Have you ever experienced brain zaps or brain shocks?
This symptom is surprisingly common, especially among those who stop taking certain medications.
For example,Harvard Medical Schoolsays that it’s possible to get brain zaps after discontinuing antidepressant treatment.
Brain zaps typically feel like an electrical shock inside the head.
They’re not necessarily painful, but rather uncomfortable and sometimes terrifying.
In some cases, brain zaps can be debilitating despite their short duration.
The first step to addressing these issues is to figure out their cause.
These medications can alter theproduction of dopamine, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters influencing your mood.
The same can happen when people decrease the dose rapidly, explainsHarvard Medical School.
These symptoms can last as little as five days or up to a year or longer.
Several other medications can have this side effect, notesPsychology Today.
Social anxiety, panic attacks, and other anxiety disorders can affect emotional and physical health.
For example, it’s common to experience feelings of dissociation when your anxiety is at its worst.
Some individuals also get joint pain, hot flashes, hives, or skin rashes, notesPsychCentral.
These symptoms can worsen anxiety, creating a vicious circle.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for brain zaps regardless of their cause.
If your symptoms are due to anxiety, consider reaching out to a therapist.
Meanwhile, it may be worth trying yoga, meditation, deep breathing, andother relaxation techniques.
