Having Symptoms of MS, but could it just be Anxiety ?

[JTT25]

For the past week my thoughts have been consumed by one narrative : I have Multiple Sclerosis.

I am 19 years old, male, and I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder. I have had anxiety and hypochondriasis throughout my life , but only recently have developed Panic Disorder.

I have had tingling sensations , pains, twitches, many floaters and pinpoint flashes, pins and needles sensations, cotton mouth, dry eyes, and general fatigue for the past few days. I also have perceived vision loss during the night.

I had a neurological exam, MRI, & ECG five years ago (I also thought I had MS/ ALS when I was 15). One month ago I had an eye exam and the ophthalmologist told my I had a dry eye. After this exam I started seeing floaters and flashes persistently throughout the day and every day. Before the exam, I only had the floaters and flashes infrequently. I went back a week later and my ophthalmologist said my eyes were great and the dry eye was gone (after applying drops and taking other procedures). I thought until that moment that I had Retinis Pigmentosa or Macular Degeneration. Because of my flashes and floaters, my thoughts about going blind or having a brain tumor  have dominated my life until now.

One week ago, I started feeling tingling sensations in my lips. I immediately started to think about MS and proceeded to panic. Shortly after, my face felt heavy , I felt as though I couldn't move my lips as well or swallow as easily. I still am perceiving these issues. Not only do these tingling sensations afflict me in my lips, but they also strike in my hands and feet. I also have felt fatigued this past week. I have also experienced cotton mouth this week. With my visual disturbances( the constant pinpoint flashes and constant floaters ), the tingling and numbness, my severe anxiety and my hypochondriasis, I am perpetually consumed by these dreadful thoughts and am severely depressed  because of it. I am afraid to go see a neurologist to get an exam / MRI/ Lumbar Puncture.

Is it possible that anxiety is producing these  symptoms and that I don't have MS?

I also have heart palpitations, which trigger panic attacks, and have them often while working out.

[LRon]

You ask "Is it possible that anxiety is producing these symptoms and that I don't have MS?" The answer is yes, and I would add it's very likely.

Ask yourself this question: will continually worrying about your health make any positive difference? You know the answer is NO. Chronic worry about your health can actually be bad for your health. Isn't that ironic? So trust your doctor, and trust your body. Resolve TODAY to let go of the worry, and get on with living your life. And stop researching symptoms -- you'll convince yourself you have every condition under the sun.

Stop torturing yourself, and relax. Do it today. I wish you all the best.

[LRon]

You ask "Is it possible that anxiety is producing these symptoms and that I don't have MS?" The answer is yes, and I would add it's very likely.

Ask yourself this question: will continually worrying about your health make any positive difference? You know the answer is NO. Chronic worry about your health can actually be bad for your health. Isn't that ironic? So trust your doctor, and trust your body. Resolve TODAY to let go of the worry, and get on with living your life. And stop researching symptoms -- you'll convince yourself you have every condition under the sun.

Stop torturing yourself, and relax. Do it today. I wish you all the best.