Sorry if this is a ramble but I'm going to try and speak from the heart. I hope this makes sense.

Since July 2003 I have been suffering from a dry eye problem. For the best part of 10 months I've worried myself into a frenzy. I've always had a bit of an anxiety problem but when this problem with my eyes hit me, it hit me hard.

My symptoms are:

Sore, dry feeling eyes
Sore jaw, head and face
I have mild to moderate acne
I feel so, so down and misserable with frequent suicidal thoughts
Really suffering bad from anxiety as I just have no answers

To me, this problem with my eyes is just so unbearable I can't stand it. What I find is sometimes my eyes get a lot better and don't feel sore or look red. Other times its the complete opposite and they feel really dry, sore and very uncomfortable.

Things that I've noticed that make my sore eyes & head worse:

Masturbating but strangely enough not sex
Physical exertion
lack of sleep
stress
emotional upset (I tend to be upset a lot and cry a lot over this problem)

I'm doctor has me on 100-200mg trazodone per day with the occasional use of Diazepam to help with the anxiety - the trazodone doesn't help with my eyes much but helps me sleep. The Diazepam seems to help the most and makes my eyes better for a short period. This leads me to believe that its stress and anxiety causing my physical symptoms.

A quick browse on the internet brought me to the site below which lists almost everything that I'm suffering from as a symptom of anxiety.

http://www.npadnews.com/anxiety-symptoms.asp

I haven't come across much information on the internet about this other than this.

I'm currently seeing a homeopath and a psychotherapist.

I am so upset right now. I really really need help. At the moment, I just see little or no hope of getting over this and at times, taking my own life to end my suffering seems a better option that trying to beat this and believe me I've tried. I've tried ignoring the problem, getting lots a sleep & rest, lots exercise, getting out and about to enjoy myself.

I really don't know what to do. Help

I was surprised to read your post. I have suffered from dry eyes and derealisation for years and more recently heavy anxiety. I feel for you as I know how tough it has been for me.
Please let me know how you are.
Rob.

look up the dry eye institute on the net

also read up on sjogrens syndrome which can cause dry eyes
a lubricant such as yellow vaseline often helps

In the meantime, have you tried lacri-lube at night? I have seriously dry eyes because my eyes do not close all the way when I sleep. If it starts to get bad, I'll use lacri-lube before I go to bed for a couple of days or so. I also notice that my dry eyes seem to get worse when I work at my computer all day long. AT my last job, my eyes were SOOO bad because I was staring at the comp all day long -- also, in a one year time span, my eyes went from -1.25 to -2.25, probably from eye-strain. I think hry's suggestion was good about sjogrens which is an auto-immune disorder, I beleive (you can read up on the autoimmune board), but nothing terminal.

Good luck

My eyes were dry and sore, hated bright light and wanted to wear sunnies all the time, it was due to depression. Thats my opinion not a doctors.

My eyes were dry and sore, hated bright light and wanted to wear sunnies all the time, it was due to depression. Thats my opinion not a doctors.

Hi Cinderella,
What makes you believe it was due to depression?
How are the eyes now?

Thanks!