Can anxiety cause plugged ears/ constant lighthead/vision problems?

[sickofthefog]

I've been sick for months...probably three solid months. It all started with weird bouts with depth perception and and feelings of slight vertigo, dizzy all the time, lightheaded..I would feel pressure in my head, tingles like I was off blance when walking...then came the vision problems: extreme sensitivity to light, halos around things at night...followed by ear problems: My ears feel constantly plugged and sometimes I hear ringing...early on there was a "whooshing" sound. My whole body feels sore and tired and I feel exhausted ALL the time. I couldn't sleep at night (now I am on Trazadone for that) and I started having severe anxiety and panic attacks (i have always tended towards anxiety but it has never been this debilitating). I feel like I am a completely different person than I used to be. I don't want to do anything unless I am with someone I trust. This is so not me. I feel like this is such crap for lack of a better word.

I've had MRI (brain/spine)-hearing tests with ENT-bloodwork galore including Epstein Barr and Lyme (3 diff tests)-Cardiologist-neurologist-GI-Gyno...EVERYTHING...all fine except for an irregular heartbeat

it's so crazy to go from someone who barely ever went to the doctor to someone who is there more than anything else.

I am now seeing a therapist who is nice...starting Zoloft today..but still not accepting this as strictly emotional...anyone in my lonely boat?

[LEWISW]

I myself as well have that constant blocked right ear that so far hearing test says is normal and I have an MRI scan scheduled Oct.14th but I am sure it is caused by my anxiety which is at an all time high since finishing prednisone 2 weeks ago for that same blocked ear sensation.

It can make you nuts as its like what comes first the chicken or the egg !! When my ear does not feel too blocked I am less anxious as soon as it starts to block up I get more anxious and then the mind wanders that the doctors are missing something and a tumor is growing in my head. well my ENT has already said I have had the sudden hearing loss issue for the past 10 years 4 times already and if it was something serious by now there would be more symptoms.

Just needed to hear myself speak as I am losing my mind and driving the people around me crazy.

Lew

[patient49]

I was anxiety prone a bit throughout my life as well, but it is important to know that most everyone is. Take a good look at society next time you're out! And I had my first anxiety episode that lasted 3 months when I was 21, not accepting it was emotional/psychological (which is a common response because we have physical symptoms). Well after 3 months I got fully better again. I mean at least I thought I was liberated, but the truth is that the goal with anxiety and mental health in general is to not allow it to debilitate us, yes and eventually become wise, and very well :)

But as far as dealing with anxiety that is getting the better of us goes, it means we are dealing with a life challenge, which gives us physical symptoms, and the way anxiety works is that we end up dwelling on the symptoms and neglect the problems in our life that are causing the symptoms in the first place. What cured me after my first episode, which lasted three months btw, is that my underlying concern that was causing all my anxiety and symptoms was addressed, and I fully healed and I have never taken medicine, and never will. 3 years passed and I had another anxiety experience, which lasted for 3 months also and I thought I was dying of a physical disease, like I thought the previous experience (no, I didn't learn my lesson, because that is how powerful anxiety can be). But when I learned about psychsomatization, and realized that my serious physical symptoms could be being caused by my mind, or my "emotions", I began to get better, and once again I did get fully better. I am facing another experience, but it is in response to life difficulties, something you may be going through! But I believe that once you realize that your symptoms are being caused by your mind (or better yet, being caused by your situation), and not a physical disease, I believe you will begin to feel better!  

I don't know if I am in the same boat as you, but I've definitely been there, now I am in a ship ;)

take care!

[seanerr]

I had it all. dizzy, lightheaded, headaches, vision problems ( I'd see static in my vision) etc etc severely for 2 months. I went to my regular dr who told me it was anxiety and 2 eye doctors. I just said 'f*ck the rest of the ruling out' BS, and just accepted it was anxiety.  I stayed away from medicine and i forced myself to eat the right foods for my mind, I forced myself to sleep with viteman B complex and I forced myself to excercise (even though I normally do). I am now free of anxiety and suffer no more symptons. Took me about a month of suffering and forcing myself to do things, and my doctor was right. If you can tell yourself its anxiety, eat right, sleep right, and excercise.. it will help if you do it right. So goodluck. I was there.

[beth0277]

I have had many of the symptoms you describe. I often have plugged up ears and lightheadedness from my anxiety. I hope the zoloft works well for you. It did wonders for me until I had to discontinue it due to some rare side effects. I am now on another medicine that is working well. There is hope for you. I'm sure you will find a medication that does wonders for you!

Good luck!