[csr86]

I never believed that stress could be harmful. It seemed "mental" issue rather than "real" physical problem.

Until I got blinded by stress! Excess stress hormone can even damage your eyes, its called central serous retinopathy... My central vision is gone and have hard time reading, I cant continue my career as programmer anymore.

Its surprising how damaging excess cortisol can be to a person

[phito]

I had a huge stress period last September. During that month, I passed out twice and had 3 hour-long panick attacks.

Since then, I've had jaw pain, constant pressure headaches, vision troubles, vertigo, depersonalization/derealization, and feel totally weak physically.

I've seen so many doctors this month, and they all told me the same thing: it's stress. It's crazy to see how one very stressfull week has totally fucked up my whole body, and that two months after I'm still not fully recovered from it, and I don't think I will every feel totally normal again.

Sorry you had a similar experience and got lasting damages from it, I wish you the best for the future.

[Karawebnetwork]

Take a look at minerals too. I have a tendency when stressed to drink a lot of caffeine during the day and then alcohol at night. Stress also drops my body temperature and I start to urinate a lot, up to the point that my urine is completely clear and I keep going. Those things drop my levels of magnesium. When my magnesium is low, I start to have jaw pain and eye tics. Those then trigger more stress.

It took me a lot of time to figure out this vicious circle. Your body might not work the same but I encourage you to look at the problem from every angle.

[phito]

Yeah, I started taking magnesium supplements, a month ago, but I don't feel like it's helping in any way for now. Maybe it just takes time

[ambrop7]

If this does not resolve months after removing stress, it might not be "just stress" and you need to look further. For example I was recently diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism after more than a year of vague disabling symptoms and no answers from doctors (I came to the diagnosis after my own research). Just in case, you might want to check your blood calcium. Many doctors when they don't know what is happening will give you a vague diagnosis like "stress" and "it's all in your head" but you could have a real underlying disease that can possibly be treated. Heck, when I explained to my doctor I used to have more stress years ago in college and have lately been basically stress-free after getting a good job, the doctor proceeded to explain how removing stress can cause problems.

[Amygaz]

The scientific data is pretty thin, because we (general we) only recently have the tools to study that, but it is people living under constant anxiety or depression do have measurable neuronal “damage” which we believe are permanent (we actually are not sure if they are damaged, but it is somewhat similar to hallmark of other aged-related diseases like AZ and PD).

Those who have been on medication since the early stage of their depression or GAS do not have those damaged or not to the same extent.

So it’s very important to get treated, both via medication, because this is chemical problem, and therapy, because our understanding of this chemistry doesn’t go very far, and in the end you still want to function in your environment, even when you feel or know that it is making you sick.

[etatoby]

About those "jaw pains," I would HIGHLY recommend you get a bite / stunt to wear at night. You never know when you could start grinding your teeth at night (you really don't know, because it happens when you're the most unconscious) and you could ruin them in a very short time. Forever.

[phito]

Yeah my doctor recommend that too. I've also dreamed a lot about losing my teeth, which is apparently related to grinding your teeth at night!

[serioussecurity]

Things I found changed my life:

* read The Body Keeps the Score * get a massage at least once a month * Start a regular yoga practice * Start journalling with pen and paper * Find ways to get outside in nature / around water

God speed

[phito]

Thank you, I've been thinking a lot about trying yoga recently and I might look into that

[rikkus]

You'll feel normal again. It's going to take time and tactics, though. Do plenty of reading on how to deal with stress and you'll find mechanisms. It can take months, yes, but the time to feeling 'normal' again can be cut with the proper measures.

[gdubs]

Sorry you’re in pain. Your mileage may vary, and I’m not a doctor and all that, but one thing that has worked wonders in my own life is cognitive behavioral therapy.

You can get the gist of it in this chapter from “The Feeling Good Handbook”, which was written by one of the pioneers in the field:

http://faculty.fortlewis.edu/burke_b/personality/readings/Bu...

That, and getting plenty of sleep.

[phito]

I'm very familiar with cognitive behavioral therapy, it helped me so much with social anxiety. I love it and I recommend it to a lot of friend.

I also agree that sleeping is very important, and I've forced myself to sleep more in the past year, with good results (well except last month)

[blueprint]

You probably have developed trigger points in your scalene muscles. Just a guess.

[wastedonwaifu]

It's wild how it can affect you.

In my younger days - nothing bothered me. Then I had 'that job', like many in the comments have talked about. Stress to the max. It took me to some dark, dark places.

Eventually - I just said "this isn't worth my life" and quit. Just up and walked out. I vowed never again would I let a job have that affect on me.

I've lived from then on with that as my mantra, although lately - stress is creeping back in at my current place.

[wardedman92]

Thank you. You may have saved my vision.

About 4 months I was beginning to see some spots in low illumination conditions but my doctor told me it was nothing to worry about. The spots stopped after 2 months. But last week I began to see the spots again, smaller, but still there.

When I read about central serous retinopathy several things made sense - both times I was under severe stress AND undergoing treatments with corticosteroids. Also, I have a very low threshold for stress.

I'll make a new appointment and specifically mention this and ask for tests.

Again, thank you!

[Jeema101]

An ophthalmologist would be the best person to go to, because they can dilate your pupils with eye drops and inspect your retina very closely to look for abnormalities.

That being said I believe CSR generally resolves on it's own except for more severe cases which it sounds like OP has...

[bg4]

Yes, go to opthamologist. The doctors I had been to (both ER and GP) were not familiar with my condition and just referred me.

[ivanhoe]

Cardiovascular system can also suffer serious permanent damage from prolonged stress. Especially since people usually try to vent the stress by some other unhealthy habits like eating junk food and drinking or smoking, just making it worse.

[bad_user]

Stress can also cause diabetes, which in turn can also leave you blind.

Are you sure you haven't developed diabetes? I'm asking because it seems that a lot of people suffering from it are not diagnosed until it's too late.

[erikb]

wtf. You do know that people die from too much stress, right?

[csr86]

Yes, I had heard, but mostly about depression or burnout. While those are bad, person usually recovers to back to normal, so I was not that afraid being super-stressed.

I had never heard it can damage your eyes permanently. It is not very common, but can happen.

[rv-de]

When I am super-(dis)stressed then my mental constitution is best characterized by a constant high level of fear. Which is unsettling by itself and will give me a strong urge to leave this situation. From that angle I find it surprising that it seems that being super-stressed didn't seem to bother you on its own. Was it a eustress experience for you that felt good?

[csr86]

Of course, I didn't like being super-stressed, but I was not afraid/aware of what it could do to me. It was difficult to get rid of some of the biggest stressors...

Biggest one has been chronic pain, for which doctors cannot do much. Another was the project at work, which was technologically "almost possible", but could never meet what the customer was expecting.