TW: Mention of mental health issues including self-harm. 

Hello, all. 

About every six to seven months or so since around May of 2019, I’ve been getting a period of about two weeks where I’ll have an almost constant painful feeling on my arms, legs, and face which is comparable to a mild sunburn, sometimes hot pins and needles, and sometimes even an “icy-hot” type feeling, as if I’d just applied that type of
product to my skin. I have no rash and no other problems other than this. These short periods always start out the same way - first, one side of my nose will start to get that feeling, like a sunburn but with no visible redness or tenderness. Immediately following this feeling, I will be extremely fatigued and Ill usually have to lie down afterwards. After maybe three or four days, the fatigue goes away but the feeling spreads to my arms and legs. Does anyone have any idea what is going on here? Is this just a result of anxiety, and has anyone else experienced this, or is there something else going on here which I should be concerned about?

Extra background info: Relatively healthy 20-year-old, 5’11, 230-ish lbs, no history of diabetes, strokes, neurological disease, or anemia. Maternal grandmother died of a heart attack in her late 50’s, maternal grandfather died of pancreatic cancer in his mid 70’s. Diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in 2012. No formal diagnosis of any specific anxiety disorder, but I do suffer from it quite often, and the aforementioned physical feeling that I get only increases my anxiety and hypochondria. I don’t currently work around any hazardous chemicals, agents, or cleansers. Only history with skin problems was eczema which cleared up almost entirely around 2010 or so. No history of significant head trauma. I vape often, no cigarettes, alcohol, or non-prescription drugs. Went through a short period of about 5 or 6 months of smoking marijuana often in 2019, haven’t touched it since then. Took non-prescription Vyvanse once in 2019. Never tried any other recreational drugs. Last time I drank any type of alcohol was about 4 months ago - but I do it very rarely, only on occasion. Prescription drugs include Zoloft 200mg daily for OCD and anxiety. Long history of mental illness in family - maternal grandfather dealt with unmedicated anxiety most of his life. Father committed suicide at age 42. Older brother deals with anxiety and also takes medication. I can’t remember which brand, but it’s some type of MAOI. I have never contemplated suicide or self-harm. 

Pain level of sunburn feeling is, on its worst days, probably a 5/10, 10 being the most severe. Though the pain could be worse, my anxiety makes it seem so much worse than it actually is. I’m afraid I have some kind of deadly disease or something.

Any other information will be provided if you need it! Has anyone else experienced anything like this due to anxiety? How did you cope with it?

Thanks for the help!