All in my head...?

I have been dealing with a great amount of stress lately. On top of finals in college, my car breaking down, and my health situation I have been breaking under the pressure. I am currently seeing a doctor about my low blood pressure that drops dramatically when I am on my feet. I did a table tilt test last Thursday and I fainted immediately showing that something is definitely going wrong. They diagnosed it as neurocardiogenic syncope. Since that test I have not been able to bounce back. I have been collapsing frequently (close to fainting), having migraines, and I have been displaying jerking motions in my arms and legs that I cannot control. I feel like I'm having chills or electric shocks go through my entire body again and again. I went to the doctor yesterday (a general practitioner because I'm away from my normal specialist) and he said that he thought that the jerking was due to stress. Now I have it in my head that this is all something I'm making up and that it only happens when I think of the muscles... but I can't stop! I feel so much overwhelming guilt - like this is all in my head and I am lying to those around me. I sincerely feel that I cannot control myself once I collapse and start shaking/jerking. Can this all really be in my head? Thanks for any advice and help.

P.S. My father (I'm 22) says that my fears are irrational and that I am a hypochondriac of being a hypochondriac. I'm always afraid that people are thinking I'm making it up. Sometimes I get so convinced it's all in my head that I let the condition get really bad (e.g. I refused to go in for kidney stones thinking it was all in my head - I went in a week later it turned out I had 6) Odd I know.. but I thought it should be noted.

i'm sorry that you're going through this right now. it doesn't make sense for it to just be "in your head" since you fainted during the test. and you've got a DX.

i wish that i knew how to help you more. sometimes our families don't support us as we'd like and it compounds all of our fears and stress...........keep posting.......xoxoxo pat

I doubt it's "all in your head" and lately went on a tear about doctors who use that term (or think it.)

Please stop using the term.. because it's an old one from the times when they didn't know a thing about brains and body connections.

But I doubt that you are making it up.
Stress can cause some aggravation of symptoms, sure, but looks to me like you have good reason to be feeling stressed!

Do some good self care now...

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The stress is not all in your head so I would leave it at that. You know from your specialist that you definately have other problems and I'd just take what the GP says as confirmation that you have a problem not of your making and that it will take specialists and you to "fix." All I'd worry about was how to relax some and take some of the stress off. The finals are going to end soon if they haven't already, the car will get fixed so concentrate on doing some relaxing for yourself and anything your specialist has recommended? Any meds?

I'd "give up" the worry about the jerking. So you jerk, so what? It's just a physical thing your body is doing to help you cope. Concentrate on helping your body help you.

"We are all susceptible to fainting by activation of the vaso-vagal reflex that results in a lowered blood pressure, however, an individual’s susceptibility varies day to day based upon genetic make-up, dietary factors, psychological state, and triggers such as infection, dehydration, and alcohol intake."

http://www.hrtcare.com/neurosyn.asp

your fainting may be psychophysiological, but that does not mean it's "all in your head."

your stress is real. you need to take care of you. get a second opinion from another doctor.

i have psychophysiological illnesses, too. i think mine result from my panic attacks. breathing techniques help me the most, since i tend to hyperventilate when i'm stressing.

try biofeedback relaxation. or find a psychologist who will do hypnotherapy with you to help you relax and manage your stress.

you can learn techinques to manage your stress in positive ways. i hope you will find what works for you. ((((huggs)))))

Could you describe the type of headaches you have?

Do you get a headache, or do your headaches become worse after you sneeze, cough or strain?