Hi everyone, One of my remaining symptoms is fear. I have excessive fear about things that didn't used to bother me, like flying or walking my dogs (because fearing something bad will happen on the walk).
The strange thing is, one of my dogs gets extreme anxiety this time of year. It's like he's terrified of some unknown thing and he hides outside.
Wondering if this could be MOLD or parasites or something that would affect myself and my pets? Anyone have similar experiences?
Posted by lymeonade2015 (Member # 45611) on :
If the dog's anxiety starts in July, then its probably because we just passed the summer solstice (its starting to get darker earlier and the sun rises later). I have seasonal affective and can literally feel different every week as the lighting changes. Longest day of year is in June but technically most daylight extends until end of June, I believe. You can really feel it a week or two after that.
I have a theory that this is due to high serotonin that is declining and low dopamine that is just starting to rise at this time. Its the body's way of getting ready to ramp up for the fall "rush" when dopamine soars in September (and then tanks in mid October). This happens so that you find food and seek shelter before the winter. Some people hibernate instead of fighting through winter - there are many variations. Right now, in preparation for the fall period, your body starts to shift from "relaxing summer mode" to "you can do it, go harvesting" mode. The beginning of the switch (late July earlier August) is when your body is used to lots of serotonin and little dopamine, so it can make you anxious and some people "zoned out" in a calm sort of way. Once dopamine exceeds serotonin you start to feel good.
The entire mental health industry will tell you that you feel fear because you have low serotonin and / or high dopamine, when in reality its the exact opposite. Fear is a result of very low dopamine and falling from high serotonin - when you don't have the inherent belief that you can take something on but your previous "it doesn't matter" attitude is diminishing. Industry will tell you to embrace the "it doesn't matter" feeling. I've found happiness turning that off completely and embracing the "we can take this on" feeling. Fear is a gift encouraging you to take in your environment and assess your realities. Embrace the fear and enjoy it and you really will find that there is euphoria inherent in paranoia.
Illness, immune response, inflammation, toxins, and feeling helpless all increase serotonin. You are likely feeling fear because now that you are getting well, your serotonin is dropping again (back to normal) and your dopamine hasn't ramped up yet. In other words - your used to being sick and your body is telling you that you are getting better and ready to encounter new things - but not without caution.
This is all oversimplified of course and its likely much more complex but these are just my general theories.
Hope this helps.
Posted by lymeonade2015 (Member # 45611) on :
Sorry forgot to add - it definitely could be mold. I have never felt more fear than the time I spent living in a moldy dorm room. Sweating it out and removing source helped.
Posted by keikko (Member # 34991) on :
So weird, I have this too right now and cant figure out where its coming from. I'm sorry, its scary and is not fun. It's making me feel insane.
I don't have any answers but if I figure something out I will let you know.
Just wanted you to know you weren't alone in this!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- "dogs gets extreme anxiety this time of year . . ."
Fire crackers?
Kids home from school making more noise in the area? Motorcycles? Thunderstorms? Dog's inner ear system is very tender.
Heat? -
Posted by SacredHeart (Member # 44733) on :
More than likely the dog is picking up on your anxiety. Dogs read us pretty darn good.
"Among other surprising findings, the study revealed marked similarities in the way dog and human brains process emotionally laden vocal sounds. Researchers found that happy sounds in
particular light up the auditory cortex in both species. This commonality speaks to the uniquely strong communication system underlying the dog-human bond.
In short: Dogs don't just seem to pick up on our subtle mood changes — they are actually physically wired to pick up on them."
You are pack leader. You are anxious. The dog knows you are anxious. Fight, or flight response.
The dog probably thinks you sense danger, and is responding likewise.
- Gluten or additives in food? Dogs can have celiac, too. And many additives can cause anxiety.
Too much glutamate in food can cause anxiety as well.
Of course, tick borne infections can also trigger anxiety but, even if so, other things can play a part as well. -
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
Lymeonade2015- What an insightful and amazing response you gave me. I am now interested in researching the facts you brought up. I can honestly see how the changes in weather would affect me in this way. I have always been very sensitive to the seasonal changes. I am constantly fighting my feelings of "it doesn't matter" versus the "we can take this on" thinking. I try too hard to overrule my negative, fearful thoughts but still find myself just overly fearful.
I do understand that I need to override this and as you mentioned "embrace the fear." That is excellent advice and I greatly appreciate your response!! Aside from environmental issues and toxins and such, if I can conquer this I would be feeling really good. The mental stuff can be rough. Thank you!!
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
KEIKKO-Glad to know I am not the only one. It's the lingering feeling I have from all of this and was one of the first symptoms I had as well. I hope you find an answer.
SACREDHEART AND KEEBLER- Thanks for your replies. Nothing has changed in the dog's environment that I am aware of. I do wonder if the heat and humidity could be playing a part in the allergens/mold in our home this time of year. July and August are not good around here for me or one of my pups. The other dogs and my husband are unaffected. Thanks for the article on the dogs SACREDHEART. I am thinking of taking some time away from my house to see if I feel differently.
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
Well, I may have found a lead on this problem. I have been having issues and isolated incidents where my heart races, I feel very hot and my ears are stuffy. This just started happening come August and this is also the time of year when my Lyme symptoms originally appeared. I have been thinking for a long time that it was related to mold exposure and it quite possibly could be.
However, when this first started I got tested for allergies and was rated high on Dust and Dog dander. I don't react to either of these ever. However, I felt weird again today and I looked at the Dust and Dander counts in North Carolina. It turns out, that they are very high!! They were also high the day that I had a near panic attack at a grocery store standing under an air conditioning vent. Now, I am seriously considering my environment and the humidity here in N.C. to be affecting my quality of life.
I also wouldn't be surprised that mold is bad as well considering the humidity. I just wanted to post this so others could be aware in case they are reacting as well. I recently was introduced to Essential Oils and am considering taking a blend of Lavender, Peppermint and Lemon for allergy relief.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
excessive fear and imagining things like that is anxiety. I had my DNA done and I make no gaba. but if I try and take GABA it makes it worse, so I am now in treatment with a gene person and gettin gbetter, but I do think that lately I do feel a bit more of activity in my anxiety area...
I used to go for a walk and see a helcopter and imagine a body would fall out of it and land in front of me- things like that. terrible way to live. mine got so bad I could not function minute to minute.
abx helped a lot. like after 6 months it got much better and now after 18 months of all kinds of tx it is sometimes gone all away, but like you, lately I do notice some wierd things. maybe it is the moon like someone said .
my dog gets funny too. sometimes she looks back when we walk and looks scared and that freaks me out, haha. she is 60 pounds with a killer jaw and could kill on the spot if she wanted and she ascts like a big baby sometimes.
I think dogs can see way more than we can. spirits and such.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
also, your dog could have bartonella or something, right??
Posted by RainbowHope (Member # 42858) on :
I had intense anxiety until I started treating Bartonella.
I also use essential oil anti-anxiety blends that have helped to take the anxiety down on herx days.
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
rainbow, do you ingest the oil? or use topically? and which oils? thanks
Posted by RainbowHope (Member # 42858) on :
Hi, LisaK ~
I use the anti-anxiety oils topically and through a diffuser. It is a proprietary blend through one of the big oil companies.
I am not sure about posting rules on things like this, so if you are interested in knowing more, feel free to send me a private message. :-)
Posted by Jamers (Member # 28016) on :
LISAK- Thanks for your response. I can see how low GABA would cause those symptoms. I wouldn't be surprised if that is my problem as well. When at my sickest, I had terrible thoughts like you had. It's strange how it just got worse again for me though. My poor pup goes through this each year. I suppose he could have Bart or something but other than his anxiety, he is extremely healthy.
RainbowHope - Sending you a pm.
Posted by RainbowHope (Member # 42858) on :
Jamers, just responded to your PM. :-)
Posted by LisaK (Member # 41384) on :
yes, my dog one day is so 'normal' and the next is a scared cat! - no offense meant to cats.
but this is just like us, rigth? one day so good, another like poopoo.
like me- yesterday all nausea all day, and now today all anxiety. ho hum.
life goes on .
Posted by lymeonade2015 (Member # 45611) on :
How are you feeling now that its September?
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :