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What Causes Severe Picking And Scratching Of Scalp Along With Anxiety?
Question: Hello again. Thanks for the detailed answers. I will keep writing about my condition.
I might have been missunderstood.
I have been scratching and picking my scalp and skull with PURPOSE. Some bit their nail, I picked my scalp.
And after I did this intense for 1-2 days I did it for hours, I got it same day.
When I picked my scalp I got anxiety over it because I thought I can damage my brain. The anxiety feels in my body, I get very varm. I have been picking my scalp before in life but this time I did it so intense.
So as a person im a little hypochondriacs. And I can get anxiety over things especially if its about my health. As a person i also like being a perfectionist of things I do in life. Im trying always to be calm person because I know stress isnt good. But when as a hypocondriac and anxious person I might get inner stress from that.
When I wake up, I almost dont feel anything at all. After about 30 min I start to feel more and it gradually increaing in strenght over the day and after I have reached a point where it feels same.I have this pulsing pressure the whole day until I sleep. The pressure is at left side of head at the temple area. It is unpleasure and little pain. I feel I wouldnt need painkillers for this.
My head and forhead feels strained like I cant relax those muscles. But maybe it is supposed to feel like that.
Now it has been 9 days, day First 3-6 days I didnt almost feel anything. After that I started to feel this pinching and waves of pressure. Its gradually increasing as you can hear.
Yesterday I felt more unpleasure pain when I did strained myself doing some activity, so I think I feel it more if im doing exercice.
Otherwise I feel really good. never tired or lack of energy or something like that.
What can it be?
Tension Headaches?
Migraine?
Questons?
I answer as soon as possible.
Thanks.
More info:
Today when I woke up, soon enought I started to feel cold blood flowing in the RIGHT side of head. This lasted for about 1-2 min and it was constant. And after I still got it at random times but not constant.
Also im feeling random tingeling in head all over at randoms times. Doesnt happend that often.
So right now im really worried. Might go to emergency room later in the day.
When im lying in bed in the morning, I dont think I feel anything. Its when I go up and the brain start to wake up and is in upright position, is when I starting to feel all those symptoms.
I might have been missunderstood.
I have been scratching and picking my scalp and skull with PURPOSE. Some bit their nail, I picked my scalp.
And after I did this intense for 1-2 days I did it for hours, I got it same day.
When I picked my scalp I got anxiety over it because I thought I can damage my brain. The anxiety feels in my body, I get very varm. I have been picking my scalp before in life but this time I did it so intense.
So as a person im a little hypochondriacs. And I can get anxiety over things especially if its about my health. As a person i also like being a perfectionist of things I do in life. Im trying always to be calm person because I know stress isnt good. But when as a hypocondriac and anxious person I might get inner stress from that.
When I wake up, I almost dont feel anything at all. After about 30 min I start to feel more and it gradually increaing in strenght over the day and after I have reached a point where it feels same.I have this pulsing pressure the whole day until I sleep. The pressure is at left side of head at the temple area. It is unpleasure and little pain. I feel I wouldnt need painkillers for this.
My head and forhead feels strained like I cant relax those muscles. But maybe it is supposed to feel like that.
Now it has been 9 days, day First 3-6 days I didnt almost feel anything. After that I started to feel this pinching and waves of pressure. Its gradually increasing as you can hear.
Yesterday I felt more unpleasure pain when I did strained myself doing some activity, so I think I feel it more if im doing exercice.
Otherwise I feel really good. never tired or lack of energy or something like that.
What can it be?
Tension Headaches?
Migraine?
Questons?
I answer as soon as possible.
Thanks.
More info:
Today when I woke up, soon enought I started to feel cold blood flowing in the RIGHT side of head. This lasted for about 1-2 min and it was constant. And after I still got it at random times but not constant.
Also im feeling random tingeling in head all over at randoms times. Doesnt happend that often.
So right now im really worried. Might go to emergency room later in the day.
When im lying in bed in the morning, I dont think I feel anything. Its when I go up and the brain start to wake up and is in upright position, is when I starting to feel all those symptoms.
Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not likely due to neurological or brain disease
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Thanks for sending back your clarifications and concerns. You cannot damage or even get to the brain by picking at your scalp. It is physically impossible to do so therefore, that should not be a concern any further.
The symptoms of picking and scratching as you describe are most consistent with anxiety, stress, and other psychological phenomenon that would be best to defer to an expert's opinion but as a neurologist I can assure you that if you've been examined by a doctor or neurologist and cleared then, your next step should be to seek out someone who can help and address the anxiety issues.
If you do have headaches then, of course, those could be separate issues though they may certainly be accompanying everything else. Headaches such as migraines and tension type headaches do not cause symptoms of itching and scratching. Again, a neurologist in your area could better guide you as to exactly what type of headaches you may have since they will elicit a different sort of history. However, I can tell you that at present your symptoms are not caused by those types of problems.
I wish you the best and certainly that you get relief from your symptoms quickly.
May I ask your indulgence in rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR RATING based on how well I addressed the questions? Please feel free to write to me any time with additional questions and concerns and I'll be happy to answer them within the scope and range of my specialty and other knowledge bases of medicine.
You can contact me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
Again, many thanks for utilizing and having confidence in my services. Please keep me updated as to your condition and in what other way I may be able to help.
This query required 15 minutes of time to read, research, and formulate a response.
Your symptoms are not likely due to neurological or brain disease
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. Thanks for sending back your clarifications and concerns. You cannot damage or even get to the brain by picking at your scalp. It is physically impossible to do so therefore, that should not be a concern any further.
The symptoms of picking and scratching as you describe are most consistent with anxiety, stress, and other psychological phenomenon that would be best to defer to an expert's opinion but as a neurologist I can assure you that if you've been examined by a doctor or neurologist and cleared then, your next step should be to seek out someone who can help and address the anxiety issues.
If you do have headaches then, of course, those could be separate issues though they may certainly be accompanying everything else. Headaches such as migraines and tension type headaches do not cause symptoms of itching and scratching. Again, a neurologist in your area could better guide you as to exactly what type of headaches you may have since they will elicit a different sort of history. However, I can tell you that at present your symptoms are not caused by those types of problems.
I wish you the best and certainly that you get relief from your symptoms quickly.
May I ask your indulgence in rating this interaction with a HIGH STAR RATING based on how well I addressed the questions? Please feel free to write to me any time with additional questions and concerns and I'll be happy to answer them within the scope and range of my specialty and other knowledge bases of medicine.
You can contact me at: bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi
Again, many thanks for utilizing and having confidence in my services. Please keep me updated as to your condition and in what other way I may be able to help.
This query required 15 minutes of time to read, research, and formulate a response.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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