Physical symptoms of stress

SymptomsOfStress · 2021-10-22T20:13:38+00:00

I have been through some very intense, prolonged periods of stress (work related; new bullying manager, I raised a grievance, had time off with work related stress - awful, awful time). During that time my hearing deteriorated to such an extent I was prescribed hearing aids for both ears. On a bad day without the aids, I could not hear people three feet away; masks were a nightmare etc etc. For about a year, the awful situation has now been completely resolved. I have not needed my hearing aids once since this has happened. AIBU to think this was the direct cause of my hearing loss? I haven't heard of this happening before but the coincidence just seems too great.

malificent7 · 22/10/2021 21:49

Tbh as i'm not a doctor i wouldnt like to say bt tbh id look for a new job.

Fdksyihfd · 22/10/2021 21:53

When I’m stressed it comes through in sensitive teeth, migraines and stomach issues so I could completely believe that other things are physical signs of stress.

Flupibass · 22/10/2021 21:56

When I’m stressed I get skin issues with my face and body, so no idea about hearing in particular but definitely stress can present in different ways.

Piapiano · 22/10/2021 21:59

Stress and anxiety can cause really bad physical symptoms. I've ended up with constant muscle twitching, internal tremor, pins and needles, numbness, muscle fatigue, sinus pain and dizziness. Sometimes the right hand side if my head and face feel really tight as if someone is pulling on my skin. I've had countless tests and the doctors can't find anything wrong with me. I've just gone through the worst year of my life with work problems, health issues (including cancer), friendship betrayal etc etc. I really do think it is stress/anxiety that is causing it all.

Original poster

SymptomsOfStress · 22/10/2021 22:06

@malificent7 all resolved now.

@Piapiano can you get away from it all? The health / work / friend issues? I agree, I honestly think they have a massive physical influence.

OP posts:

Dontgetyerknicksinatwist · 22/10/2021 22:07

From what you are saying in your OP and I hope I’m reading this right but you are no longer in the horrible situation at work and your hearing has gone back to normal? I went through a very similar experience to you OP around 2018 when I had a new manager. She took a pathological dislike to me and bullied me to the point where I ended up on anti depressant medication and was given diazepam by my gp to help me cope when it got really bad. It had a profound effect on my mental and my physical health and I find it disgusting that I was made to suffer in that way. I couldn’t sleep, had to take Omeprazol because I started getting unexplained stomach pain, was experiencing high anxiety, couldn’t sleep at night and even visual disturbances (floaters in my peripheral field of vision). I attribute all of this to the stress that this pathetic woman inflicted on me. Thankfully I moved teams in the summer of 2020 and surprise surprise all of these negative things suddenly weren’t there anymore…

CandleWick4 · 22/10/2021 22:08

I have anxiety that I take some medication for but when I’m extra stressed and anxious it manifests in lots of ways; eye twitches and dryness, headaches, tiredness, dizziness, health anxiety peaks, my jaw tenses so I end up with jaw pain and teeth pain, I get the skin pulling feeling but on my left side of my face and ear. Oh the joys of anxiety!

Piapiano · 22/10/2021 22:10

Well, my friend told me she didn't want to be my friend any more when I got cancer because basically she didn't have time to deal with my issues because she was going through stuff herself...thankfully the cancer is gone but I still live in fear of it coming back, and work is a bit better now I'm not also homeschooling at the same time and have basically decided not to be as proactive and hard-working as I used to be as I'm not appreciated and my lazy colleagues just rely on me to pick up their work. So things are a bit better now but I'm still dealing with the physical symptoms. I feel like I need a good old-fashioned stay in a convalescent home!

CandleWick4 · 22/10/2021 22:11

Oh and I get angular chelitis as well

Piapiano · 22/10/2021 22:12

Oh yes I also get eye floaters, dry eyes and clench my jaw which can lead to migraines.

0blio · 22/10/2021 22:12

I have similar physical stress symptoms to @Piapiano with a few more on top! I have been through many years of continual severe stress and it has really taken its toll physically - I now just don't know what it's like not to feel stressed.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if this has caused your temporary hearing loss.

CatNamedEaster · 22/10/2021 22:16

My hearing always gets a lot worse when I am stressed, and my tinnitus does too. It's horrible because it makes me feel even more isolated and inward-looking than the stress already does.

PleaseReferToMeAsBritneySpears · 22/10/2021 22:16

Asthma attacks and diarrhoea for me. I think it's the cortisol.

IVflytrap · 22/10/2021 22:22

My tinnitus flares up and I get muscle cramps and hypersensitive hearing.

I also currently have angular chelitis, funnily enough, and I'm going through a period of intense work stress. I hadn't realised that there could be a connection there.

Piapiano · 22/10/2021 22:26

Just remembered a couple more, tinnitus and tachycardia! I'm a mess really.

Original poster

SymptomsOfStress · 22/10/2021 22:27

@Dontgetyerknicksinatwist

From what you are saying in your OP and I hope I’m reading this right but you are no longer in the horrible situation at work and your hearing has gone back to normal? I went through a very similar experience to you OP around 2018 when I had a new manager. She took a pathological dislike to me and bullied me to the point where I ended up on anti depressant medication and was given diazepam by my gp to help me cope when it got really bad. It had a profound effect on my mental and my physical health and I find it disgusting that I was made to suffer in that way. I couldn’t sleep, had to take Omeprazol because I started getting unexplained stomach pain, was experiencing high anxiety, couldn’t sleep at night and even visual disturbances (floaters in my peripheral field of vision). I attribute all of this to the stress that this pathetic woman inflicted on me. Thankfully I moved teams in the summer of 2020 and surprise surprise all of these negative things suddenly weren’t there anymore…

That's right - am not in the situation any more and my hearing has gone back to normal.

I only realised recently as I think I'd attributed it to getting worse with hayfever and colds (so summer and winter!), but it's been about a year since things got immeasurably better and I've not used the hearing aids once.

There is such a range reading pp comments - it obviously affects everyone differently.

OP posts:

Gemster19 · 23/10/2021 07:13

I have very mild tinnitus generally that gets so bad when I'm stressed that it develops into objective tinnitus, so I absolutely agree stress can affect your hearing.

Glad to hear you're in a better place now 😊

littleblackno · 23/10/2021 07:24

I have a friend who has lost most of the hair on her head and dr (shes been referred to specialists);has put this doen to stress. Its unlikely her hair will grow back.
Stress can affect people in different ways. For me my hands and feet can go tingly and numb apparently this is due to the body having the same reaction as if i were going into shock.
Our bodies will show stress in physical ways to force us to stop.

SB1990 · 03/01/2023 14:15

Hey I’ve had this for months nor. How long did it last for you