Feeling like your brain is on fire can be uncomfortable, it can feel like heat or tingling that affects your whole body.
Brain burning feeling can be caused by stress, neurological issues or other health conditions and it’s often accompanied by headaches and brain fog.
This weird feeling can be caused by nerve pain, brain inflammation or other things.
We’ll go into each of these in detail so you can get guidance and treatment options.
What is the Brain Burning Feeling ?
Feeling like your brain is on fire, which can feel like intense heat or burning pain in the head, can be really unpleasant.
This can be caused by neuralgia (nerve pain), brain inflammation or conditions associated with ‘brain fog’.
This is often described as uncomfortable or painful and is related to dysesthesia, a condition where abnormal sensations are felt when touched. Neurologicalgia, which is pain from nerves, can also cause these burning feelings.
Symptoms that come with this are headaches and tingling discomfort. These symptoms can make daily life really hard.
To fix this you need to identify the cause and acknowledge the symptoms. Treatment becomes necessary for relief.
Common Descriptions
Individuals describe the brain burning sensation in many ways which is unique to their experience. Some patients describe it as intense heat or discomfort around the head like being overheated.
Others describe it as if there’s actual combustion happening in the brain when they’re stressed or anxious.
As you can see, common symptoms experienced by these individuals are burning, tingling or cold feeling that’s very distracting and can’t focus on tasks or daily activities. These symptoms are part of dysesthesia and can hinder one’s ability to do tasks or manage daily life.
Related Symptoms
Patients may experience many symptoms. To the burning sensation which can worsen the distress and confusion. Headaches, dizziness and brain fog are common symptoms that hinder daily activities. These symptoms often come with:
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Having frequent headaches
- Brain fog and concentration problems
Causes of Brain Burning Feeling
Many factors can cause the brain burning sensation and these are from different sources. Some of which are:
- Stress and anxiety can increase blood flow and change neurotransmitter levels which can trigger this feeling.
- Neurology related conditions
- Other health issues
Stress and Anxiety
The brain burning sensation can be due to stress and anxiety. During a stress response the body’s fight-or-flight system is triggered and blood circulation and neurotransmitter activity increases.
This can cause heat or burning feeling in the brain.
Nerve dysfunction that causes burning sensations can be exacerbated by chronic stress making this experience more challenging. Therapy and counseling can be helpful in managing emotional and psychological factors that can worsen these feelings.
We need to develop ways to cope so we can manage our stress levels and reduce the frequency of these episodes where we feel this intense heat or burning.
Hyperstimulation and Nervous System
Repeating the stress response can overstimulate the nervous system and can cause ongoing burning sensations.
This hyperstimulation can affect both the brain and spinal cord and can cause nerve pain that’s uncomfortable.
Medication Side Effects
Psychotropic medications that alter nerve signaling can cause symptoms like brain burning.
These drugs can cause many sensations because of how they affect nerve communication.
Patients who experience this side effect should talk to their doctor to explore other treatment options or adjust their current medication.
Sleep Disruption
Sleep disturbance can cause big changes in the brain’s function and balance. Not enough rest can exacerbate the feeling of burning in the brain. External factors like medication side effects or drug use can trigger this fiery feeling.
Other Health Conditions
Many health conditions can cause atypical sensations like brain burning. These uncomfortable and painful feelings are called dysesthesia and can be painful or prickly without skin related issues and can be associated with multiple sclerosis.
Among the conditions that can cause dysesthesia:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Diabetes
- Infections like herpes zoster and HIV
Nerve damage from these conditions often manifest as neuropathic symptoms like burning sensations.
This is why we need to seek professional assessment and treatment specific to our condition.
Diagnosing the Cause
We need to identify the cause of brain burning to get the right treatment. Continuous burning sensations, intense headaches or sudden numbness should be seen to a doctor immediately.
A full assessment will help us identify the cause and find the right treatment.
Symptom Check
The first step in finding out the cause of brain burning is to check the symptoms. Severe pain with other red flags needs to be seen to a doctor immediately.
- Severe pain
- Difficulty walking or balance
- Intense pain
Conditions like multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disease can be related to dysesthesia.
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests are important in finding out the cause of brain burning. By doing these tests, doctors can rule out other conditions and get an accurate diagnosis for their patients. Various tests are done which include:
- Imaging tests like CT scans that show clear brain anatomy
- Blood tests that detect metabolic or autoimmune disorders
These tests allow healthcare providers to get a precise diagnosis and treatment options for the patient.
Specialist Referrals
If primary assessment doesn’t give a clear diagnosis or symptoms persist despite treatment, we may need to see a specialist. These experts can do advanced tests that may have been missed during routine check up.
Talking to a specialist can give us more personalized approach in managing treatment and get to the bottom of what’s causing the brain burning.
Treatment Options for Brain Burning Feeling
There are several ways to get rid of brain burning sensation such as pharmaceuticals, lifestyle changes and non-conventional therapies.
You can check out these options will help us find the best way to manage our condition better way.
Quick Fix
Mindfulness and meditation can help reduce stress and potentially reduce symptoms. Found to be effective:
- Deep breathing techniques
- Meditation
- Quality sleep
To get rid of brain burning, focus on reducing stress, relaxation and consistent quality sleep as quick fix.
Prescription Medicines
Medicines from a doctor can help manage nerve pain that manifests as brain burning. These treatments address the root cause of nerve pain and reduce symptoms.
To know which medicine is best for our condition, see a doctor.
Therapy and Coaching
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be part of the treatment plan in managing psychological factors that cause brain burning. This therapy can change negative thought patterns related to stress and anxiety that may reduce symptoms.
In coaching sessions, we are given a safe space to explore our emotions and thoughts about our brain burning.
Lifestyle Adjustments
Living a healthy lifestyle can help manage and reduce brain burning sensation and overall well-being.
Healthy Diet and Exercise
Eating a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients with a Mediterranean diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and good fats can help nerve function and reduce symptoms of poor brain health.
Doing aerobic exercises for at least 30 minutes 3 times a week is important for brain well being and symptoms reduction.
Stress Management
Meditation and mindfulness practices can calm the mind, reduce anxiety and improve focus which can lead to reduced stress. Doing physical exercise is also known to reduce stress through the release of endorphins that boost our mood.
Among these found to be effective:
- Deep breathing exercises
- Having a balanced daily routine
- Social support by connecting with others
Sleep Hygiene
Following sleep hygiene rules is important for better sleep and brain health. Try these:
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule to improve sleep.
- Create a sleep conducive bedroom.
- Avoid stimulants before bedtime to improve sleep.
Doing these can help brain health and better sleep.
When to See a Doctor
If we feel brain burning, see a doctor. Early medical consultation is important to diagnose serious underlying conditions and get the right treatment.
Persistent Symptoms
Persistent or worsening symptoms that causes discomfort or symptoms that don’t improve over time should be checked by a professional to rule out serious health conditions.
Severe Pain
Symptoms that requires urgent attention are ongoing or sudden onset of severe headaches, disorientation or fainting episodes all red flags for serious conditions that needs professional medical advice.
Various discomforts may be felt like stabbing pains. These are more concerning with occipital neuralgia which involves the occipital nerves.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent further complications.
Bottom Line
Generally speaking, there are many things that can cause a “brain burning” feeling, such as mental exhaustion, stress, or even long-term focus on a difficult job.
It can also happen if you don’t get enough sleep, are dehydrated, or drink too much coffee. This might happen when your mind is under a lot of stress, like when you’re thinking deeply or trying to learn something new.
References:
- Arnsten, Amy F.T. “Stress Signaling Pathways that Impair Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Function.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience, vol. 10, no. 6, 2009, pp. 410-422.
- Kuhlman, Kathleen R., et al. “Fatigue and Its Impact on Cognitive Performance: A Review.” Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, vol. 30, no. 2, 2018, pp. 151-158.
- Wylie, Gregory R., and Jonathan D. T. Lehto. “Cognitive Control and Mental Fatigue: An Empirical Investigation.” Psychological Science, vol. 22, no. 11, 2011, pp. 1452-1460.
