OCD Question

[anxietyfreak]

I know that OCD is an anxiety disorder and everything, I have OCD but I was wondering if it could cause physical symptoms as well? Like feeling lightheaded and getting headaches and what not. I've had kind of a lot of panic attacks the  last few months and I have gone a month feeling so much dread and that I'm going to die that I actually just stayed inside and wouldn't leave my room. I also went to the emergency room because I swore I was dying..turns out it was a panic attack. But yeah back to my quesiton..do you think my headaches and lightheadedness could be due to OCD or just my general panic attacks and anxiety?

[ocdengineer]

Yea, definitely.  I also have OCD and unfortunately when you get your body into a state of panic which is what you are describing your body produces adrenaline that courses through your body.  This adrenalin can cause all kinds of weird feelings from stomach and digestive problems to blurred vision or tunnel vision.  The feeling that you aren't really there or that Nobody else is real has been commonly described.  This is called derealization and depersonalization.  Do a little research on the two.  They are both common symptoms of panic which unfortunately comes along with the OCD.  Your body is only designed to be in Fight or Flight mode for a short period of time, so with repeated panic you start to develop physical symptoms that may be causing the panic, this in turn can cause you to manifest your anxiety in what you read or due to suggestion.  It is a vicious cycle really.  The only way to break it is through relaxation techniques and in some cases medication is required.  First step is to find an anxiety disorder specialist first and see whether you can't get some good advice from a psychiatrist and potentially a contact for a good CBT.  I also meditate and consider health one of my primary weapons against panic, so consider eating well, exercising and the such.  It will help.

Take care,
OE

[coover]

Definitely could. Check out the hypochondriac forum, many of the people there have OCD and obsess about the physical symptoms that tag along witht the anxiety.