Okay, I'm 21 years old. I suffer from extreme anxiety, panic attacks, depression, etc. My physical symptoms are CONSTANT. I haven't been able to work it go to school. But I have really bad ringing in my ears so I went to the ENT doctor, passed all the hearing and in office test so got sent for an MRI without contrast (What my insurance would cover). Got the results and everything came back good but there was a 6mm pineal cyst. I've been losing it thinking it's cancerous, or going to grow, maybe causing all my anxiety problems. I'm so scared and I haven't got out of bed for days and have just been having nonstop panic attacks.. My grandma died of brain cancer in her 50's which has me thinking it's happening to me now. Can anyone help?

Hello and welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I'm sorry you're so worried and anxious. That is understandable under the circumstances. I think though that sometimes we panic more if we don't understand something and if I may suggest, it would be in your best interest to talk with your doctor about this so that you can understand the findings from the MRI.

When do you see the Doctor next?

I see you've already posted on General Health Forum and I would also suggest that you check out the forum search feature for past posts regarding pineal gland cyst. There are quite a lot but they are scattered throughout many different forums.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/search.php

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Welcome Txxxrho.

Hi there,
Any Cyst in our brains is worrying just for the fact of it being there. I have an Arachnoid Cyst myself. I popped off and looked up Pineal Gland Cysts, and found this article:

http://radiopaedia.org/articles/pineal-cyst

It may be of some comfort to you to see that they are commonly found in young people like yourself, and if your Dr has diagnosed it as a Cyst there is a great deal of difference between those that are benign and other Tumours. Do NOT let this stop you seeing your Dr for a full explanation and reassurance.
Of more concern to me are your Anxiety Attacks and Depression. My Depression is a lifelong condition, and I suffered my first extreme Panic Attack out of the blue at 22. Are you receiving treatment for these issues? It is most important, rarely do they go away on their own.
If you would like to talk about anything at all, I am always about.

Dave.

Yeah, I've seen a Neurologist and he told me it was nothing to worry about.. However, I can't help but to think that it's either causing my extreme anxiety and symptoms. I did an EEG and have to do a 72 hour one to see if my panic and anxiety are some types of seizures (Highly doubt it) I've been dealing with the panic/anxiety/hypochondria to an extreme level since I was 15/16. I just feel like it's useless to even live anymore sometimes.. Everything says it's so common but I read all these horror stories about cyst being cancerous and not being able to tell unless you test a sample of it. It growing.. It causing me really big problems.. Like seizures or killing me randomly or slowly becoming cancerous! I don't know! It scares the heck out of me. I currently am flat broke and haven't been able to work at all because my anxiety is so bad. I want to get a second, third, or as many opinions as I can get because online is nothing but horror stories that just make me suicidal and give me panic attacks

Try to remain calm. I know it's a stupid thing to say, but I have been there and your Anxiety levels will only make things worse.

http://www.how-to-meditate.org/why-l...-meditate.htm/

This is a link to my teacher's (Geshe Kelsang Gyatso) site which explains the benefits of, and how to, start Meditating. Ignore the Buddhism slant, just read the Front Page and Breathing Meditation. This is a simple yet powerful way to strengthen and calm your mind. You must be committed, and you must be in a peaceful room with no distractions. All you need is 10 minutes to start with, with perhaps 5-6 minutes of peace in total while you are learning control and technique.
I would also strongly advise that you see your GP to be referred for some talk Therapy. Everyone should do all they can to maintain or improve their mental wellbeing.

Dave.

Also, I had a CT scan done around a year ago and it wasn't picked up then? But the MRI a few weeks ago picked it up? Does that mean it grew in that short of a time? That just started freaking me out thinking about.. Isn't that strange or just me?

I'll come over to General Conditions so everything can be kept in one Thread.

Dave.

Here is a good link with the skinny on pineal cysts:

http://radiopaedia.org/articles/pineal-cyst

Although I don't have a pineal gland cyst, I understand the anxiety. Several years ago I was told (before the days of Google, my age is showing) over the phone by a neurologist after a head MRI that I have "a brain tumor on your pituitary gland and I will see you on or next scheduled appointment in three weeks." She refused to give me other information at the time. I was a wreak to put it mildly. It turns out that I do have a benign cyst, sometimes referred to in the medical field as a "tumor," but it is benign (not cancerous or growing). This cyst has been rediscovered a few times over the years and I'm not sure if it has caused me any of my neurological problems as I've had a stroke(s) too, but I can tell you that twenty plus years later it is not any worse than it was. As hard as it is to hear this (just like telling a depressed person to "snap out of it", not so easily done), try to live your life the best you can with what you have, even if not functioning on all cylinders. I know it doesn't take the worry away, but the more you practice at making the best out of what you have, almost microscopic improvements will happen until one day you will be able to look back and say "I'm better than I was then." Meditation does help, tho it takes practice. Hang in there, and know you have friends here.