Insane Nervous Itching

[Desmond]

Here's the problem: Every time I feel nervous / embarrassed / uncomfortable (In BROAD terms) I start itching. Everywhere.

I'm pretty sure that it's not a physical itch, but scratching the spot that it itches seems to bring on relief, only to be followed by even more itch. :P

By everywhere, I mean Everywhere. Especially my back (used to be mostly on my head), armpits, neck, legs, stomach, so yeah. It doesn't itch at the same time though, it just seems to "jump" from place to place.

What causes it is kind of weird. It usually happens when I feel the slightest bit embarased (From saying something stupid, to typing this right now, even all the way to my very thoughts, if I THINK something I find stupid, I get this itch feeling.)

It feels like I'm being lightly prodded by a needle (of itchyness D: ) every time...

I'm pretty sure alot of this is psychological, it started around the 7th-8th grade, when I started acting excessively self-conscious. Now....it's not so bad anymore, but it still happens, like right now.
It actually started after I took a shower and ate a tangerine.... That somehow caused it. Oh, did I mention eating spicy foods cause this too? Yeah. I really do not know why...
Then I read a certain topic on this forum which made me feel very uncomfortable (It was about sex) and it started getting worse. xD

Well, my main reason for posting this is to see if anyone has the same problem as I have. It is really confusing because it seems to be both a physical and psychological issue.
It might also be of mention that I have a very "abnormal" mind, if that makes any sense. xD. I tend to act a little OCD sometimes (like always looking at a clock, repeatably saying a prayer over and over again, but that's for another post).

Sorry if my post is unorganized/incoherent. I suck at communicating ideas or thoughts.

I've found some other people on yahoo who have the same problem as I have, but I'm wondering if anybody HERE have this problem.
Nervous itch? - Yahoo!7 Answers
Why do I itch when I'm stressed or nervous? - Yahoo!7 Answers
Itchy back when nervous? - Yahoo! Answers
I become itchy when laughing, nervous, excersising or even when climbing stairs? - Yahoo!7 Answers

Yes, this is a very silly topic I know. I probably might not get so many responses.

[eruso]

Yep, I have it. And I get it while exercising too or anything else that makes me break a sweat. Sucks.

[Desmond]

I get it in the legs when I'm doing a lot of running, but I don't think it is related to this problem.
I think the itchyness from running is due to the blood flow and sweat glands beginning to work, and maybe frabic rubbing on your skin.

[eruso]

Hmm. Maybe. I get when I'm nervous or stressed though as well.

[sepiagal]

Some people have naturally high histamine levels. You can learn about the symptoms if you google histadelia, orthomolecular and or high histamine levels.

Histadelics can have OCD issues. Histamine is also a nuerotransmitter.

High histamine can cause something called a referred itch. That means you scratch your ankle and relieve that itch and another one develops some place else. People who can't wear wool sweaters and wool clothes are likely to be histadelics. They can be senstive to itchy clothes; they can also be sensitive to pain and some other things.

Histamine is broken down and excreted from the body through methylation and some other things. There are nutritional supplements that help methylation and lower histamine levels.

But mainstream medicine doesn't recognize this condition. The genetic mutation MTHFr corresponds to undermethylators or histadelics.

And you could always try anti-histamines.

[venza]

That exact same thing happens 2 me also! its even happening as i type this. ive been searching 2 find out wat this is, youre the only one ive found with the same problem so far.im 15 it started like n the 8th grade its just sooo annoying. it happens when nervous, embarrased, mad, or excited, and it just takes a little hint of these emotions that will set it off. i could just b talking 2 someone parents, friends, relatives, and it just happens n random areas especially armpits and face ugggh soo irritating i just dont know y this happens is their a doctor n the house!?!

[ssandra]

My husband has the same thing.

What helps is to try and find something else that helps as much as scratching, to "trick" the mind into thinking that body lotion helps.

It gets more and more when he is stressed, he doesn´t get as much embarassed or nervous..

I am starting to think this is a guy thing and therefor you don´t hear so much about it?

[venza]

But im a girl! so it can't just b a guy thing

[aggie]

my husband also has this problem....and it is definitely related to the histamines and aggrevated by stress, fatigue and certain foods especially fillers and additives, some meds, alcohol.

sometimes the only thing that can shut it down with him when he reaches the "rain barrel" is prednisone...then you open up another can of worms with that.

dryness can aggrevate it, but then you have to be careful of the kind of lotions, etc you use.

once the itch-scratch cycle starts it is difficult to stop.

perhaps a physician visit is in order. good luck.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by aggie

once the itch-scratch cycle starts it is difficult to stop.

Usually the only thing that really helps is scratch for a little bit first, and after take his mind off it.

Bodylotion helps, not as much for the fact that his skin is dry, but more because it is cool and the touch helps. It is as well a bit the placebo effect. I tell him his back is dry, and therefor the bodylotion works. (even if it is not dry, he cannot see his back anyway...).

Cool showers help as well, and I have noticed a decline when once or twice a week I scrub his back with scrubsalt.

[bubbaj]

Originally Posted by sepiagal

Some people have naturally high histamine levels. You can learn about the symptoms if you google histadelia, orthomolecular and or high histamine levels.

Histadelics can have OCD issues. Histamine is also a nuerotransmitter.

High histamine can cause something called a referred itch. That means you scratch your ankle and relieve that itch and another one develops some place else. People who can't wear wool sweaters and wool clothes are likely to be histadelics. They can be senstive to itchy clothes; they can also be sensitive to pain and some other things.

Histamine is broken down and excreted from the body through methylation and some other things. There are nutritional supplements that help methylation and lower histamine levels.

But mainstream medicine doesn't recognize this condition. The genetic mutation MTHFr corresponds to undermethylators or histadelics.

And you could always try anti-histamines.

Quote. I am glad I'm not the only one having this problem, my nervous itching started about 4 weeks ago, and it seems to be triggered by being stressed or nervous but I have found one remedy that helps me and that is Benadryl non drowsiness it helps and last bout 6 to 8 hrs. So for everyone who is having these symptons maybe it will work for yall too is the Benadryl or Generic brand and see if that stops the problem for a while.

[Beastlyfiddy]

i itch all the time from nervousness! im in eighth grade, and i always get made fun of cuz i have to scratch like 400 (overexaggeration) times before every pitch when im up to bat when im playing baseball.....my eyes, shoulder blades, back, ears, nose, arms, crotch, hands and wrists. this happens before anything happens in any activity that involves me... HELP!