Flight or Fight symptoms

[Denise]

This may go hand in hand with the recent topic on Startle Response, but I have to ask.

Lately, when ever I try to say make a point,  speak in public, or just be sitting there..my face turns beat red, I can feel it heating up, rash looking  then the caffeine feeling starts in, or numbness,...but people will notice, they say a ...are you upset, or anxious, nervous or don't you feel well.  one gal asked me If I had just been running hard.    and I am fine.
my boss was talking with me casually and it happened, I explained to her what was going on with me, it was weird ..she said it's like your flight or fight nerves aren't working or the signals are misfiring...  to me that hit the nail on the head.

Does anyone have thoughts on this?     

Denise

[Chickpea]

Hi Denise

This is very familiar.  It's such an embarrassing thing to happen and always seems to occur at the worst possible time!  It could be a cns response gone awry: your central nervous system is 'misfiring' as your boss put it.  That would explain the numbness too.  The 'caffeine feeling' you describe does sound like the flight or fight adrenaline rush.

Is there any chance this is hormone related?  You can have hormone induced hot flushes/flashes at different times of the month, not only when you're menopausal or perimenopausal.  I'm 48 and have only been having them for a couple of years, but my 21 year old daughter often gets them when she has a period. 

I'm sure others will be along soon with shared experiences and interesting explanations.

Take care - Chickpea

[Patze]

Hi Denise,

Yep, me too.  But in my office, they are so used to seeing me flash red that they don't think twice about it anymore.  I've asked the rheumy, the pulmonologist, the second ENT, the GYN, and the cardiologist - none of them seemed to have an answer, and I'll have to remember to ask the neuro next time I see her.

I don't know if it's hormone related or not, but it's made the last several years miserable!  I sure hope that it settles down for you soon!

Take care and hang in there -

Patze

[lynnmarie219]

I have this same problem, but I have rosacea. When I get angry, nervous, etc...my face turns red and splotchy and I feel very warm. Its very embarrassing especially when at work or in public.