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Mental Health (Expert Forum)

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Flashing lights

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.

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MedHelp Member's Question

Flashing lights

by Tooleman, Feb 17, 2005 12:00AM

Tags: Anxiety, mental, Health, Mental Health, floaters, neck

I suffer from Anxiety Attacks, and im worried about my health a lot. And I always think I have something new.

The last couple months, iv been having these weird flashing lights that look like zig zags going across my vision, normally when im looking at something bright. But it doesnt happen all the time and it doesnt last long. I also get flashing lights, and floaters. I have read all these things about it, and I dunno if its me, or if I have a brain tumor or if my eye is dissconnecting or yeah.

Also sometimes I get this weird gurgling sound in the back of my neck.. It last for a few seconds then goes away for a while..

Im not moving my neck when it happends.. Im freaking my self out thinking I have a vein blocked or something..

I do drink alot of caffine, and I spend most of my day in front of a computer..

I dont really get head aches, but sometimes when im walking I feel off balance.. But it doesnt happen much but it still freaks me out..

Could there be something really wrong with me, or am I making it all up..

So to sum it up, I get zig zags, flashing lights, floaters, weird noise in neck.. Doesnt happen all the time, but I cant stop thinking about all of it.. Should I be worried or am I normal.. What do you think I should do..

Doctor's Answer

by Roger Gould, M.D.

, Feb 18, 2005 12:00AM

I don't think you are making it up but I do think you are probably tuning in too carefully to the kind of bodily noise that goes on all the time, and you are becoming obsessed with it because you are anxious for other reasons, so I suggest you explore the anxiety with a therapist. get a consultation.

Member Comments (6)

by HAMMERHEAD, Feb 18, 2005 12:00AM

I have the floaters and my little lights are more like fier flies.I've noticed my floaters are worse when my anxiety is high I have anxiety everyday I take xanax .25 3 to 4 times a day.I like you worry about my health(more my heart)24/7.My eye doctor told me something about the anxiety make my eye focus different and that why i see the floaters more.

Gary

by debi0926, Feb 18, 2005 12:00AM

I too have panic disorder in which I have taken .50 Xanax twice a day for about 2 years now. I see floaters all of the time, worse when I get anxious, and my eye doctor confirmed as well that anxiety can cause this, and also that almost everyone has floaters, but most people's eyes are not sensative enough to notice it.

It's strange what our minds can do to ourselves, we get caught up in things that most people just ignore. At least for your eyes, I don't think that there is anything going on other than anxiety, your eye doctor would have been able to tell if it was something to be concerned with.

Hope things begin to go well for you. Hang in there!

by HAMMERHEAD, Feb 18, 2005 12:00AM

Does anyone have thier ears flush or get hot when thier anxiety get up.My ears will get red and hot?My doctor say just anxiety.Ever wonder what all this anxiety/panic can do.If anxiey/panic were a good thing it could cure world hunger.

by Barbarella, Feb 21, 2005 12:00AM

Besides the flashing lights "blurred vision" can also occur from anxiety or during a panic attack.

by haunyouck, Feb 27, 2005 12:00AM

I had same symptoms and went to my doctor and he called what was happening occular migraines. I had no head pain just the flashing lights and zig zags and it lasted about 20 minutes.

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