms, and give the body time to recover. However, a lot of anxious people don't do those things, especially containing their anxious behavior and not stressing about their symptoms, which continues to fuel hyperstimulation and symptoms.
This is why we recommend connecting with one of our therapists, so that the therapist can help you identify and address the areas that are causing hyperstimulation and its symptoms to persist
If you don't know what those areas area, they'll keep the body stressed and symptomatic. This is a common scenario we regularly see.
I had the same problem. I had the 3 fight or flight hormones trapped in my body and they were not leaving. I learned a bit about sound healing and this really works. I found 3 videos on youtube. They are sine tones. 46, 418 and 620. They are 1 hour each. I put the 3 of them on loop and they run at night. They clear the hormones. Sometimes you may feel funny as when the hormones clear the area they were in it may spasm. For instance I got brain fog when my brain was clearing. Give it a few weeks. Just keep doing it.
@@pennyyeomans4115 did it cure pain symptoms
What are your symptoms
The problem I have is that when I'm hyperstimulated I don't want others to notice or/and I'm afraid that is going to hinder me in things that I'm about to do. This of course creates even more stress.
Developing healthy boundaries is a good way to put people's opinions in perspective...so they don't bother you. Having healthy boundaries allows us to live authentically and without being discouraged by everyone else's opinions.
Can this video apply to dizziness as well? That seems to be my one symptom that’s just so hard to break.
Yes, it can. We have an article about dizziness here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/dizziness/
So I've been having chronic back pain, my doctors recommended me to get an MRI scan, But MRI scans stimulate nerves in the body, will that make hyperstimulation worse?
I scored 75 on the hyperstimulation test a month ago, and the severity of my symptoms have went down, the only main symptoms I have now is just brain surges happening almost everyday but its not too difficult to deal with.
I've not heard of people complaining about an increase in symptoms due to having an MRI. That's not to say it can't happen, but that it's not something I heard people mention. Great job on reducing your stress. As you continue to work at it, your hyperstimulation test results should diminish, and so will your symptoms. Chronic back pain is a common indication of elevated stress.
Is there a way to tell the difference between the condition POTS and anxiety? They sound sooo similar. I asked my doctor and she didn’t know what pots was… made me lose some faith in whether I’m being correctly and thoroughly tested..
Yes, they do produce similar symptoms. And anxiety can cause and aggravate POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). If you address your anxiety and stress issues and your POTS subsides, you'll know the cause. If it doesn't subside, it could be its own condition. That's about the only way you'd truly know. It's surprising your doctor didn't know what POTS is.
Why do i feel like I’m floating or lightheaded more when I’m laying down than I do standing?
Anxiety and hyperstimulation-caused lightheadedness/floating feeling is most often caused by an overly stressed vestibular system, which makes it more difficult for the body to find its balance (hence feeling lightheaded, off-balance, and floating feeling). When we're standing up, the brain can more easily find its balance from the objects around us. However, when we lie down, the brain can have a more difficult time finding its balance, which causes an increase in the sensation of feeling off-balance. However, that's not always the case. We can feel more lightheaded when standing up, moving our head, or moving around, too. I had both. As the degree of hyperstimulation increases, we can have more instances and situations that cause lightheadedness.
Can you tell me the calming phrases please
oh you replied! Thank you thank you. 🙏🏼So Jim, I just need to try my best to ignore it how things sound and keep my stress at bay so it will go away? Is that what containment means?? Not reacting to it? Will I even know when it’s gone? It’s hard watching tv knowing they still sound muffled down. When you had this did you continue watching the tv and listening to music even tho it sounded funny to you? The high pitch sound I hear when things come on with things is scary Jim. It’s very hard not to feel anxious hearing it all like this but I am trying. My ears still feel blocked and people talking and certain things are still muffled also. But if it’s in a store or if it’s the lawnmower it’s very loud to me. Does containment mean not reacting at all to what any of it sounds like so it will go away? Aka not letting it bother me? You don’t think it’s my ears? It’s the hyperstimulation?? If I feel more calm compared to when I was how come it still all sounds funny to me?? Did you just continue on about your day when this happened to you and ignore it?? I left my number on your anxiety number voicemail. Can you call me? If not I’ll wait for your reply again. It’s very helpful talking to you when you wrote the article about the auditory symptoms. I’ve never experienced this before in my life and I’ve had anxiety often but never with my ears. All of this started when I woke up to some beeping in my right ear. Once I freaked out about that is when all the distortions started happening over the next few weeks. I feel like I’m still not hearing things normally but I have been more calm now going on two weeks….
Everything you mentioned is super common, including the beeping sound. Since anxiety symptoms are symptoms of stress, they will subside when you eliminate your unhealthy stress and give your body sufficient time to recover. As it recovers, it stops sending symptoms, including auditory symptoms. So yes, reduce your stress, contain your anxiousness, and be patient as your body recovers and eliminates symptoms. It will take time, though, as the body doesn't recover quickly from hyperstimulation.
Hi Jim your methods helped me 2 years ago . Now i seem to get slightly light headed and floating feeling for no reason and I know its anxiety.could last a day or so .. sometomes longer . Is this a normal feeling?
Feeling lightheaded and "floating" are common signs of anxiety and stress, especially chronic stress (hyperstimulation). If you've had some stress recently, that could be the cause.
I’m the same way!
@@anxietycentre Thank you !
@@avamiller2325 do you wake up with it?How long have you had it
@@kennethyanni1845 yes, and now go to sleep feeling the same way. I have had anxiety over 5 years but this is new, about two months now.
How do you get rid of the floating /dizzy / unbalanced feeling I’ve been feeling the past month 😭
We have an article about that here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/dizziness/
Did you improve and how?
I am getting a groinal fight or flight response. Just randomly it seems. I thought it was a weird menopause symptom since I suspect I'm due for that soon but I am beginning to think its anxiety. So am trying to reduce the stress I apparently didn't know I had. Has anyone else experienced this?
If all other causes have been ruled out, yes, groin anxiety sensations and symptoms are common.
Does this seem like a hyper stimulated state? So I been having spasm in my tongue and eyes and internal vibration, tremors, worst when I lay down and when I wake up but the tongue is constant, since I’ve been working on my anxiety and stress the feelings of internal vibration has pretty much disappeared other then when I first wake up. Any feedback would be helpful thanks!
It sounds a lot like hyperstimulation caused symptoms. If you keep working on reducing your stress, they should all disappear even when you wake up.
@@anxietycentre thanks for the feedback the last few days I have woke up vibration free !!! I have accepted my symptoms and do not fear them anymore and it seems to get better and better with everyday
I have been working on my health anxiety for some time, managed to remove all long term symptoms but now they have creeped back in. For 2 weeks now I have had tenseness in my calves, tingling in my left arm and hand. The tingling has also come back to my face. Why are they not going away? Even when I ignore them?
We have a video coming about that. But in the meantime, you can read an article about that here:
www.anxietycentre.com/faq/why-did-my-anxiety-symptoms-return/
Is it possible to damage your heart with anxiety? I have frequent panic attacks and my heart beats a little quickly sometimes, I'm very afraid of having a heart attack despite being very young and in good health and being told by doctors that my health is good. I can't imagine the heart does well with that much stimulation, it's a muscle like everything else and if you use your muscles too frequently, they get sore.
There is no reason to be concerned at all. Athletes push their hearts hard all the time. It's actually good for them.
@@anxietycentre Thank you very much, that’s very reassuring
I think my anxiety attacks stem from a fear of heart problems. I am convinced that I have got heart damage or coronary disease. I've had several ECG's, trop blood tests, chest x-rays and a stress test, all clear. I've just had full blood work done and my cholesterol is on the high side of normal, well, all day I've been thinking of an impending heart attack, about a hour ago I had a brief but extreme panic attack, after the attack my body was trembling for tens of minutes. The thing is, chronic stress can raise cholesterol and cause heart attacks and cardiac arrest. I'm stuck in a viscous circle and there's no way out. A couple of days ago I started taking 40mg of propranolol, that's until I read about the negatives of weaning off them. I took two of the tablets and immediately stopped the treatment. I'm a male of 38, a proud one at that, I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy and can't see a way out.
Where can i find part 1 of this video? Could you possibly put a link to it in the comments? Thanks
Because of your question, we just posted Part 1 this morning. The direct link is here:
czcams.com/video/frVJ7ywbsvI/video.html
@@anxietycentre thank you! I'll look forward to listening to it 😊
I've listened to both parts now - thank you! I have a question I wondered if you could help me with. I try to practice deep relaxation once a day. This is typically a body scan, loving kindness meditations or relaxing hypnosis. I often get hypnic jerks/body jolts when I do these (I often start to doze when relaxing). Why do I get these when I am relaxing? I try to tell myself they are nothing to fear but it is hard when they sometimes literally make my heart race and it feels like a big jolt of adrenaline. What can I do? Overall, I feel my anxiety symptoms are decreasing but this one seems to persist.
Whenever I lie down before I drift off into sleep, I feel my heart beating rapidly and this has been going on for quite a while now… is this hyper stimulation?
It can be. Racing heart when trying to go to sleep is common for hyperstimulation. However, we always recommend discussing your symptoms with your doctor to ensure they are solely anxiety/stress related, as there are many medical conditions that can produce symptoms that mimic anxiety/stress symptoms.
How long does this process take?
I have been to a lot of doctors and er rooms. Nothing is wrong i have had anxiety when I wake up just like her starts if little and builds and it been going on for 8 months now I have health anxiety over this. It’s crazy!!! Does the morning anxiety leave. Comments please
We give some recovery guidelines in the Recovery Support area (chapter 14). Yes, the morning anxiety does subside as the body recovers and you work on your anxious behavior.
I'm wondering if your still having morning anxiety?
Hello is it ture that being deficit of vitamins can start anxiety disorders?
That's not true. However, nutritional deficiencies can make an anxious person feel worse.
Please can you tell me can I go to the gym when i experience this?? Can I workout to distract myself or do I need to rest? Does gym cause my stress as well? I got anxiety 2!
We recommend light to moderate exercise, but not above that as it can stress the body, aggravating and sustaining hyperstimulation.
@@anxietycentre will your body eventually build the resistance to start a vigorous regime? Thanks.
În matters of recovery deep relaxation would be te closest thing to sleep considering insomnia can or might damper the process?
Regular deep relaxation is just as important as sleep, if not more so. We explain the advantages of regular deep relaxation in the Recovery Support area.
@@anxietycentre thank you. Great news. Only thing is to bypass the wired and tired sensation. And I noticed I can do that with simple relaxation and simple resting.
Regular deep relaxation also teaches us cognitive control, which can lead to better containment. It also can teach us to tolerate discomfort, also helpful in recovery and dealing with symptoms. Both very helpful for recovery and lasting success!
@@anxietycentre yes, thank you very much. The other symptoms subsided a few months ago, only insomnia is a little more stubborn. I get weird and lucid dreams. Also a little more sensitive when I have a full schedule. That is where my anxious behaviour started.
What are the calming phrases?
There are many. We mention a lot of them in Chapter 6 in the Recovery Support area. However, it helps to have context, too, about how to self-soothe, extinguish fear, and have a realistic expectation of recovery. All that information needs to be taken together to be truly effective.
@@anxietycentrecould you just give a couple of examples of the calming phrases? Would much appreciate it thank you 😊
I would love to know how this women is doing now????? My body does the same awful thing,, so uncomfortable. Can't ride it through always have a crying fit. Did she go on meds??
Me too! I can handle the mild to moderate anxiety for the most part, but when it gets severe, I fall apart. So, so hard to accept and live life when you feel so bad.
@@JenniferPost omg,, are you one of the women who talks on the videos?
@@tracystandish3420 No I'm not, sorry. Just a fellow listener who can relate to your comment.
@@JenniferPost oh ,, thank you. I just feel so alone going though this. I've been dealing with this over a year. Don't know if I should try meds,, but that makes me more anxious. You just can't win with this shit.
@@tracystandish3420 I have vestibular migraine that is triggered by anxiety. The meds I'm taking have made a huge difference. I was concerned about taking them, but it is such a relief to get some relief after over 3 years of misery.
Hi Tim I'm experiencing dp dr and when I go for a walk and walk up a hill my feelings get stronger and I can feel my pulse in my chest I don't know why this is happening can you help me gerry
Hyperstimulation can make normal activities have more of an impact on the mind and body. We explain why in the Recovery Support area of our website if you'd like more information.
Hi Tim could I have more information on hyperstimulationi thankyou
i also have Costocondritis ,, is that also probably why I’m getting Sternum Pain ? it says Costocondritis can Mimic Heart Problems
Were you given that diagnosis from your doctor? If so, of course that could cause sternum pain.
@@anxietycentreyes , also when you push on my chest on the joints it hurts to press on , I’m told that’s Costocondritis , can Gerd and Acid Reflux and esophagus Spasms all cause a Pressure / Squeezing feeling in the sternum ?
Also could my Esophagus being going into Spasm’s?
Yes, it can. Anxiety and chronic stress (hyperstimulation) can cause esophageal spasms, as well as GERD and Acid Reflux because of how they affect the digestive system.
@@anxietycentre yes the Symptoms come and go , but I’m on some Acid Medication to help it , and all of that can cause Radiating Pains to the Arms Shoulders and Jaw , see i worry about the Symptoms which i shouldn’t because then they don’t stop
Jim,am having tremors,face numbness,ear riring,Am going on 27 hrs now,no sleep & scared. Is this normal?
If your doctor has attributed your symptoms solely to anxiety, you don't have to fear them. The ones you mentioned are common anxiety symptoms. Being afraid of them can keep them going. So, you want to work at calming yourself down. You can read about each of those symptoms here from our anxiety symptoms article:
www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/
Thank you so very much.Am reading all your post.I never went through anything quite like this and Ive had high anxiety most of my adult life.I also posted on your latest video.Am a mess right now.I don't think I've cried this much in my whole life as I been lately.You truly are a wonderful human being!!!
But how do I handle pain as it's getting worse? I can't seem to get through this.
There's some good information here: www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/chronic-pain/
@@anxietycentre Thanks so much Jim (or whoever is posting with his picture). I do appreciate it. I will study these approaches tomorrow and see if I can incorporate them into my life as much as possible. I am in the process of reading through "Unlearn Your Pain" The idea of digging up all my past rage and whatnot seems intensely unpleasant. Anyhow, I realize you don't have time for counseling any more - perhaps I should try the members area of your site to see if i can get more information there. I am grateful that in spite of my pain I have been able to get a lot of work done and fulfill some challenging family responsibilities. However, I need a long term gameplan that will get me on the right track and making progress not just treading water. Again, thanks.
@@peterwu8471 what are you suffering with this is what ime suffering with years
Ok now I’m concerned a tad bit and I want to believe it’s that my body is in a state of hyperstimulation. I feel like this because my temples have started to flare up over time and I’m a younger person so medical emergency has almost been ruled out but I’ve been looking for an answer somewhere saying that because my body is in this state that it cause the body to just have this continuous feeling of pulsing veins
You can check your hyperstimulation level here:
www.anxietycentre.com/tests/hyperstimulation-test/
I only got 4 mins in and had to stop watching... I don't agree that crying reinforces the idea that these feelings are bad. Crying releases cortisol, that's why we feel better after. Why would crying have to confirm the idea that these feelings are bad? To me that reinforces the idea that many of us internalize at a very young age, that we "shouldn't" cry. We absolutely should if and when we need to. Especially when the anxiety is due to triggers that activate trauma responses.
Occasional crying is cathartic and can help express emotions and temporarily reduce stress. However, regular crying can aggravate hyperstimulation and its symptoms because crying releases stress hormones, increasing stimulation rather than reducing it.
@@anxietycentre that's interesting, thanks for sharing. Are you familiar with sensory processing sensitivity, or "highly sensitive people?" Our nervous systems are a little different, and we feel our emotions more deeply than non-HSPs, process both external and internal sensory stimuli more deeply, and therefore can be easily overstimulated. Those of us HSPs with childhood trauma are even more prone to depression and anxiety than non-HSPs who experience trauma. In the times where I'm in that stress-response hyper stimulation, I *have* to cry frequently. I react to triggers very easily and frequently, and crying is the only way I can get out of the fight-or-flight mode and near panic attacks. I'm in therapy and working on stress mgmt, distress tolerance, coping skills, cognitive reframing, healing trauma, etc, and as much as I'm able, I make adjustments in my life to minimize stress. But until I can recover from the stress-response hyper stimulation state, crying frequently is just not optional.
Thanks for your comment. Yes, I'm very familiar with the concept of HSP. Have you been tested for ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Also, have you had your IQ tested and rated? I ask because ADHD, ASD, and high IQer's are often highly sensitive, making emotional regulation more challenging until healthy coping skills are learned and employed. Yes, trauma can compound the issue.
It's great you are working with a therapist. There are many skills we can learn to overcome being highly sensitive and anxious. I've had to do that work myself since I was a highly sensitive person growing up, who also experienced childhood abuse/trauma.
It's also noteworthy to keep in mind that elevated stress can make us more emotionally unstable. Crying is often a symptom of hyperstimulation. I had to deal with that, too, during my recovery.
@@anxietycentre I'm not sure, I may have had an IQ test at some point in school, but I don't know the results. I did excel in school, started taking college classes my junior year of high school. I've never been tested for ASD, but I'm familiar with the traits and I don't have any other than the sensory sensitivity. I'd never had any suggestion or cause to be tested for ADHD when I was young, though I did have a previous psychiatric nurse practitioner suggest it about 8 years ago. She prescribed Mydais, which I stopped after 3 days because it made the anxiety worse and had no affect on concentration. When I told my therapist, she was very confused, because my difficulty concentrating at that time was easily explained by anxiety and depression. I'm familiar with the symptoms, and I don't have any of those either, other than the concentration. I do have bipolar disorder, which my father had as well, I was diagnosed 12 yrs ago and have been on meds and in and out of therapy ever since. But I recently came across some information from a psychiatrist who talked about how complex PTSD can sometimes look like mania, and that one major difference was, where someone in a manic episode will get very little sleep, they feel fine without it, they feel like they don't need it. Whereas with complex PTSD, we very much feel the lack of sleep. And when I look back, I'm not sure I've ever had a single episode where I *didn't* miss the sleep. Discussed this with my psychiatrist last week, and am going to be starting with a new therapist, EMDR, next week. So I guess we'll see.
I forgot to mention that the difficulty concentrating is not chronic, only when I'm depressed or anxious, which is not always. Same with the emotional reactivity. It *is* always with me to a certain degree, but often in a way I can cope with. Only debilitating when I'm under a great deal of stress, which I have been for over a month with work.
Has the lady speakiing tried medication ,?
A cold shower will help
We don't recommend taking a cold shower when hyperstimulated because the cold stresses the body, which can aggravate hyperstimulation since hyperstimulation is chronic stress. While you might feel a bit better immediately after the shower, the stress from the cold can exacerbate hyperstimulation hours later.
Try having akathisia
That is a very common anxiety disorder symptom. In an online poll we conducted, 93 percent of respondents said that had that as an anxiety symptom.
Jim why do some ppl recover faster than some ppl and how do I talk out my hyperstimulated self with a million of symptoms happening
There are a lot of reasons why some people make better progress than others. The degree of hyperstimulation, the level of work they do, how persistent they are doing their work, and the differences in the physical body can all contribute to success, plus much more.
What are your symptoms fear of pain round and round exercising but need do more meditating
Jim I read this article from and ENT post somewhere & it has me still worried some 🫣👇🏼
When you’re stressed, the extra adrenaline can decrease or stop circulation in the inner ear, damaging or even destroying the essential tiny hair cells inside your ear. This can cause gradual hearing loss over time, or even sudden hearing loss if circulation stops completely. If your hearing loss is a reaction to stress then it's often reversible: first cut out the stress for improved circulation (easier said than done - but take a look at this handy NHS stress buster guide for some starting points) and then even consider rehabilitation of your hair cells through sound therapy. If you’re concerned about stress-induced hearing loss then look out for symptoms such as blocked ears, an inability to hear sounds at certain frequencies, a sensation of pressure in your ears, loss of hearing in one or both of your ears, sounds seeming more distant than usual, or tinnitus.
How do I know I didn’t damage my hair cells from being so stressed with high blood pressure that might have restricted my blood flow to my ears and did some damage from last month?? I was anxious and overly stressed/crying with high blood pressure for 3 weeks Jim. I passed all my hearing test on the Audiogram several times now. And they said I have “normal hearing” but would that have shown if I damaged hair cells because I’m still concerned that this won’t gradually fade, with things seeming further away or muffled yet loud 🙁🥴👆🏼
A few things:
1. I encourage you to stop Googling and searching for answers. You can discover all kinds of scary things that will keep you stressed and symptomatic, even though most (if not all) won't apply to your situation. Since your hearing tests came back normal, you haven't damaged your ears.
2. You need to stop worrying about your symptoms. That worry will keep them going. Focus on stress reduction, rest, and containing your worry. When you do that, you'll see some positive results, but in time. Results don't occur right away.
3. I encourage you to become a Recovery Support member and learn about anxiety and recovery. There are many articles in there you'd find helpful.
4. Connect with one of our recommended therapists. Marie has openings at the moment and she can help you with your anxiety and symptoms.
Going it alone typically isn't that helpful.
@@anxietycentre I can’t thank you enough for being kind and caring enough to respond to me each time. I’m going to try to stop googling then bc it makes it worse. That is my ocd part trying to figure this out because I’ve been stuck focusing on it for a month already. With you saying you went through all the symptoms I have described, I try to tell myself you had it too and know what I’m talking about. It’s hard to think my hearing will go back to what I considered normal knowing how all of it sounds right now. My ears feel like blown busted speakers that don’t transmit or hear anything how it did before and it makes me fearful that it will continu, day after day. I have reduced a lot of the anxious stress that I started with March 24th and I guess because I’ve not seen many results it has me fearful my hearing is stuck this way being a month in. I’ve went to so many ents and audiologists afraid they are missing something or nerve damage/hair cells or what not that it consumes my thoughts. I’ve diagnosed myself with hidden hearing loss, diplacusis, hyperacusis, so many more because it seems all of them apply. And then your article also. I’m trying hard to do what you said applying it to my days not to be anxious or feel stressed if that really is what’s making it continue. I do have Eustachian tube dysfunction according to my ents but all of this started when I had those beeps in my that woke me up in my right ear and then I got upset anxious and stressed about it . Then I did reading and research about the ears and then all of the distortions came and it just got worse from there which made me think I damaged something from the stress/anxiety about those beeps. I’m going to try my best once again to tell myself it takes time to make it go away and try to ignore the hearing weirdness/symptoms and pray it is the anxiety/stress still left in my body causing it. When you say stop worrying about the symptoms does that mean JUST LET THEM ALL BE- the weird tones, the loudness/muffledness/ distorting tv and radio, weird air conditioner
Sounds, even the shower and chips bags and just try not to care about it? And eventually it will just be gone??? All of them??? If I was only stressed half a month but it was severely how long does the hypersensitivity or hyperstimulation from the auditory part take to calm down once your body is actually back to normal? Does it go away little by little or how does that work, Jim?
Yes, accept that your body is stressed and producing symptoms, passively-accept them (allow them to exist without reacting to them), contain your anxiety, reduce stress wherever you can, and be patient. As your body recovers from chronic stress (hyperstimulation), it will stop producing symptoms of stress, including yours.