Busy head

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Pretty much everyday I feel this pressure in my head.
It's hard to describe, but it's like there's a million thoughtsless thoughts going through it, swirling, pounding etc. and a pressure like your brain's going to collapse or something.

Recently I found out I get the pressure in my head because the outside world (in other words everything I see/hear/feel/etc. around me) is just too overwhelming.
When things don't go as planned (surprise visitors, abrupt changes in plans/routines, going outside etc.) it gets worse.

Normally I can cope with the pressure. It's annoying, but I can cope.

But for instance, last weekend, we had super surprise visitors over.
I tried to hide in my room, hoping they'd forget about me, but at some point my mum yelled to come to the garden seeing that it would be rude not to greet the guests.

I went downstairs, on my way there i had to constantly take deep breaths. When I arrived and greeted the guests I could feel tears welling up and I had to keep looking at my glass, taking sips as not to cry. Finally after 13 minutes I made some lame excuse about the sun ruining my skin and dashed off upstairs. Things were reasonably fine again.

Later on, my sister had arrived and went to get me so I'd sit with her, parents and surprise guests. I told her I'd be down in a minute.
A couple seconds later, cue me sitting on the bathroom floor rocking back and forth, taking quick deep breaths with a towel pressed in my face, crying and repeating the word 'okay', hoping it'd calm me.

At the end of the weekend, the pressure in my head just kept building up and it got so bad Sunday night that I just burst into tears (even though I wasn't sad or anything) and scared my mum:p
When I can't cry or find a quiet spot (e.g. when stuck in school), I get this really aggressive urge, like I can imagine myself just throwing desks aside, punching walls and yelling etc. while I'm definitely NOT an aggressive person. I don't get angry often and I certainly don't lash out when I do.


The thing is, NOTHING helps to get rid of the pressure in my head.
Rubbing my head doesn't nor does crying, meditating, taking a hot bath, essential oils, herbal teas, herbal tinctures, deep breathing, eating carbs, hitting my head etc. It's just there. Sometimes lightly banging my head against a wall helps, but it's not something other people like seeing:p







Anyway, for those who've made it to these final words (you get an imaginary gold star ! yay! :p)
I was wondering if anyone else has to deal with this, and if so, how do you cope with it? Is there anything that helps you lessen the pressure?

I think I know how you feel, the other night I was bordering on tears for no real reason, and I felt very...tense, like what you described. The only thing I can recommend is try do something extremely difficult, like learn a very hard song or memorize half a book. That sort of task needs so much concentration that you might drown out the "background thoughts" as I call them. If this doesn't work I'd consider getting professional help. That feeling usually last twenty minutes for me, once a season, and I know how unbearable it must be to have for longer periods of time.

I'm already seeking professional help for it, but so far the psychiatrist just wants to put me on risperdal (telling me it'll cure all my problems... yeah..right) without really trying to help me find out what it is or why I'm getting this:\

But I suppose I could try something like memorizing a book or getting my old ancient Greek word lists from school out and try to memorize those again.
Usually the pressure makes it impossible for me to even think of beginning such an activity, but maybe if I persevere, it'll help?

Thanks for the tip:)

Damn, I hate it HATE IT when parents do not let their AS kids forced them into social situations that will without a doubt overstimulate them!

I had a few of these mental breakdowns when I was working at Disney World as part of a College intern program for a semester. Everytime I start a new job a breakdown during the first few weeks is eminent.

Which is why I hate having to look for a new job. Having to deal with finding and communicating with employers in order to find a job is already overstimulating enough for me.

You're hyperventilating. You need to slow your breathing, which will restore your oxygen/CO2 balance and keep you from getting panic attacks (which is what you are having). Practice breathing exercises on a regular basis and it will become second nature. In the meantime, you might want to get a prescription for tranquilliers as well. You'll still find change, overstimulation and unexpected social situations difficult, but without the anxiety they won't be as overwhelming.

It wasn't hyperventilation.
I could still breathe normally if I wanted, there was no feeling of being choked/not getting enough air.
I was deliberately taking deep breaths in the hope of calming down, 'cause someone once told me it's supposed to work.

I guess the 'taking quick deep breaths' part sounds like it, but I meant as soon as one deep breath was over, I immediately added another deep breath after it.
Taking in each breath was slow and calm.
So it'd be breathe in for a couple of seconds, breath out for a couple of seconds, and continue the cycle right away instead of leaving a second or two between each breath.

I have thought about tranquilizers, but I really hope taking medication can be a last resort.

I can definitely relate:\
This is most likely why I can never hold on to a job (or even an internship). Luckily I'm still studying and my parents will support me financially when studying...
but I'm really worried about once I get my degree etc. and I didn't exactly pick a study that limits social interaction, starting next year;) (cultural anthropology/social development). It could either help me immensely (as I'll be able to understand people and study them) or make me miserable.

Roughly how long have you been experiencing this?

I get that pressure in my head before a meltdown and shutdown. It's like a heavy weight to me.
I do feel like throwing things and at times do.
Maybe meds will stop it if nothing else does. I've done a lot of therapy and decided to quit once I got told to meditate. How would that help me?
Stimming behaviors may calm you. When I get like that I automatically stim. I also stack things which calms me even more because my mind is occupied with something else.

It does sound like you have a bit of social anxiety. I mean if sitting down with people makes you want to cry then that's got to be it. Behavioral therapy may help you. I did it and I'm not that anxious anymore. I remember I'd be at a club and have to fight back the tears and I'd get shaky legs.

I do have trouble with social situations when I don't have time to prepare for them. E.g. with this weekend's guests, they woke us with a phone call at 9am stating they'd be there in two hours >_< I usually need at least 2-3 days to get used to the idea of people coming over, especially when I don't really know them. The fact that I had to sit in the garden made things worse (I hate gardens).
What you described what happened at the club for you, happens to me too... but not always. Sometimes I'm just fine, other times I can be a downright mess.

I forgot about behavioural therapy... all my past counselors and my current one kept/keep promising me I'll get that, but they never keep their promise.
I think I'll confront the psych. about it during my next session:) It does seem that that could help a great deal.

It started around my 13th and gradually got worse and worse up until now, with a peak around 16th (though I had a lot going on at that time, so that might explain it).

My experiences have been pretty much exactly the sameas yours. Actually it's spooky how similar they are. I started getting that feeling in my head when I was ~12 years old. It increased as I went through adolescence, until it was pretty much a constant at around 16 years. Then I left highschool, and it lessened for a few years, before returning at age 20 when I took on an incredibly stressful and social job. I had a massive breakdown and was put into a psych ward, where the psychiatrist said I was psychotic. He thought this because the only way I could explain what was happening to me was to say that part of my brain had become disconnected from the rest of my brain, and the rogue part was sending spiky creepers into the rest of my brain to try to control it and kill me. I still don't know whether I actually believed that or not. Later, other mental health professionals told me they thought I was not psychotic. They said I was just having severe panic attacks. Often people feel strange sensations in their heads when they have panic attacks. They can even hallucinate a little, as I did on occasion. But this does not mean that you are psychotic. I just need to stress that.

I was put on Zyprexa, which is apparently a "major tranquilizer", and it worked. I still get that feeling when I am stressed, and I want to become violent and everything (despite being a very passive person), but it's no longer constant. Valium also helps in emergencies. Learning some strategies to put in place when you feel like this would be a good idea. Drugs can help bring you to the level where you are capable of helping yourself, but then you have to do the rest of the work. Try talking to your psychiatrist or any other counsellor/psychologist who you think could help you. Perhaps try to explain to your family that you find these situations very stressful, and that they need to be lenient on you at these times. You still need to go a little out of your comfort zone and into these situations for very short amounts of time though. This will help you get used to them, and I think eventually the panic will lessen.

So: take prescribed medications to get you to the point where you can help yourself. Develop strategies to deal with the attacks. Gradually (very gradually) acclimatize yourself to the trigger situations. You can't avoid them altogether.

That's my advice. I hope it helps.

Hi I definitely understand the feeling. Perhaps maybe talking to your family to help them understand your feelings would help them support you through stressful situations better.

Do you feel this way all the time? Or just when you are stressed by unexpected or unplanned events that disturb your routine? What you seem to be experiencing is racing thoughts or disorganized thoughts....It could be anxiety causing it....does it help it if you stim?

I experience racing and disorganized thoughts a lot, and yes, also the head pressure...Sometimes pulling my hair makes it feel better. It's like there's so much chatter in my head it feels like it's going to explode...it feels like my brain is expanding and pushing against my skull or something....I know that's not actually what's happening, but it still feels like that....

I don't think my racing thoughts have anything to do really with my ASD. I'm bipolar and that usually happens when I'm manic.....

Yours seems to happen when your on the verge of a meltdown or shutdown....

I agree with Pensive....behavioural therapy should help you be able to better react to situations that make feel like that.....if you constantly feel like that, even when you aren't in situations that are stressful for you....maybe you would benifit from taking some medication...

Hi!

congratulations!! ! You kid might have what they call "social anxiety disorder"

From wiki: Social anxiety disorder (DSM-IV 300.23), also known as social anxiety[1] or social phobia[2] is a diagnosis within psychiatry and other mental health professions referring to excessive social anxiety (anxiety in social situations) [2] causing abnormally considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some areas of daily life...
Physical symptoms often accompanying social anxiety disorder include excessive blushing, sweating (hyperhidrosis), trembling, palpitations, nausea, and stammering. Panic attacks may also occur under intense fear and discomfort...

Episodes can end up easily in panic attacks

again from wiki: During a panic attack, epinephrine is released in large amounts, triggering the body's natural fight-or-flight response. A panic attack typically has an abrupt onset, building to maximum intensity within 10 to 15 minutes, and rarely lasts longer than 30 minutes. The most common symptoms may include trembling, dyspnea (shortness of breath),a rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), hot flashes, cold flashes, burning sensations (particularly in the facial or neck area), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), vomiting, light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering, and derealization. These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop.

Many patients report a fear of dying or of losing control of emotions and/or behavior.

Be careful -your tarot says- or it can evolve into an agoraphobia (wiki: Agoraphobia (from Greek aγορά, "marketplace"; and φόβος/φοβία, -phobia) is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to his or her home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this "safe place." )

"Agoraphobia is best understood as an adverse behavioral outcome of repeated panic attacks and subsequent anxiety and preoccupation with these attacks that leads to an avoidance of situations where a panic attack could occur"

Son... I got there, yup... till the end and I know what you are going trough, believe me you can save yourself much more suffering and stress by looking some moral support in your parent perhaps or profesional help instead of shouting against a towel in the bathroom.

To get rid of the pression of my head I started training Free Diving, diving without air tanks. Helped me learning to control my mental limits, learning how to block stimuli to mentally relax, and improved my breathing technique. It's a very pleasant feeling... is very relaxing to be just swiming under the water specially on training hours when no one makes anoying noises, the lack of gravity, being alone in the water with no social preasure, the feeling of the water in the skin... just me, my heart, and the ceramic bricks pasing along.

Another thing that has helped me a lot is breathing yoga, wich combines breathing technics with mental relaxation excersices, not just by sutting up your thoughts automaticaly(wich for me seemed imposible) but also using your mental energy for example on mentally pointing at parts in your body while consciently breathing, effectively quieting the mind.

Sorry for the misspellings and the long post, and I hope this was helpful.

Success!

ps: you've made it to these final words (you get an imaginary gold star ! yay!




[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAdEQqUjaRg&feature=related[/youtube]

Hey Dianitapilla!
It's funny you mention diving, as often when I get the big pressure in my head, I can clearly imagine myself diving into a cool swimming pool.
I definitely think that the feeling of the water splashing against my face and the weightlessness that water creates can really help with this:)
Maybe I should substitute the swimming pool with a cold shower, perhaps it'll have the same effect I love being under water and having all sound drowned out.

I don't seem to have any of the symptoms described for the panic attacks... just that I burst into tears 'cause the pressure gets too big and needs some form of release... I don't feel short of breath/dizzy/nauseated or anything like that. I just try taking realllly deep breaths in hopes of calming myself and grounding myself.

You might be on to something though, regarding the social anxiety disorder as I find it hard to converse with others and in turn it makes me want to avoid people when possible since it makes me uncomfortable.

The light annoying pressure usually just happens when I'm walking/cycling to school without music on to distract me, or when school gets a bit hectic or when I have to go into the garden etc.
The only place where I'll *never* get an intensely pressured head is in my room, however sometimes there's still the 'annoying pressure', for instance when I think about moving out for university next schoolyear. I've also noticed that when I have my headphones on, it gets considerably less, but you can't always wear headphones.

The really bad pressure happens when my routine is disturbed, or something unexpected happens (as in people showing up without giving much notice) etc.
Sometimes it happens when I'm sitting in class and I'm supposed to listen to the teacher talk and talk and talk when all I want to do is just get started on the exercises/assignments. And there's always a big chance of it happening in big, busy stores with screaming advertisements (bright red, yellow etc. everywhere) and customers with noisy shopping carts.
Traveling to places isn't hard for me unless something happens on the way (e.g. a road has been blocked and I need to find another route, which causes a huge meltdown for me where I just 'shut' myself off for ages).


It definitely helps when I stim, but as gently banging my head seems to scare people/is not socially accepted, I usually just suffer in silence with my head down on the table or play with some strings or origami stars that I carry in my pockets when attention is required.
I guess this is also why, after an event has passed, the pressure still builds up in my head, only to be released at a much later time.

I still can't make out whether it's racing thoughts or not. 'Cause I used to have racing thoughts a lot (e.g. hours upon hours just rehearsing/repeating/predicting the run of conversations I had or would have in the future, amongst other more random thoughts) and whenever I'd get like that, I'd get this huge frown that I would not be able to erase.

With what I'm experiencing now, it's just a really pressured head. No real thoughts with words or anything, but it still feels like something's been pent up there and wants out.




I did tell my sister, thinking she'd scold me, but she was amazingly caring:) And my mum's slowly starting to understand me better as well I think.. as yesterday when we were in town and she saw me fiddling about with some origami stars, she asked me if I was okay/needed to go to a quiet spot etc.




I would really rather not take any medication unless it becomes extremely unbearable. Especially medication like Zyprexa/Risperdal/etc.
I know that antidepressants aren't the same as anti-psychotics, but antidepressants (have tried SNRI's and SSRI's) just made everything worse for me when I was depressed... and I'm scared that an anti-psychotic might have the same effect. Not to mention the horrible side effects.



You guys are all awesome by the way:)
You're really making me think of things I've never considered before (be it coping strategies or social anxiety etc.). So thank you for all your patience and support!

Yeah... I have that strange feeling sometimes too. When I'm stressed and have a lot to do, or simply if there's something I struggle to understand.
For me, I'm pretty sure (how I don't know ), anyway, I'm pretty sure that it's not a panic attack with me.

I think it would have to do with the ASD, cause like I said, it also happens when I struggle to understand. Sometimes it can also feels like a brain-war. I don't know how to describe it.
For me, the feeling don't get worse near meltdowns, but when I have the feeling I can't stand if someone is walking into my room, or even talking to me. I don't do anything about it, just answer quickly so they get out again.

Crap... We are in emotional talk here... lol...

Hah I guess so;)

Yeah, it happens when I can't understand something but it's expected of me to understand it.

But i mostly have two stages: mild and severe. I just got back from the shrink and it's now hovering on the border of severe.
I'm wondering, perhaps changing my diet might help clear my head a bit. Perhaps certain foods just aggravate the pressure.. I wonder..

I'm at least glad I'm not the only one, when I try to explain it to people over here, they usually give me a blank stare:P