The doctors I went to could not point out why this happens, but said it was not life threatening. I’m 81.. I have been experiencing brain zaps/shocks for more than 3 weeks now. I’m sure that is true, but I think it also happens to me because of my head injury. Other terms people may use include brain shivers, brain shocks, head shocks, or my favourite, because I think it helps others imagine what I’m experiencing, electrical shocks. Even when I wasn’t being zapped, I looked and felt terrible for months. Brain zaps can be an unbearable side-effect of discontinuing an antidepressant. Incidentally, I was on Xanax too, and for many years. Without enough GABA the neurons in the brain can become overactive which is why it feels like the brain has suddenly started to short out. I've been experiencing brain zaps and electric shock symptoms. brain zaps while sleeping Not one MD can find anything wrong with me. I’ve read many articles which claim these can happen to anyone as they can be a response to a change in some medications and/or anxiety. Thank you so very much for bringing this somewhat confusing topic into the light! And should I stop taking my medication right away? The zap is over very quickly for me, but I know some people unfortunately have extended episodes. So, if you’ve recently stopped taking an antidepressant, benzodiazepines (for muscle relaxation and anxiety), MDMA (also known as ecstasy), or Adderall (for ADD and ADHD), then you are more likely to experience these zaps. ... (6 replies) Other common names for brain zaps include: brain shivers, electrical shocks, and brain shocks. Required fields are marked *. Head and brain zaps are also common when taking multiple medications due to how the multiple medications can interact with each other and the body. I also heard that anxiety can cause these symptoms. The first basically looks like a very dramatic full body shiver like what happens when one is cold. 2: Exercise Have you ever tried taking 5-htp supplement? Here in USA, you can buy over the counter, for a few bucks. It's incredibly easy, and you dont have to do it for long. I have brains that don’t take any medications I’m not sure if it’s from low blood pressure I don’t have any eggs iety that I’m aware of but I did have a brain injury or trauma about 7 years ago and also was hit in the head with a medicine ball and fell and hit my head so could that be the cause of my brain zaps or it’s just that I need food please help I usually get them when I am laying down asleep or trying to sleep and it’s follows sometimes with a small headache was it just my body saying I need nutrients or maybe I don’t have enough serotonin or that GABA acid I read about that caused an overworking of my Neurons and Central Neverous System . Knowing what to do made all of the difference. Brain zaps isn't necessarily the technical name for this phenomenon, but it's the one that has stuck, Brian Barnett, MD, an addiction psychiatrist at Cleveland Clinic, tells Health. However recently my anxiety has gotten worse, especially when I wake up in the morning. Yes, the electric shock sensation (also referred to as “brain zaps”) are common symptoms of anxiety. Posted by dablues @dablues, Jul 27, 2020 . If your doctor attributes your symptoms to stress and/or anxiety, Therefore I can image that in this situation my working neurons can become more overactive as they are having to make up for their damaged counterparts. Brain injury from surviving to thriving 6 weeks course, C-Rod: The brain injury diagnosis and therapy tool, Guest post: 7 Common Behavioral Effects of Brain Injury and How to Deal With Them, How my brain injury can give me writer’s block. They can happen in a person who is decreasing or stopping their use of certain medications, particularly antidepressants. I thought it was just me. The more you know It is a shame that it doesn’t great talked about more, because I think there’s a lot of us survivors who are going through it. But this didn’t happen before my brain injury so is it connected? I get brain zaps too. The feeling is like an electrical/shocking sounds in my head. People often describe them as feeling electrical current uncontrollably zapping their brains, which can be extremely frightening and uncomfortable. One of the primary causes is withdrawal from medications that regulate serotonin and GABA levels in the brain. â Comprehensive symptoms section with each symptom described and explained. them. During this weaning process and healing period comes the brain zaps … Ever been shocked by your outlet when youre going to plug in a charger? Since my car accident, I have noticed that I get brain zaps at times (or electric shocks as I have described them as to my partner James.) But until earlier today, I've gotten what I would describe as a brain zap. â Private members discussion forum with years of discussions and answers. Having anxiety is not really a direct cause of brain zaps, but it’s something that can have an impact on the intensity and duration of brain zaps. Hi John, sounds really scary. I’ve also struggled to find a definitive answer as to what is actually happening when one of these episodes happens. Brain zaps are electrical shock sensations in the brain. I went from having 5 a day to one every other month. (Just to be clear, I am not really having an electric shock, it’s just the best way of describing it.) ... Our anxiety isn't a sign that something is wrong, other than, well, our anxiety. That must prove that brain zaps are not just anxiety then. Now, I know what to do. I wasn’t an anxious person before my injury so it has definitely affected my brain chemistry and mental health.Therefore I’m blaming my brain injury for that as well. Thought I was going mad sometimes but you’ve reassured me it’s not just me BTW you shouldn’t take 5htp if taking anti depressants . Can not “think” straight or hold a thought, agitated, hostile, and anxious. My brain zaps started after head injury number 4. On no medications before this and now I am having what I describe as electrical shocks to the back and side of my head and sometimes in my neck and pain behind my left eye. This article will introduce you to the concept of brain zaps; real phenomena that happen in an individual who is experiencing withdra… For more info see our Cookie policy. I hope it improves for you soon. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as well as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs) are … © 1987 - 2021 anxietycentre.com. are no big deal. Paresthesia is defined as burning or prickling sensation so it is not clear how it is connected with brain zaps. To that end, I encourage you to join our Recovery Support area and immediately read Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. thsieh0111 10/29/2020. Your email address will not be published. A person experiencing these zaps may get dizzy, feel minor pain, and high levels of discomfort. These "brain zaps" are often described as feeling like an unsettling shiver or shock sensation that starts in the head and moves quickly through the entire body. You guys are great!!" Brain Zaps. Actually, stress is the cause of these kinds of symptoms. My family doctor diagnosed a mental health condition (no history of anxiety). This means that my head injury is invisible and the average person would never spot anything wrong with me. Medically reviewed by Scientific Advisory Board — Written by Summer Beretsky on April 16, 2013. No abnormalities on CT Scan. Any information on this? And if I can do it, you can too! However you describe them, brain zaps are a very real withdrawal symptom when quitting or skipping doses of certain medications, including antidepressants like Cymbalta, Effexor, Zoloft, Celexa, and Prozac (rarely). The best way to eliminate these kinds of symptoms is to become That’s great that your neurologist prescribed a medication that is making such a significant difference for you! Thanks for the advice on the 5htp, I did think that it probably wasn’t good to mix antidepressants with something else that is doing a similar job, but thanks for confirming it for me. The Recovery Support area of our website was developed for this reason: to explain what stress and anxiety are, how they occur, and what you can do to reduce and eliminate them. Does anyone else experience brain zaps that are not associated with being on medications? They are sometimes categorized as paresthesia. â Information you won't find elsewhere. My advice isn’t something that has just been read in a book, it’s based on what really had results for me. Regular meditation helped me get my anxiety back under control. I think you'd find The Symptoms section in the Recovery Support area to be helpful as well. Brain zaps might also be triggered by alcohol use, anxiety or stress. It is often reported that some patients can experience zaps as they lower their dosage and it is a consequence of withdrawal. Eventually your brain zaps may go away, depending on other things you are doing, a pharmacist or doctors imput. However, can you imagine such a sensation happening in your brain constantly, or going weeks without a jolting sensation to feeling them almost every day? Many people experience them. Thanks Mickey, no I haven’t looked at that before. For more information about this symptom from our public anxiety symptoms pages, see the anxiety symptom Brain Zaps Anxiety Symptoms. It was like a sudden jolt inside of my head. It’s tough being patient when your brain injury makes you dizzy. So yes stress is a factor, but I think my TBI means my tolerance levels for it have been decreased. I’m not a licensed therapist, but I have real insight on the struggles a brain injury can cause for survivors and their families. Its like I'll be trying my best to handle my anxiety and keep my composure to not panic but i can feel tension in my temples and head which amplify the nervous thoughts i am having. The Causes of Brain Zaps. Been dealing with panic/anxiety since April of last year. Anxiety Attacks and Panic Attack Symptoms, Anxiety Recovery Stories and Testimonials, Click to receive our Tips, Answers, and News eNewsletter. you can be sure they are stress- and/or anxiety-related. Brain Zaps after tapering off anti-depression medication. So how can brain zaps … So, I say thanks for the brain zap. The tense feeling will suddenly build just seconds before the episode, and once the zap is over I’m left with a sense of relief as the tension is over. Maybe it is the anxiety which is to blame in your case. Therefore you should always consult your doctor so they can supervise the pace at which you do this to minimise any adverse effects. It should not be considered as a replacement for medical advice from a licensed health care practitioner. I've had these thoughts. Two things different that I have noticed this time is the pretty much constant pain in my neck/shoulder and also what can be described as "brain zaps" often experienced by people going thru withdrawl of various medications (which I'm not) and tinnitus. If you believe medication isn’t causing your head and brain zaps, they can also be caused by anxiety and the stress it causes. Advice. Just do it for 10 minutes a day, and you will definitely start seeing improvements in your mood. stressed body produces symptoms of being stressed. Thank you for writing this! , Great article! Again, I'm confident that you would find the information in the Recovery Support area helpful. ). GABA is the brain’s primary inhibitory neurotransmitter responsible for … My doctor has said it is just anxiety, but I feel that once I was diagnosed with anxiety every symptom is said to be because of anxiety. Regular low-impact exercises, like yoga or even stretching, can relieve your stress and anxiety, thus preventing electric-like shocks in the brain. Afraid to take any more meds as I felt crazy depressed. Head shocks following the discontinuation of antidepressant and anxiety drugs. 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