Feels like my autonomic system is on high all the time.

@marsheng that all sounds pretty awful and frustrating. I can tell you that 20 years ago I went to go snorkeling for the first time and when I put the snorkel in my mouth for the first time to test it out, I wasn't even in the water yet and total panic set in as I felt like I was suffocating. It was so bad, I didn't even try again, just held my breath instead of using a snorkel. I'm not normally panicky. I became a worrier overnight when my son was born so worried something would happen to him. Not fun.

I'm not sure why without any major life changes, but it almost sounds like a general anxiety disorder has kicked in for you. I've always had social anxiety in group situations, public speaking, group zoom calls, etc. and my mind will go totally blank when I'm anxious. No one on the outside knows this is happening. I have a lot of allergies and food sensitivities, but don't think they trigger anxiety. I've had longstanding issues with brain fog and dizziness. I've always felt like food was suspect. I know sugar increases my brain fog, but I think there are more foods. My rare form of neuropathy may also contribute to brain fog and dizziness for decades. I do have slight balance issues and severe tinnitus after shattering an eardrum as a child, but not sure that is related. It sounds like you've researched thoroughly and haven't found answers. Regardless of the cause of your anxiety, what if you went to someone who specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)? I haven't tried it, but have read that it's very effective. The vestibular issues are curious. I take it the ENT had no real answers on that. Could it have been a virus that caused it and kicked all this off? I don't know, but suggesting CBT just for symptom relief. Maybe a neurologist could be helpful if you haven't seen one. You could always try a place like Mayo Clinic or a teaching hospital near you if you're not near Mayo. They treat a lot of odd cases and are more likely to have seen this before than any neighborhood doctor. They are also more likely to pursue solutions to odd cases. Best of luck in finding answers.

Thanks for the reply

I'm in New Zealand. I've seen some specialists before unless you are at the bottom of the cliff, not much help. I'm seeing a Naturopath tomorrow. Trying all options.

The sugar is interesting. I won a slab of chocolate at squash on Friday. As I was feeling a bit down yesterday, I though, eat it all and see what happens. First chocolate in a year. Yesterday I felt no different but today, I was really run down. I see what happens tomorrow.

Chocolate is one of the worst things I can eat. Gives me so many issues. I'm very sensitive to caffeine so it may be the caffeine in it. Good luck tomorrow.

I visited Auckland New Zealand 40 years ago and it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I loved it! Green rolling hills as far as you could see. A school of dolphins followed our boat for miles. The people were so friendly there. Fond memories.

I just joined this site to get advice, not give it, but I may have some ideas that can help. I'll try to be careful to separate facts from guesswork. I'm a layperson, so almost everything here is guesswork, but based on logging inputs and outputs.

I have a misfiring automotic nervous system (ANS). I don't know why and I don't think how it came about is important to trying to fix it. The ANS comprises two nervous systems: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). The former is fight-or-flee (FOF), which is a stimulated state, and the latter is rest-and-relax (RAR), which is a relaxed state.

The PNS travels from the brain (I think the hypothalamus) down the vagus nerve (and maybe up again for all I know), from where branches take it through the body. Where the branches end, neurotransmitters go the rest of the way to receptors. Substances that enhance the capacity of the receptors to receive the neurotransmitters are agonists, and substances that impede the capacity of the receptors to receive the neurotransmitters are antagonists. The SNS travels a different main nerve, whose name escapes me.

Unlike most people, incl you, I'm over relaxed, and I'm not complaining! Much. An overactive PNS contributes to rare hypotensive episodes, reduced or no sweating, and other systems out of whack. The internet is replete with info about overactive SNS and the systems that it affects.

I have identified tricks, treats, and settings that activate the PNS, which I sometimes do, or the SNS, which I do when needed. They work for me, and I'll share them. You need to find the same that work for you.

Tricks are easy things I can do to activate my SNS, at least briefly. Google terms for explanations. Valsalva method for hypotensive episode from change of posture or related to strenuous exercise. Cold-water immersion, preferably of entire body (was the water in which you snorkeled cold?), but a hand in ice, to try to activate sweating. A trick to activate the PNS is square breathing or humming--weird, I know, but like a mystic sounding "Ommm" for a minute or two.

A treat is food or beverage. PMS activators include whole milk, tart cherry juice (no sugar added), most nuts, and foods/beverages high in magnesium. SNS activators include dark chocolate and coffee, tho the former's effect is offset by its magnesium. Check out theobromide and theophylline--former in chocolate, esp dark, and latter in coffee. I'm sometimes hyper-sensitized to them when, I suspect, my homeostasis is off.

Settings are crucial. I sit in an uncomfortable metal rocking chair, not my comfy leather chair, to stimulate me out of an over-relaxed state. You might do the reverse. I never watch tv or entertainment videos, incl movies unless I know that they are over-excitatory. You should do the same. No news, no sports, no hype, and, while you're at it, avoid hyped-up friends--you know who they are. I surround myself with lots of large dogs. I cycle through the woods. Do more sensory processing, less conceptual processing.

Remember, it's all guesswork or as a clinician would say, rule-out hypotheses. Good luck. And, notwithstanding the above, I'd recommend that you stick to reliable sources on the internet. Mayo and Cleveland clinic sites, Johns Hopkins. I'm ok with Healthline, sfgate/Livestrong, and a few others like that. NIH abstracts or complete articles are great, if you can understand them. Science Direct is the same. The more anecdotal, LIKE MINE, the less reliable. Sometimes I do a routine Google search, but I limit the timeframe to the last yr or mo--it's amazing the new material I'll find. And log, log, log. Try to figure out if misfiring symptoms are linked. I doubt my digestive/motility system is on the same neural as my sweat, spit, snot, dry eye, and ear wax, but I have no idea how many lines serve these systems--5, 1, somewhere in between??? But do one trick, treat or setting change at a time, AND LOG YOUR REACTION. You'll likely learn a lot about what works for and against you!

Peace.

Hello @tallyguy, welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing your well detailed, thought out tips and tricks for living with autonomic misfires. I know that your info is bound to help someone.

Fight or flight is what my body does too, from a hypersensitivity perspective. Almost like a loud speaker. I feel things stronger, hear things louder, see things brighter...it takes less to hurt, the hurt lasts longer and not as much helps the hurt. It sure can make a person feel a little crazy without fully understand it and learning how to work with it.

What a journey your mind has been on for some time now, huh? Trying to figure out the "why behind the what" can be quite consuming to oneself. And for us Type A personalities, it can be all the more challenging!

You, and perhaps @marsheng might be interested in watching the following video from Mayo Clinic's Dr. Christopher Sletten. He presents on Central Sensitization Syndrome and offers up a pretty good science lesson. Take a peak...

- https://youtu.be/vJNhdnSK3WQ

I hope the video resonates with you. Do you mind sharing if so, and in what way? Can't wait to hear your feedback. Have a peaceful evening.

Thanks, I watched the entire video, captivated by the easy manner in which Dr. Sletten conveys his vast knowledge of the sensory nervous system within the peripheral nervous system. Quite an education, but the issues that I addressed were to the far right of the three subsystems that he wrote on the board under the peripheral nervous system--the autonomic nervous system--although I wonder if the chronic-pain sufferer wouldn't be helped by tricks, treats, and settings designed to augment the parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-relax), given Dr. Sletten's focus at the end of his fascinating presentation on the pragmatic management of the patient and his or her physical, emotional, behavioral, and chemical inputs.

Anyhow, thanks again for the reference to the fascinating video.

Peace.

Hi there. You're welcome. I'm glad you found the video captivating.. Dr.. Sletten is a dynamic speaker and educator. While I realized your situation of autonomic is far right of the peripheral nervous system, I had a feeling you might be engaged by learning more. You are correct that we on the peripheral side do also require tricks, treats, and settings designed to quiet our system. A few tools that help are meditation, mindfulness, diaphragmatic breathing, and distraction.

It was nice chatting with you and learning from your trials and tribulations. Paying it forward is another tool for chronic "whichever" management, and that's what you've done here on Connect. You mentioned that you came to receive advice, but then gave it...no problem! Have a great day!!

Thanks for the video. I watched it but need to see it again before commenting.

Just come back from my GP. I'm on the low carb high diet at the moment as I feel so much better.
Head is clear and I'm really motivated. Back to myself.

My only incorrect marker is high blood cortisol. Suggest range 170-500 nmol/L. Mine is 643. It has been 10-20 % above the maximum for over a year. My urine is also just as high.

The strange thing is, from 2 different sources, my saliva cortisol is normal.

I've made massive life style changes over the past year, stress reduction, diet, working conditions, sleep cycles but my morning cortisol level is always high. Has not changed.

Took one of those cortisol raising tables at night for 3 nights as suggested by the endocrinologist and that came back normal. No cushing disease.

My GP can't answer this. Any one have info on this ?

Geez, I can't answer your question but to remark that you should be very proud of yourself for such significant Lifestyle Changes. It's awesome that you're being an active participant in your care. Congratulations and I hope you get your question answered by other members about the cortisol numbers. Best of luck and keep up the good work!

PS I do look forward to your comments after watching the video again.

Finally I believe I have found the problem. I went back to Uni and started Psychology thinking I would get to the root of brain stuff. All my research lead to nil. Along the line I found adult ADHD and read a few articles. All the pennies dropped.

I'm suffering adult ADHD burnout.

This is me
The impulsive side of ADHD means I overcompensate and volunteer for more things than they I can actually do. I don't finish most projects as I looses interest once I have 'solved' the problem. Taking on too much leads to overwhelming challenges and unconscious stress.

Why didn't any of the health professionals suggest ADHD I don't know.

On the slow path to recovery now.