What does anxiety tunnel vision look like?
Some of the ways that tunnel vision has been described is that your vision seems to have narrowed, or that you can no longer see objects in your peripherals. It can often come as an accompaniment to certain health issues or anxiety, and can even precede them as a warning of sorts.
Visual irregularities like seeing stars, shadows or flashing spots can occur as a result of anxiety onset. Individuals with anxiety often report that they notice things out of the corner of their eye that aren't there or experience diminished peripheral vision and narrowed or tunnel-like sight.
- eye floaters.
- eye strain.
- eye twitching.
- flashes of light.
- light sensitivity.
- tunnel vision.
For example, you may find yourself thinking about a problem. You might find yourself only able to look at it from one angle. Despite running it over and over in your mind, you find you're unable to come up with a solution. You may even ask for other people's opinion on the matter.
Tunnel Vision can be a sign of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, and panic attacks. Tunnel vision can be accompanied by other anxiety symptoms, such as dizziness, racing heart, trembling, sweating, shortness of breath, palpitations, and tension.
When we are severely stressed and anxious, high levels of adrenaline in the body can cause pressure on the eyes, resulting in blurred vision. People with long-term anxiety can suffer from eye strain throughout the day on a regular basis. Anxiety causes the body to become highly sensitised to any slight movement.
When you feel anxious you might have racing thoughts but also physical symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, tense muscles, trembling, a rapid heartbeat, and pain and bloating in your abdomen. These are all the results of the stress response when the body releases cortisol as it prepares for “fight or flight.”
In short, anxiety-caused tunnel vision is temporary and will subside when you focus on treating your anxiety and elevated stress. So, again, there is no cause for alarm or distress. Tunnel vision is harmless and will subside in time.
- feeling restless or on edge.
- being irritable.
- getting tired easily.
- having difficulty concentrating or feeling your mind goes blank.
- having difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep.
- having tense muscles.
Even if the threat is imaginary or minuscule, your brain thinks it's real, so the stress response is still triggered. If stress is heightened, your body produces an extremely high amount of adrenaline, that can cause tunnel vision.
Can you get tunnel vision from stress?
Under high levels of stress, people may experience "tunnel vision," tending to ignore things on the periphery of their awareness.
Tunnel vision occurs when this peripheral sight is lost. If this happens, you'll only be able to see something if you're directly looking at it. This type of vision loss is primarily caused by issues with the rods and cones — two types of photoreceptors, or light-sensing cells — in the retina.
It Can Feel As If The Trauma Defines You
This trauma imprint creates 'tunnel vision' – all you see now is interpreted through the lens of your traumatic experience.
The best way out of tunnel vision is to expand your perspective. But you need to build excuses into your daily routine to actually do that regularly, and simply reading about others' experiences can help you. It takes practice, though.
Anger, panic or stress can cause a sudden rush of adrenaline which is known to occasionally cause tunnel vision. In this case, the tunnel vision comes on quickly but also disappears quickly once you are feeling calmer.
If you experience mental illness and feel as though your world is “gray,” you are not alone. There are many studies to support the claim that depression affects vision.
Hyperstimulation anxiety is a state wherein an individual's senses are excessively stimulated, causing heightened anxiety levels. This overstimulation can occur through various channels like sounds, lights, and social interactions, causing distress and discomfort.
- Chest pain. A racing heart is a familiar symptom of anxiety, but chronic anxiety can also cause chest pain or the sensation of a heart “flutter.” ...
- Tinnitus, or ringing ears. ...
- Hives and skin rashes.
- Persistent hiccups. ...
- Dissociation. ...
- Gastrointestinal issues. ...
- Circulation problems. ...
- Jaw pain.
Sharp pain, a dull ache or a feeling of pressure around the head and eyes are common symptoms associated with anxiety. As anxiety can also upset the balance of hormones in the body, some women notice an increase in migraines, as they can be triggered by changes in hormones.
Various factors can cause anxiety to worsen. The triggers vary between individuals but include ongoing stress, a bereavement, financial problems, and key events, such as a job interview. Anxiety can lead to feelings of nervousness, apprehension, and worry.
How long does anxiety vision last?
The Symptoms of Anxiety Affected Eyes
Eye problems are not necessarily a common symptom of anxiety, but they're not rare either. Most eye symptoms are temporary – lasting no more than an hour, and usually much less. Any long term eye problems should be checked out by an eye doctor.
What is anxiety dissociation like? When you experience dissociation caused by anxiety, you may feel detached and disconnected from yourself. Your perceptions may change and time may seem to go faster or slower. You may feel emotionally numb, and the experience may seem unreal, flat, or dull.
Common anxiety behaviors include: Avoidance of feared situations or events. Seeking reassurance. Second-guessing.
- A sense of restlessness.
- Being on-edge or wound-up.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Irritability.
- Being easily fatigued.
- Headaches, muscle aches, stomachaches, or unexplained pains.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Difficulty controlling feelings of worry.
- Anxious thoughts or beliefs.
- Feelings of fear and dread.
- Physical symptoms like a fast heartbeat or nausea.
- Changes in behavior like avoiding previous normal activities.
References
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/symptoms/cloudy-vision/
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/visual-distortion-5210827
- https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/ophthalmology/eye-signs-and-symptoms/distortion
- https://www.healthline.com/health/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety
- https://www.woodhamseye.com/blog/eye-conditions-from-stress
- https://www.vision-specialists.com/binocular-vision-dysfunction/eye-muscle-strain-as-the-cause-of-dizziness-and-headaches/
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/eye-movement-disorders/oscillopsia/
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/eye-floaters
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/blurred-vision
- https://www.optometristsclinic.com/b/dehydration-and-ocular-health
- https://www.healthline.com/health/tunnel-vision
- https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/tunnel-vision/
- https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/blindness
- https://www.vision-specialists.com/eye-strain-and-vertigo/
- https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/symptoms/
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/how-to-help-someone-with-anxiety
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depersonalization-derealization-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20352911
- https://eyecliniclondon.com/5-top-fruits-for-healthy-eyes/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/blurry-vision-in-one-eye
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/astigmatism/symptoms-causes/syc-20353835
- https://www.stress.org/how-stress-affects-your-vision
- https://www.verywellmind.com/dissociation-anxiety-4692760
- https://www.fastcompany.com/3061743/five-simple-methods-ive-learned-to-fight-tunnel-vision-at-work
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eyestrain
- https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/dry-eyes-home-remedies
- https://www.fda.gov/consumers/womens-health-topics/women-and-anxiety
- https://whitbyonline.com/about-us/news/stress-on-your-eyes/
- https://sleepeducation.org/lack-sleep-affects-eyesight/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/expert-answers/ocular-migraine/faq-20058113
- https://prasadnetralaya.com/does-depression-affect-your-eyes/
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dehydration/
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/visual-snow-syndrome-1719607
- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/anxiety-disorder-signs/
- https://smartvisionoptometry.com.au/eye-have-anxiety/
- https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/guide-to-eye-health/11-causes-of-blurry-vision-in-one-eye/
- https://reynoldsopticians.com/how-to-tell-if-you-have-poor-eyesight/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/can-everyone-unfocus-their-eyes
- https://www.eyeque.com/knowledge-center/how-your-eyes-respond-to-stress/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-dehydration-affect-your-eyes
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/related/depression-and-vision-changes/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptom-checker/eye-problems-in-adults-adult/related-factors/itt-20009075
- https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/ophthalmology/eye-signs-and-symptoms/fluctuating-vision
- https://www.aao.org/eye-health/ask-ophthalmologist-q/stress-visual-disturbance
- https://www.optimax.co.uk/blog/causes-temporary-tunnel-vision/
- https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/ss/slideshow-anxiety-physical-symptoms
- https://www.switalskieyecare.com/how-sugar-affects-your-eyes-health/
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/fluctuating-vision/
- https://www.brimhalleyecenter.com/ophthalmology-tips/3-signs-of-cloudy-vision/
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/blurry-vision.htm
- https://www.spirehealthcare.com/symptoms/blurred-vision/
- https://korthvision.com/how-long-does-eye-strain-last/
- https://www.grouporttherapy.com/blog/hyperstimulation-anxiety
- https://draxe.com/health/blurry-vision/
- https://www.fyzical.com/blog/Sudden-Blurred-Vision-and-Dizziness
- https://felixgray.com/pages/blurred-vision
- https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/ask-the-experts/eye-strokes
- https://wakefamilyeyecare.com/focusing-on-double-vision/
- https://www.optometrists.org/general-practice-optometry/guide-to-binocular-visual-dysfunction/what-is-vertical-heterophoria-signs-and-treatment/
- https://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-disorders/symptoms/eye-vision-problems/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/kaleidoscope-vision
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-forensic-view/202202/how-we-process-under-pressure-tunnel-vision
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-vision-problems-cause-dizziness
- https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-blurred-vision
- https://www.specsavers.ie/eye-health/why-is-my-eyesight-getting-worse
- https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-eye/ask-the-expert-dry-eye-dehydration
- https://myallamericancare.com/blog/2020/09/05/trouble-focusing-eyes-symptoms-and-treatment/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2022/11/27/when-vision-goes-white/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/oscillopsia
- https://www.barrowneuro.org/condition/ischemic-optic-neuropathy/
- https://www.mind.org.uk/need-urgent-help/what-can-i-do-to-help-myself-cope/relaxing-and-calming-exercises/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/anxiety-disorders
- https://heartland-eye.com/can-dry-eyes-cause-blurry-vision/
- https://www.quora.com/My-eye-sight-is-7-Is-there-any-problem-with-that
- https://korthvision.com/what-causes-a-sudden-improvement-in-eyesight/
- https://www.enhancedvision.com/low-vision-info/fluctuating-vision-causes-and-concerns.html
- https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/how-to-cure-blurry-vision-naturally
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10714080/
- https://packandbianesvision.com/can-stress-cause-blurry-vision/
- https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/stress-disorder
- https://weillcornell.org/news/how-to-improve-vision-and-maintain-eye-health
- https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/eye-exercises
- https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/basics/ced/index.html
- https://www.dignityhealth.org/bayarea/services/emergency-services/when-to-go-to-er/blurred-vision
- https://www.medicinenet.com/blurred_vision_flickering_uncolored_zig-zag_line_in_vision_and_eye_floaters/multisymptoms.htm
- https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/unusual-anxiety-symptoms-you-might-not-know-about
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes-and-your-eyes-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.cardiacscreen.co.uk/what-are-the-early-warning-signs-of-a-stroke.php
- https://www.medicinenet.com/blurred_vision_and_sensation_of_something_in_eye/multisymptoms.htm
- https://www.healthline.com/health/cloudy-vision
- https://www.intrepidmentalhealth.com/blog/10-most-common-physical-symptoms-of-anxiety
- https://www.nvcofny.com/eye-care/what-is-oscillopsia/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24262-blurred-vision
- https://www.drinkhydrant.com/blogs/news/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-from-dehydration
- https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/why-wont-anxiety-go-away
- https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/signs-of-stroke/fast-signs-of-stroke-are-there-other-signs
- https://www.nvisioncenters.com/conditions/distorted-vision/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4082838/
- https://www.newlife-therapy.co.uk/do-you-have-tunnel-vision-thinking/
- https://www.axiomllc.com/blog/anxiety-tunnel-vision/
- https://www.allaboutvision.com/symptoms/blurry-vision/dizziness-blurred-vision/
- https://northgeorgiaeyeclinic.com/dehydration-affects-your-eyes-too/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/sudden-blurred-vision
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/sudden-blurry-vision-5092267
- https://www.healthline.com/health/visual-disturbances
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/310894
- https://www.oxforddevelopmentcentre.co.uk/getting-stuck-in-your-trauma-or-ptsd/
- https://www.urban-optics.com/blog/how-to-fix-blurry-vision.html
- https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/affected-eyes
- https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/mental-wellbeing/anxiety-and-panic/why-do-i-feel-anxious-and-panicky/
- https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/eye-stroke
- https://www.vision-specialists.com/binocular-vision-dysfunction/symptoms/anxiety/
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-is-my-anxiety-so-bad
- https://www.quora.com/Why-is-my-vision-zooming-in-and-out-like-a-camera
- https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/eye-strain