I too have lesions in my amygdala that cause anxiety and severe panic attacks… It used to just cause panic attacks from a flare up I had in 2007 but after this flare up I am currently in my amygdala is riddled with lesions and I have never experienced anxiety like this… This is dibelitating. More than the paralysis, numbness, aches pains all together… I can cope with those… Anxiety at this level was NOT something I was prepared for. I was dx’d in 2000 at 19 years old and have had symptoms of MS as early as 3 years old and according to my MRI that correlates with the age of the lesions in my brain. I had a wonderful MS specialist who knew my anxiety was only due to my MS lesions and not to my anxiety about the disease. I have no anxiety for my MS I know whatever comes I will handle it… I was told I would never walk again in 2008… In 2009 I was walking again with NO therapy of any kind. So I know how to interrupt my disease process. And now I moved and all the docs around here think I am insane but NONE of them have looked at my medical records so what in the world am I supposed to do?
Interesting thread… I had chronic anxiety when I was unwell way before the MS diagnosis. I had some sleep apnea which I think may have been the result of this chronic anxiety. I started meditation and that really helped, i’ve not have any more sleep apnea that I am aware of.
It can definitely cause emotional lability and affect the emotions in that way. It seems able to affect every physical part of a human body so realistically could easily affect every emotional part as well.
Hope things improve. Anti depressants have helped me recover from anxiety - had to try a few types to get the right ones and right dose for me though.
This is a very interesting thread indeed. I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder and recurring depression. I take an antipsychotic drug for the anxiety and an anti depressant for both the depression and anxiety. Took a year though to find the right combination of drugs. I’ve suffered with these disorders for about 14 years, long before my ms diagnosis. I asked my neuro if the mental health issues were a result of my ms and he said no, it was a separate illness. I don’t believe him, I really believe they are linked. Anyway, I’m emotionally stable now and hope to come of the antipsychotic drug sometime this year. The antidepressant I will probably stay on forever. Good to hear other peoples experiences. Lisa x
Jaki I take citalopram marvelous little things I love em and as Pat says sometimes those little tablets are the answer thats me with smily face thats me without the tablets
Interesting thread indeed! I was going to post one with a very similar title then found this old post asking the same question. I’m relapsing aat the moment and although the original symtpom (ON) is almost cleared up, i feel paralysed by anxiety and a feeling of panic that just does not seem like me - I don;t recognise myself! I’ve reached a point where I’m fine at home, in my gardenand walking my dog by the river, but I feel an irrational fear of breaking fro this routine, if i do I fear I’ll have another panic attack - I’ve still not gone back to work and fear I’m becoming agaraphobic. At least I an see it developing and plan to challenge my self a little next week one step at a time. MS nurse says it is psychological coping with my ms flaring up again, but I feel it is purely physical - not me (my mind) but my brain doing htis to me. Also feel over emotional, crying at nothing, which really isn’t me.
Neuro (via MS nurse) has offered amtriptyline, but I’m already on Keppra for seizures, and she says I’d have to increase that as Amy can reduce sensitivity (i think that’s what she said, I was sobbing at the time so coudn’t take it in) I’m wary of taking a cocktail of drugs…
Be grateful for any support on this, finding the site a great help again as it was when I was first diagnosed.
THansk all,
Gill xxx
ps, i can spell, but can’t type, hands too shaky so forgive all the errors!
A couple of years ago I became very anxious and afraid of the local teens. This was totally ridiculous because I had been a teacher for over 20 years and am quite comfortable with young people - even ones who might appear scary to others. I just couldn’t get my head round the way that I felt. Then I read somewhere that legions could cause anxiety and everything fell into place. Gradually I was able to relax - I feel much better now and don’t spend my time peeping round the curtains. It’s only anecdotal of course but I’m convinced that MS played a role in my out of character behaviour. I’m with the others regards medication - if it will help you to relax and calm down taking it will do less damage than not, if you see what I mean.
Hi Jaki, I beleive lesions do make a difference to your moods. In the last couple of years I have been bothered with anxiety and moodiness but it seems to come and go depending on how stressful my life Is. Went to gp last year and got dx with an under active thyroid. I am also menopausal which doesn’t help. Just after Christmas I was particularly bad for about four months and I am just coming out of it now. I had feelings of being overwhelmed by everything and palpitations. The thing is I have a really stressful period in my life coming up. Houses sale/ move. Family issues. I just hope I can cope with it all. Never been like this in my life before. If it starts to get really bad again I really will have to get something for it even if it does make me like a zombie. Hope you get sorted out soon. I know exactly what you are going through. Mags xx
Forgot to say my daughter did an Indian head massage on me and I felt great after. Trouble is she is going to uni in Edinburgh in September so I am going to lose my stress relief. Magsxx
I have to be very careful about anxiety as unforunately it is one of my relapse triggers.
I was suffering from servere anxiety last year due to sensitivity to noise at night (hyperacussis). I also had a nasty ear infection at the time. Sadly the GP just referred me as non-urgent for double vision to the hospital as he wrongly assumed double vision is a symptom of BPPV. There is no double vision in BPPV and double vision is an urgent referral to neurology. My MS went to my spine as my nervous system was in such a poor state at this point (17 days later).
My MS advanced about 10 years due to the ear infection and servere extreme anxiety and delayed referral/treatment. I am pretty gutted as my legs are sore when I stand up. If only I knew then what I know now.
Very interesting thread! I was told for many years that my symptoms were due to anxiety (and I did feel very anxious). Tried several anti-anxiety meds over the years, and when I came off them…no change at all.
I was, however, finally diagnosed with autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia). I would go in to detail, but you can look it up. 
Affects blood pressure and heart rate (that churny, panicky feeling?). For me it’s probably not going to go away, but knowing that it’s due to a lesion somewhere makes it easier…
xx
This was a post i put on on august 2012,dont know why its on again now… i also think that i have dysautonomia,i know that my symptoms are a lot more than anxiety,but try telling the medical people that lol…i think i have spoken to you before about it a while ago.
J x