What i'm gonna tell you is based solely on my personal experience and is not backed up by any medical knowledge.

I'm prone to anxiety attacks, get real bad ones about twice a year, and mild ones every now and then. I'm also under a lot of stress due to college and such.

I experienced something similar to what you described a few months ago. I've been smoking back then, and out of the blue it would come, usually when I worked in front of my computer - a short lasting, sharp pain, right under the skull, at the right top side of my head. It kind of freaked me out, because I thought that stress and smoking were finally getting me.

Then later, right after another such pain occurred, I felt intense pressure in my head, a bad heart palpitation, and was literally losing consciousness. It felt differently than during your "normal" anxiety attack, because I was literally losing control of my arms and legs, and could barely stand straight. I looked up the symptoms online, and they were similar to a stroke.

Then a few days later the same happened again - numb legs and arms, difficulty speaking, head pressure, and a really bad heart palpitation. So I called an ambulance. By the time I got to the er, I kind of calmed down, but still could feel numbness and a weak pain in my head.

After I described my symptoms to a nurse, she told me that if that was indeed a stroke, I wouldn't be sitting in front of her discussing that with her. A doctor came over, talked to me, didn't say anything conclusive, and just asked if I wanted to take a brain scan. I figured I wouldn't and left the hospital.

That was not it, though. For about a week afterwards, I felt like my head was filled with cotton. I was sleepy all the time, and really sad about the whole thing (a depression?). I searched google for tightness in a head, blah blah blah, but didn’t find anything. The condition wore off after next semester in college started.

The conclusion - I really don't know what the heck that was. That couldn't be a stroke, because I was not affected by it in any way besides that tightness in my head. But at the same time, it was unlike anxiety attacks which i'm rather used to now.

:? :?:

Hi liam j:

i was experiencing the exact same thing as you... A really sharp head pain that last a couple seconds or so, and then goes away.. They come without warning too, just out of the blue and then are gone about the same way. I was getting very concerned too. I just started suffering from anxiety about 6 months ago. When my anxiety got to its worst about a little more than a month ago, they were the worst... Then I started getting real headaches every day. I have never had headaches before. I too was soooo terrified of a brain tumor... Actually at one point, I think I was pretty much convinced that I had one... I was so sad. Anyways, I just recently had an mri because my doctor thought it would make me feel better. Pretty much it comes down to it that brain tumors usually have much worse symptoms than these sharp pains. They are usually bad headaches in the morning right when you get up, vomiting/nasuea, and seizures. So I wouldn't be too worried about it. They are extremely rare in people who are young and don't have cancer. They are probably just these things called ice pick headaches, you can read about them on the internet. They are exactly as you and I describe and are very common in migraine sufferers. You might want to check it out. But if you are worried like I was... Then go to your doctor just to put your mind at rest. Its not worth it to worry! Hope this helps... Have a good one.

Thanks both of you for your advice. Scrdat, i'm going to the doctors on thursday and im very worried. I realise that the headaches I have are not the headaches associated with brain tumors but still I cant help but feel worried.

Yes, I know exactly how I feel. Every told me to stop worrying, and I tried my absolulte hardest telling myself that I was just worrying too much and that it was very unlikely that I had a brain tumor. Just try to be optimistic. Easier said than done, huh? Just hang in there. I bet you are probably fine. Brain tumors are very scary things, but luckily very rare. I just found out yesterday from my mri that I had inflammed sinuses froma cold I had a little while ago and that is what was causing my headaches. But the mri said my brain was perfectly fine. Huge relief. Your next challenge will be to believe the doctor. Trust them... It took me a couple times to start, but now that I see that they do pretty much know what they are talking about it, its a lot easier. So it might be tough to trust them at first.... I hope that you are not too worried, being worried sucks. Keep in touch and let me know how your appointment goes. Have a good day! :)

Hey, i've just been to the doctors and he said the pains could be caused by small muscles spasms and there's no need to worry about them too much.

I'm only 16 years old getting ready to turn 17 in a week. I have had really bad headaches ever sence I was 11. I get them rarely now but for the past year I have been getting very sharp random pians in my head towards the back and it will move towards the temples. The pain is only for a couple secondes then its gone, but the pain is so unbareable sometimes I feel like dying. I would really appreciate if some one could help me find out what could be my problem and what I should do. I'm scared.

I'm only 16 years old getting ready to turn 17 in a week. Ever sence I was 11 I have had really bad migrains. They aren't so bad now, but the past year and like right this second I get these really, really bad sharp pains in my head. The pain is so sharp it feels like a drill in my head. It will start in the back of my head and move forward towards my temples. The pain is random and it hurts terribley, if any one can help me out and tell me what could be my problem. I'm scared and I'm in pain. I just need someones help.

liam j,

what did the doc tell you to do for you muscle spasms?
i think i might be going through the same thing..its feels like my temples get really tight all of the sudden. the pain comes and goes throughout th day?

Hey Everyone,
I too receive these sharp head pains that last only a couple seconds and come and go as they please. I researched it through google and I found some very interesting stuff BUT I do have to say that you shouldn't just assume it's anxiety... go get it checked out just for kicks and giggles!!! One very interesting thing I found that could explain most of your pains is a brain aneurysm.... I have not gotten anything checked out myself yet but I do recommend researching it and bringing your findings to a doctor if it explains your symptoms... just a suggestion

I just want to say that forums like these are very helpful. About 5 minutes ago I was frantically crying due to sharp head pains, like people have described above. I was hysterically crying. Reading this gave me piece of mind. 5 minutes ago I was looking out the window thinking I would never experience life, and thinking about the out comes of suicide. This forum saved me. Cause I too suffer from anxiety and stress. Thank you, I thought I had a brain tumour, now I'll probably just get an mri.

I use to be so optimistic and hopeful for the future. And for about a month I was at the edge of my seat "knowing" I was going to die. Thanks for bringing the optimism back into a 14-year-old girls life. It's important to have health resources like this. Anyone who has Chronic Anxiety Disorder knows it's not easy, this makes it so so much better.

I am a 65 year old male. I've never had headaches, but about a year ago starting having a sudden sharp pain that last only 2-3 seconds; the pain seems to emanate from deep within my head, somewhere in the upper right quadrant. Typically after each sharp pain, I'm symptom free for several days. I don't think it's related to anxiety, nor can it be an aneurysm. I guess I'll ignore it until the symptoms get worse.

Yea i have the same pains but i get them on the back right side of my skull and on my side a couple inches below my ribs they happen at the same time in the same place randomly

I have the same thing.. im thinking it a tumar as well.. thinking im goign to die soon. .. and i also was crying crazy.. im 16 years old and i went to 2 docerts this week and they said it was mingrans. .. but i think i found out why.. can i ask a docter 4 a scan jsut in case ?

I came across this forum when I searched for sharp pains in the skull area. I have had migraines for many years and have just recently had a short bout with high blood pressure. I started (just today) getting sharp, shooting pains around the skull area and they really,truly hurt! They are not like my migraines at all and I thought - uh oh, I'm gonna stroke out or something. I took an aspirin to thin my blood and I'm gonna go lay down. I hope this goes away. I have had cat scans and MRI's out the ying yang and everything always comes back fine - so I have no clue why this is happening!