anxiety & fluorescent lighting - Panic Disorders Message Board

johnnyx · 04-02-2003, 03:06 PM

I used to have horrible panic attacks.
Looking back, many of the worst ones were in bright, flourescently lit rooms. I am now free of panic attacks, but still have slight anxiety in malls, grocery stores, and public buildings with long lines of flourescent lighting. I have learned that this lighting because it is unnatural and is actually a very fast strobe has this effect on many people, but I've never heard any suggestions except to avoid this lighting. Anyone?

Lo · 04-02-2003, 03:16 PM

I have the same problem. I can be feeling totally fine, anxiety free, then walk into the grocery store and feel totally out of it. Years ago I used to work in a grocery store and usually had my worst attacks there. At the time, never put two and two together. It is too bad that there is fluorescent lighting everywhere, pretty hard to avoid.

hry33 · 04-03-2003, 03:10 PM

flurio lights flicker on and off about 30 times a second which makes some people anxious, sunglasses help often

Amosquito · 04-11-2003, 08:38 PM

I'd be willing our sensitivity to the flickering (others cannot see a flickering flurouscent light when I see it plain as day) has something to do with the area of the brain that also deals with seizures.

I'd ask your doctor about Depakote and see what happens. I used to also have HYPERACCOUSIS, really sensitive hearing and humming noise in my ears that drove me nuts (wasn't tinnitus), and when I took Depakote it stopped!!! I don't enjoy the flurouscents, and wear my sunglasses in stores!