Tingling in face due to stess?

[Anxiety?]

I've had tingling/crawling sensation in my face on and off for the last 6 months.  Sensation has been all over my face (forehead and both sides).  When I press on it, the sensations get worse.   It also gets worse when I'm in stressful situations, but I feel it at other times as well.  I've been to a nuerologist and had an MRI.  The doctor didn't think it was anything nuerlogical (like MS) and my MRI was clear.  I also have hypothyriodism and heard it could be attributed to that.

I found a person in this forum who had a similar experience.  The doctor's response was that it may indiciate a mental health problem.  Can you be more specific?  Why does this happen with stress?  Will it go away on its own?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Stress has been called the great imitator because the sensations caused by stress can take  place any where in the body, especially when one secondarily starts worrying about and observing small, usually overlooked, normal variations in the sensations of  consciousness.  Not a mental problem per se, but a sign of expression of distress.

[LukeL]

One reason might be that during high stress times adrealine is released into your body and you get ready for a fight or flight situation. During this time blood is sent to vital areas of your body like your brain, heart and lungs, and less blood is sent to to other areas. This could cause tingling in the fingers, toes, and face.

People like us also face the problem with stress that when the symptoms come on we stress about that which only leads to the symptoms getting worse. If you have had a clean bill of health I would try not to worry about it and attempt to manage the stress instead of the symptoms.

I am not a doctor and this is only my opinion and advice from my own experience.

[Martadi]

Are you taking any medications ?

This can be a side effect - Dr's always blame the patient before looking at the problems treatments cause !!

[Aruba417]

Yeah, I get facial tingling and have had all the neuro exams as well. I have GAD and Panic Disorder. I can even feel the tingling in my eyeball sometimes. Sounds weird, but it's true! And this happened before I was on medications, so it isn't that. It's actually gotten a lot better being on medicine. Good luck and God Bless!

[sally456]

If that is your only symptom, I wouldnt worry about it being ms or another neurological disorder.  Im not a dr. but I have had alot of anxiety over wondering if I have ms, so I have done alot of research on the disease.  I also have had tingling in the face, in my head..all over. Dont do as I did and research it on the internet..you'll become obsessed with it and depressed.  Just go on with your life, you'll be fine.

[SteveIT]

Tingling in the face can also be caused by tightness and spasms of the muscles in the jaw, neck and upper back and shoulders. That's where a lot of people carry tension, and it's made worse by using a computer, sitting at a desk, bad posture, and so on.

[Jenny Wren]

My face feels like little bugs or a hair on it.  Has been doing this for around 5 years.  When it first started, it only happened on occasions, but over the years and the stresses I've been through it is there almost all the time.  When it's really bad, I take a half of a xanax and go about my business, it's funny how when your busy you don't even think about it or feel it.  Anxiety is a terrible thing.

[Anxiety?]

Have you ever sought therapy?  Is this something you just have to live with?

[Jenny Wren]

I never sought therapy.  Never had the money being I don't have insurance.  When it gets really bad I take a half a xanax and it goes away.  I feel it's anxiety or tension related because when it happens my shoulders are usually really tight and kinda get a little lightheaded.  Took Prozac for a while didn't seem to help, so what's the sense of taking it.  Xanax works for me.

[Anxiety?]

So are you pretty sure its due to anxiety and nothing more serious?

[Jenny Wren]

What did you ever find out about your tingling feeling on your face?  Is it anxiety?  Do you take meds for it?  I think if mine was caused by a more serious problem I would know by now, it's been doing this off and on for 5 years.

[ABCMomof3]

It's anxiety. I have it too. Please try not to worry about it, its perfectly normal to have those sensations when you have anxiety; its one of the symptoms. It's yucky, I know, but at least I know its from anxiety and nothing else.

[Jenny Wren]

How long has your anxiety been there?  What's weird is it doesn't seem like there is any anxiety when this happens.  It just comes from out of the blue.  Did you take anything?  Did you have any tests done?  Your support would make me feel alot better.  Thanks again

[worrybutt]

crazy, i have been going through the same thing. tingling in the face, mostly on one side, and around the eye also. Went through cat scan, mri... the whole MS possibility. It all came back clear. I've been miserable for weeks worrying and worrying... some doctors thought possible migraine, when it happened together with a strong headache around the eye. But lately it's just the very faint tingling, tightening almost. Nothing happens if i touch my face, it doesn't hurt more or anything. Just comes and goes... I've had a lot of back pain lately too... so i don't know.

[Jenny Wren]

My neck muscles are very sore when you touch them on my affected side.  I can push on them lightly and then the feeling comes.  It's kinda like a pressure then the bug crawling feeling starts.  When this first started I thought there was a hair or something.  Mine is not painful either just very, very annoying.  It's been like this for around 6 years.  I worry everyday, every doctor I've been to says it's anxiety.  Then why does it happen when your not even stressed.

[darnel]

JennyWren- what i have come to learn, through this forum and from other resources, is that you absolutely, positively do not need to be feeling stressful or anxious at the moment you get anxiety symptoms.   feeling anxious and stressed, in the short term, can be said to be different then having an anxiety issue in the long term.  everybody feels stress and anxiety, but not everybody has a mental health issue of anxiety.  everybody has felt stress in their lives, from giving a big presentation to taking a big exam etc.  you might even feel physical symptoms from this such as butterflies in the stomach, etc.  basically, the tingling sensations, and all these other symptoms are just more intense and less common anxiety symptoms, which can represent a disorder, and can occur AT ANY TIME, even when you are laughing with your friends or in a good mood.  in fact, i came to found out that getting a little overexcited in the workplace brought on anxiety symptoms for me.  like laughing and talking and telling jokes etc.  id say to myself, wait, im having fun, why am i getting all anxious and having these symptoms.  for me, my anxiety symptoms would be spasms in my forehead. i have a facial tick where i move my forehead and ears sometimes, without even thinking about it, when i get into conversations and i get overexcited, and it must bother the nerves or muscles in my forehead and causes a spasm, and this freaks me out and makes me nervous.  but when i calm down, and take deep breaths, the overexcitement and the anxiety, and the facial ticks and the spasms all go away.  so in the end, anxiety sucks, and therapy and medication can be very helpful. the symptoms of anxiety can occur at any time and creep up on you for no particular reason.  but just relax and drink lots of water, breath deeply, and most importantly . . . .HAVE FUN!

[darnel]

JennyWren- what i have come to learn, through this forum and from other resources, is that you absolutely, positively do not need to be feeling stressful or anxious at the moment you get anxiety symptoms.   feeling anxious and stressed, in the short term, can be said to be different then having an anxiety issue in the long term.  everybody feels stress and anxiety, but not everybody has a mental health issue of anxiety.  everybody has felt stress in their lives, from giving a big presentation to taking a big exam etc.  you might even feel physical symptoms from this such as butterflies in the stomach, etc.  basically, the tingling sensations, and all these other symptoms are just more intense and less common anxiety symptoms, which can represent a disorder, and can occur AT ANY TIME, even when you are laughing with your friends or in a good mood.  in fact, i came to found out that getting a little overexcited in the workplace brought on anxiety symptoms for me.  like laughing and talking and telling jokes etc.  id say to myself, wait, im having fun, why am i getting all anxious and having these symptoms.  for me, my anxiety symptoms would be spasms in my forehead. i have a facial tick where i move my forehead and ears sometimes, without even thinking about it, when i get into conversations and i get overexcited, and it must bother the nerves or muscles in my forehead and causes a spasm, and this freaks me out and makes me nervous.  but when i calm down, and take deep breaths, the overexcitement and the anxiety, and the facial ticks and the spasms all go away.  so in the end, anxiety sucks, and therapy and medication can be very helpful. the symptoms of anxiety can occur at any time and creep up on you for no particular reason.  but just relax and drink lots of water, breath deeply, and most importantly . . . .HAVE FUN!

[Jenny Wren]

Thank you for the imformation.  I have tried medication, both Xanax and Prozac, they did not help.  Therapy either.  My tingling sensations are everywhere, face, legs, back, head, and arms.  It seems though it all started in the face.  And since I concentrated on this so much, it's gotten worse and spread everywhere else.  I guess I'm just a mess at this point, but hey, I'm still here, after 6 years of buggy sensations.  I can walk, talk, eat, and everything else.  Anxiety is a horribel thing.  Thanks so much for the info.

[chewbacca]

My name is Jim, , 42yo. This is the first time writing to a forum. I have been reading the heart forum alot but Iv'e gotten new symptoms. I have tried to post a new topic, but I cant get on. In February 05, I rear ended someone at about 35 mph. The following day my heart started racing and I went to the ER thinking heart attack. There was no heart attack but my enzymes were elevated so they kept me over night.

They did a lot of tests ekg, treadmill, chest xray, blood test, thyroid, ultra sound of heart and neck, 30 day monitor, 2 day monitor. They said every thing "structurelly" is fine with my heart.

I began getting rapid heart beats about 2 - 3 times per week. for about 4 months. About 4 month later they came back.

About 3 week ago I started getting "skipped beats", scared the heck out of me. They happen 3-4 times per minute, but sometimes they stop for a few hours.Went to ER, they did all the tests and said anxiety. This is the third MD who said aneiety. Iwas given Ativan 1mg.

I now get a numb tengling afeeling round my face, mostly forehead and sides. I can really feel it when i raise my eye brows or scrunch my forhead. Can this all be anxiety related.

I have a hard time believing anxiety because until the car accident I was in PERFECT health. I also had bronchitis prior to the skiped heart beats.Since the sipping started, the rapid stopped.

Any feed back is really appreciated. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die. I am really scared at times. I stay strong for my wife and kids.

My private email is ***@****

[BarelyThere]

On January 2nd of this year I started to have a tingling feeling on my forehead. It started suddenly that day, but was pretty mild; a minor annoyance that I described to my husband as "weird." I assumed it would go away but over the next few days it got worse and worse. I still have the sensation every single day, and it has grown stronger and more intense. It varies from a tingling (not pins and needles, but more of a tickle), to pressure/tightening, to skin-crawling, to an almost cold sensation. It is worse some days than others but I rarely have a mild day. Also, it has spread to my eyebrows and nose as well. I have had an MRI, a CT Scan, been to an ENT, two neurologists, and of course my regular doctor, and none of them could diagnose anything.


I thought it was something wong with my sinuses but the CT Scan didn't show any problems there. I have no clue what causes this, but I am concerned about Pre Trigeminal Neuralgia. At this point, I think it's something wrong with a facial nerve.

I am at the end of my rope. The tingling is so bothersome that it has pretty much ruined my life. Nobody can relate to what I'm going through and the doctors havn't offered any help at all. I am actually going to be traveling to another state to get an "expert" opinion. Let me tell you, reading these other posts has both helped me and scared me. The thought of this going on for another 6+ years like the previous poster sends chills down my spine.

Anyone who might know what is causing this, or if you just want to relay your own experience, please email me at ***@**** .

Also, I am considering medical botox for this problem. Anyone else had it or considering it?

[BarelyThere]

Forgot to say that the Chiro I just started seeing told me it IS my trigeminal nerve. It makes sense, but I'm not sold on it. I've started getting adjustments but it hasn't helped yet.

[Jenny Wren]

Hang in there, I've had this for 6 years, it started out faint, now it's there every blessed day.  My MD thinks that it is migraines, which I do get on the affected side, my ear hurts down inside, my neck and shoulder muscles hurt also, there is no pain, just pressure, kinda like a tightening, and then the tickle and crawly feeling.  I've never had a MRI, scared that I'm going to be diagnosed with MS.  If you had a MRI, if it is trigeminal neuralgia, alot of the info I gathered is these people have terrible, terrific shooting pain in there face and nothing ever shows on a MRI.  TN is sometimes a precursor to MS.  Do you get these sensations anywhere else?  Head, legs, arms?  I do.  Never did in the beginning, until I went to the chiropractor and he told me that he thinks I have the early stages of MS, that's been 3 years ago, after that , the crawlies went from just being in my face, to everywhere else.  Don't know if it's anxiety, Lyme's (live in Pennsylvania), Ms, brain tumor, TN, who know's.  Some days it's there just a little, but if I have that tight feeling in my neck, I've noticed the facial thing is worse.  Someone posted and said that tight neck and shoulder muscles can cause this.  By the way, when mine started, it's was about 2 months after a minor fender bender, don't know if thats related to it or not.  Maybe hormones.  Take care.

[BarelyThere]

I don't have it anywhere but my face. Nothing happened to me before it started, although I deal with quite a bit of stress on a daily basis and I do have problems with anxiety. Trigeminal Neuralgia is a shock like pain that comes and goes, but PRE TN can feel like tingling, aching, or paresthesia and begins days to years before the first pain attack. MRI will only show TN if it is due to a tumor pressing on that nerve. Stress can bring on TN. I wonder if there are other disorders or irritation of the different facial nerves that could be responsible for this? I am VERY depressed over this. The doctors can't treat me and they look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them about it. I pray every night that it will go away. It starts up every single morning and is there until I go to sleep...and sometimes I can even feel it in the night. I have also developed sleep problems as a result of this. I wake at least 4-5 times per night and have a hard time getting to sleep. Don't know what to do, but words cannot describe how awful this is. I feel so bad for you that you have had it for so long.

[Jenny Wren]

Try a Xanax.  I take a half a one, and it does seem to help.  Did your chiropractor say what causes this?  Not to be nebby but sometimes this can be caused by hormones, what's your age?  Did they ever say anything about Lymes?