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I burned out hard during quarantine and developed both sudden onset tinnitus and a migraine for the first time in my life. The migraine was with a visual aura a

I burned out hard during quarantine and developed both sudden onset tinnitus and a migraine for the first time in my life. The migraine was with a visual aura and was terrifying and debilitating. I was so sure I was having a stroke. I saw a neurologist and a psychiatrist just like the author. Nothing. It was all a “stress-induced” episode. No fancy label, no satisfying diagnosis. And the symptoms have persisted here and there since. I have constant tinnitus and my brain feels different since then. I can’t think or focus as well. It sucks. And for the record, no, I didn’t get COVID (this is asked regularly when I describe my experience, especially after describing what sounds like brain fog). I’m still not doing well. Just like the author, I’m not “better”. I’m barely hanging in. I’ve heard numerous similar stories. Stress can do horrible things to the body. Almost everyone I’m close with has shared some kind of anxiety-induced medical something or another story with me. Last year was rough for society as a whole.

caddemon 5y ago
Reducing stress is something a lot of us could benefit from, but there are also some underlying medical issues that can be exacerbated by stress. If you are still getting migraines you might want to see another doctor. They aren't super well understood yet, but there are pretty clear physiological signs and there are also some prophylactic treatment options. Chronic migraines are a very real neurological disorder, and for some people severe enough to be disabling. In general I think it's a very hard line to walk to avoid over-pathologizing things while also not missing actual medical issues. Nobody really understands the brain, and the entire discourse around phenomenon like "brain fog" kinda bums me out. It's both easy for doctors to unfairly dismiss and easy for internet forums to spin pseudoscience about. The two reinforce each other even. Keep hanging in there, and best of luck sorting out these issues.

caddemon 5y ago

Reducing stress is something a lot of us could benefit from, but there are also some underlying medical issues that can be exacerbated by stress. If you are still getting migraines you might want to see another doctor. They aren't super well understood yet, but there are pretty clear physiological signs and there are also some prophylactic treatment options. Chronic migraines are a very real neurological disorder, and for some people severe enough to be disabling. In general I think it's a very hard line to walk to avoid over-pathologizing things while also not missing actual medical issues. Nobody really understands the brain, and the entire discourse around phenomenon like "brain fog" kinda bums me out. It's both easy for doctors to unfairly dismiss and easy for internet forums to spin pseudoscience about. The two reinforce each other even. Keep hanging in there, and best of luck sorting out these issues.