Can anxiety/stress cause swelling lymphnodes?

I really believe my anxiety is caused by a lymph node that swells about once a month. My Dr. assured me there was nothing wrong with me, and it didnt seem to be swollen to him.

On the other hand I can feel it... maybe as a person with anxiety, I think about it too much and play with it alot?

But its weird. My anxiety will come on for about a week or so.... then subside... and I'm good for an entire month! Then the anxiety will come back again!!!

And it seems like everytime it comes back, my lymphnode is a little swollen feeling and or a little soar... its on my left side of my neck near the clavical... also near the main artery.

When my heart is racing, It feels like my lymphnode is pulsating too... its weird.. and it sends me in anxiety/shock mode like i have cancer.

but, my question again is, can stress/anxiety make your lymph nodes swell?

Thanks.

[mommyofKassandCora]

I've never heard of that exactly but once when I was having a bad time every muscle in my body felt like it was knotted up because I was so tense.  They were very hard to the touch especially in my shoulders.  It was awful.  I guess anything is possible.

[cnote]

yeah, i think it can happen, b/c stress/anxiety does different things to your body.
b/c the lymph system cleans out infections etc. and i think stress can cause them to go whack too? i dunno. itd be nice to hear from someone who experiences this.

=chris=

[mommyofKassandCora]

I am sorry you are going through this :o(  Do you take meds,?

[cnote]

i was on meds for a while... didnt seem to work for me... i found peace in getting off of them, havnt been on them for a month now... and the anxiety just came back a few days ago.. but its getting better... its like im building an immune to it? i think i get stronger every time i get an anxiety spell... its wierd... could just be a time of life im going through.

read my journal if you will... you'll learn all about me. =)

thanks for listening..

[mommyofKassandCora]

I really liked your stories.  It takes alot of guts to put yourself out there like that.  I too took myself off of Lexapro, Xanax and Klonopin.  Now I am drug free and it feels sooo good :o)  

[cnote]

me too!!! but... the anxiety came back a few days ago... like i said its not as bad... but it seems to come once a month... and i have anxiety symptoms for like a week... no appetite, bad butterflies in my stomach, cant stay still... but then it subsides and goes away... then ill be good for a month.. then BAM... anxiety again..

i wonder if ive just got my mind set that every month ill get this anxiety??

is it possible? im going to see a therapist... b/c im not taking meds again.
he thinks ive just been through a lot so fast in my life the past few years... and cognitive therapy will help and prevent me from having this again.. hope hes right. =)

[xanweaner]

I think that you are on the right path with a therapist. In my case, my psychiatrist never even suggested that I try weaning off xanax after my anxiety symptoms were under control. (taking it since April 07). I told him that I wanted off - tired of living by the clock to make sure I didn't miss a dose, because when you do, you actually start to go into withdrawal. (awful)
Hang in there - ride it out. I have noticed a swollen lymph node in my throat, too, on one side only. Perhaps there is a relationship as the drugs do cause many side effects all over our bodies. Remember, it takes a long time to get the body chemistry re-stabilized.
Stick with the therapist - hopefully, yours is  well trained...
I am now in my 4th month of weaning down xanax and I am taking it slowly, allowing my body to adjust and let my neurotransmitters working on their own again. I'm also going to add fish oil and magnesium into my diet - it seems that these help, too. Also, make sure you're taking folic acid, too. Very important!!
I hope that you continue to stay strong...

[suzi-q]

I am pretty certain that a lymph node would not swell because of anxiety.  I was going to ask if it was around "that time of the month", but then I looked at your profile and saw that you are a man!  I wonder, though, if men have "cycles" too.  I have nodes that swell and worsen anxiety at the "female" time of the month...I wonder if a man's cycle is that far fetched!

[spade22]

Another thing to note is most people that are not medically trained are not capable of determining whether a lymph node is actually swollen in the first place- some nodes will vary slightly in size so what "feels" bigger could very easily be withing the normal size variance.  That being said, by continually touching/probing/palpitation of the node that can actually cause it to inflame (and it that point it may be very noticeable even to someone untrained).  So!  It is possible that when you initially feel the node it is not actually swollen (or slightly bigger than over nodes which is common).

[spade22]

I just reread your post (I actually read it yesterday but didnt respond until today).  The fact your doctor does not notice any swelling and you do is very, very telling - he is trained, you are not!  Even though it may appear bigger to you (than say, 2 weeks earlier) it is still not considered swollen by a trained professional!

"maybe as a person with anxiety, I think about it too much and play with it alot? "

Yes, yes, yes!

[concerned247365]

Never underestimate the power of the human brain. Just as the placebo effect is real, so is the ability for the brain to send signals and secrete endorphins and adrenaline (dopamine).  I am not a physician but I am convinced that anxiety can easily cause biologic reactions, most especially in the lymphs where you are directing your attention inadvertently. You are concerned about your health so your brain checks in with your lymphs. Again and again and again.. this system check will cause overactivity and therefore swelling.  Then, once you feel the ache you then get more anxious and begin what is called a "positive feedback loop" (most people make the mistake of calling this a negative feedback loop because the symptoms are not good).  
My advice is to stop trolling for information on what it is you are experiencing and look inward. Perhaps psychoanalysis, meditation, visit a nutritionist, yoga, breathing techniques...
Think positively and love yourself. Talk to yourself in positive ways. You are ok and you are a good person. Believe it and know it.

[whitecat78]

i had swollen lymph nodes in the back of my head a few years ago along with very weird uncomfortable sensations, i went to the doctor and she said i had some kind of infection, but didn't know what kind exactly.