First off I think that you need to relax--since you have anxiety i think that what is going on is stress related. your jaw is one bone--it cant be bigger on one side. it could be swollen but not bigger. you should get your wisdom teeth pulled and then see what happens after that. it could very well be that all you need to do is have those wisdom teeth pulled.

sorry i was freaking out when i wrote that lol. I was reading about tmj or something, and there was a self test thing, and it said put your fingers in your ear and if you can feel your jaw bone then it could be that.. and i did, and i could feel it really bad on my right but not my left. Another thing i've noticed today is sometimes when i clench my teeth my ears sound fuzzy sorta =S reckon thats what it is?

I would also suggest having the wisdom tooth pulled. Frequently when the wisdom teeth come in they may cause overcrowding of your other teeth throwing your bite off. Seek an oral surgeon who is very aware of TMJ and how pulling the wisdom teeth with too much force or keeping the mouth open too wide for too long can adversely affect any jaw problems you might have or be inclined to have. Sheesh, that was a long sentence.

DO NOT clench your teeth for any reason. Keep teeth apart at all times with the tongue resting on the roof of your mouth and the lips together (relaxed or slightly apart). NO gum chewing. And RELAX!!!

Please take care. God bless...
Carol

Its ok to freak out a little. I do it all the time. you just have to relax and bring yourself back to being calm--i can feel my jaw bone in my ears too. could be that the joint is right in front of the ear. so i think you should get those teeth pulled and see what happens from there.

"My jaw doesn't hurt at all though, which makes me think its my anxiety. "

Your jaw usually doesn't from a dislocation or abnormal alignment.. just headaches and intercranial pressure of the head due to compression of nerves in my experience anyway...


i had major anxiety attacks and my jaw really was dislocated still is partially...They didn't happen until it was dislocated and i too felt like i was dying and i lived like this for 6 years i don't know how i am alive today...I'm not saying your jaw is dislocated but imo i would get that checked by a professional to prevent any psychological problems from happening like anxiety panic attacks etc...The dislocation can prevent cerebral blood flow circulation and excess cortisol and adrenaline and your body may feel like it is in fight or flight b/c there is a pressing of the joint which contains 3 nerves that are directly connected to the hypothalamus and are responsible for a large percent of your emotional response to things...

"Since I started getting headaches 5 years ago my doctor has put me on "happy" pills and I am not the same person.

Explanation: Most physicians attempt to treat a problem that they don't understand. Treating symptoms with medications is just lack of proper diagnosis. Jaw dysfunction and TMJ problems usually lead to personality changes and sometimes, psychological problems. The trigeminal nerve sends signals into the brain by way of the dorsal nucleus, which ultimately connects to the "emotional center" of the brain called the hypothalamus (which is responsible for your emotions). Overstimulation of the trigeminal leads to wear and tear on this component. The end result are emotional and psychological dysturbances"


They say that tmj is caused by stress/anxiety but stress/anxiety is also the effect of tmj as proven with me b/c i had a dislocation and then came the anxiety...So get to the root of the problem and see a professional about the jaw asap...