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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Ocular Migraine?
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Ocular Migraine?
by emgscot51, Dec 07, 2002 12:00AM
Has anyone ever heard of anxiety attacks being caused by ocular migraine? And accompanied by the Alice in Wonderland syndrome?
I have suffered from anxiety attacks for more than 25 years. I get at least one a day and they can last for hours. When they first started I found a great psychiatrist and saw her four more than 4 years. We found and dealt with many problems but the anxiety continued. She thought there could be some physical cause and I had an EEG and glucose tolerance testing. The results were inconclusive so we stuck to Valium.
When I moved to the US 15 years ago, I saw a doctor and went through my usual spiel about why I wanted a script for Xanax. He said that because my anxiety symptoms did not include heart palpitations, I did not have anxiety attacks. He said I have ocular migraines. He gave me a sheet of paper that listed all of my symptoms – including the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ syndrome. I’d never told anyone about that one because I was sure they’d just lock me up. The AIWS causes me to feel like I’m very small or very large compared to my surroundings. This happens often when I go to bed. Sometimes, when I’m walking, I feel like I’m 10 feet tall and there’s no way my feet can reach the ground, or I feel like I’m walking in a trench.
Since I moved from Los Angeles, I haven't been able to find a doctor who agrees with my old doctor.
All the antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs I’ve tried have made my symptoms worse. Caffeine makes them worse. Nyquil is a nightmare. After surgery I preferred the pain to the painkiller.
I managed to stay employed through all of this until this year. The attacks haven’t really increased in severity but I’ve just run out of the strength it takes to deal with them constantly.
I have suffered from anxiety attacks for more than 25 years. I get at least one a day and they can last for hours. When they first started I found a great psychiatrist and saw her four more than 4 years. We found and dealt with many problems but the anxiety continued. She thought there could be some physical cause and I had an EEG and glucose tolerance testing. The results were inconclusive so we stuck to Valium.
When I moved to the US 15 years ago, I saw a doctor and went through my usual spiel about why I wanted a script for Xanax. He said that because my anxiety symptoms did not include heart palpitations, I did not have anxiety attacks. He said I have ocular migraines. He gave me a sheet of paper that listed all of my symptoms – including the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ syndrome. I’d never told anyone about that one because I was sure they’d just lock me up. The AIWS causes me to feel like I’m very small or very large compared to my surroundings. This happens often when I go to bed. Sometimes, when I’m walking, I feel like I’m 10 feet tall and there’s no way my feet can reach the ground, or I feel like I’m walking in a trench.
Since I moved from Los Angeles, I haven't been able to find a doctor who agrees with my old doctor.
All the antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs I’ve tried have made my symptoms worse. Caffeine makes them worse. Nyquil is a nightmare. After surgery I preferred the pain to the painkiller.
I managed to stay employed through all of this until this year. The attacks haven’t really increased in severity but I’ve just run out of the strength it takes to deal with them constantly.
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Dec 12, 2002 12:00AM
, Dec 12, 2002 12:00AM
I have heard the term ocular migraine but have never encountered an alice and wonderland syndrome as you suggested. I recommend you ask this same question to the neurology division of med help because this is something outside of my experience, and they are more likely to have some first hand information.
If I can find out anything more, I will post it next week.
If I can find out anything more, I will post it next week.
I got and read the book, "Anxiety Disease" by Dr. David Sheehan. He is also the one who treated me. It is a wonderful book. Good Luck!