I’m sheebee : ) ever since I was little I’ve had this thing where sometimes I get this feeling in my head like I’m being shaken violently? like my vision looks pretty normal and on the outside physically I feel normal but inside my head its like someone is shaking me, if that makes sense. I have adhd, anxiety/OCD, and often dissociation... could that be related to any of these disorders? (I’ve struggled with mental health since I was a child) I just wanna know what it is so I can stop worrying
Hello Sheebee,
I understand the feeling of fear when you're experiencing symptoms and you have no idea what it's a part of. The good thing though, is that you've recognised this is an issue for you. We're not medical professionals here, so I can't diagnose the cause of this feeling of being shaken, but we can look at ways to get some further help, and ways to cope when it comes on.
So firstly, the best idea is to see your doctor and describe your symptoms to you. This kind of feeling could be associated with anxiety disorders, especially because anxiety can have a huge physical impact on our bodies as well. We have a page on Anxiety Disorders here that touches on that. It could also be associated with dissociation, as that causes a disconnect from your body. But it could also be a physical issue, like a medication side effect, blood pressure drops, inner ear issues and more. This is why it's really important to see your doctor - they can do a physical check, go over your symptoms, talk about your medical history and run any tests if needed. All of those things together with their expertise will help you find the cause of the feeling. We have a page on Getting Help here that may be useful for you. I know it's hard to not worry in the meantime. I personally have a lot of health issues, and I try to remind myself that if I've booked in for the doctor or a test, I'm doing well. I'm on track, and I'll be getting help soon.
That leads me on to coping techniques for when the anxiety comes on about what is causing it. On the anxiety disorders page that I linked above, there are a few great tools that can help to reduce baseline anxiety, and stronger waves of anxiety when they come along. This includes calming techniques, such as breathing exercises, distractions and moving thoughts out of your mind with journalling, and grounding techniques, which are helpful for staying focused on the here and now, and staying connected with your body. Grounding is also great for dissociation.
If things are getting too much, there are also Helplines and Web Counsellors available at all times of the day that you can talk with. Don't be afraid to reach out - you deserve support, and that is what they're there for. I hope that you're able to book in with your doctor and start to get some more support on board.
Positive thoughts your way,Alexandria.
