Female, 19 years old Here is a long timeline of symptoms that have been unsolved and make me quite anxious: Last summer, on the very first night of a family trip to Italy, I started experiencing an odd head sensation that I find hard to describe, but seems similar enough to vertigo. For the whole trip, I was experiencing brain fog, head pressure, a weird vertigo feeling, trouble swallowing or feeling the need to focus extra hard to swallow, and general anxiety, which all seemed to be worse when upright or later at night or when there was lots of movement. This basically ruined my trip as I felt so unlike myself. I've been known to have hypochondria and go run to doctors about different symptoms, but this just felt too weird. Right after this trip I saw an ENT, who said my ears seem to look good (referring to possible vestibular problems). This was also the time that I moved to college for the first time, making my symptoms worse as I was under a lot of stress in the new environment. During the semester, I also developed head pressure, feeling of detachment, difficulty focusing and some visual floaters (blue dots, yellow lines), and my fingernail beds would go numb sometimes. I went to university health services several times over the semester and was sent around to several doctors, including a vestibular PT who diagnosed me with "vestibular migraines." On the dark goggle test, which can be hard to do correctly, she wrote that I have an "upbeating nystamus." My symptoms came and went throughout the semester by the end I was sent to get an MRI (with contrast). Saw a neurologist back home and she only found a tiny developmental blood vessel abnormality that she said was harmless. Sidenote: at the end of the semester I came down with some odd flu like sickness, where I fainted (felt nauseous, everything turned white and couldn't really hear then blacked out). Second semester of college, started working out more and felt better for a long while. Flash forward to start of quarantine and I had shortness of breath with the need to cough up mucus. That got better for a bit and then I had a relapse of my vertigo and brain fog, but this time it came after a burning sensation that I got on the right side of my lip, scalp, hand, and foot. The burning sensation happened for a few days and would affect different places each time, but all on the right side. On my morning walk lately, I've been feeling unsteady or tilted, possibly from the humidity. My shortness of breath is also back. I saw my neurologist again last week and she prescribed another MRI (no contrast) which I will be getting next week. This has got my mental health in shambles as I feel completely lost as to what could be wrong and how I can make myself feel more normal. If you have any ideas please let me know. Other problems I have had/have: - High Cholesterol (always had) - Enlarged lymph node on superclavical (biopsy showed it was fine) - heartburn
your symptoms sound exactly like mine when I was in my 20s. Turns out, every test was normal and all of this was due to long-term stress and anxiety. I am going to guess that your MRI is going to be completely normal. Same as mine.
think of what in your life is causing you stress and anxiety. have you ever spoken with a counselor or therapist? That could be very helpful. .
of course follow up on any testing that your doctor recommends. Your heartburn could be caused from the stress. It’s best to get in control of that because my heartburn led to gastritis which is very uncomfortable. The sooner you learn to manage your anxiety, the healthier you will be. I’m sorry you are going through this and I know what it’s like. Take care
Hi, I read your post and can relate to what you are saying a lot!
I was 13 when I experienced “brain fog” symptoms. Other than the fog and worry that I had dementia I did not really suffer anxiety.
I had pressure in my head like a super dull headache that was always present and thinking about it only made it worse. My doctor told me I had stress and dismissed me without a follow-up. After 2 years of suffering I finished my GCSE’s and ended secondary school and my brain fog lifted.
During college I experienced a relatively normal things. I made friends and didn’t experience hardly as much bullying for my weight. I was happy and made a lot of memories. When I finished college I was preparing for University and on my first day I had a complete breakdown and had to leave and formally quit my course. I was in ruin for half a year with daily anxiety, panic with absolutely no motivation. I was wasting away in my bed at 18 years old with no ability to change anything.
With the pandemic, even though I do not go out frequently as is, the thought of everything being different as well as a pathogen out there worries me. Not for me, but for my family getting sick.
Try and look at some more intricate things in your past that may trigger these. I was absolutely convinced that I had some brain rot or thyroid issue. In reality I think I developed unhealthy coping mechanisms such as being in my computer all day to avoid the bullies outside and comfort and binge eating. I have no self-esteem due to my body and the bullying, although I love to help people and want nothing more for than to see others smiling, I cant figure out how to make myself happy.
Remember to take things slowly, during the days where you may be anticipating something important remember not to bring emotions from the thought of doing something into the present. We live in the present and you can get up to whatever you wish! 
Remember anxiety can manifest in such deceptive and odd ways! Always work on changing your perspective even if you think its alright, there is no harm in improving it some more!
Always here if you need to chat! Take care,
Kyle