Tick Talk: Lesser-Known Warning Signs of Tick-Borne Illness You Can't Miss

Lisette Marie

7. Phantom Itch & Crawling Skin: Sensations Without a Source

Young woman scratching itchy skin on her arm. Photo Credit: Envato @drazenphoto

Imagine an unrelenting itch with no visible rash, or the bizarre sensation of insects crawling on or under your skin (formication). These unsettling paresthesias can be a lesser-known neurological manifestation of certain tick-borne illnesses. The skin might look perfectly normal, yet these phantom sensations persist, causing significant distress. If you're experiencing these tactile hallucinations, particularly if accompanied by other strange symptoms, it's a clue worth discussing with a doctor familiar with tick-borne diseases.

8. Sudden Mood Storms: Emotions Hijacked

Serious young girl looking at camera outdoors. Close up of worried earnest woman. Photo Credit: Envato @CarlosBarquero

If you or a loved one experiences abrupt and uncharacteristic shifts in emotional well-being – like a sudden onset of intense anxiety, unprovoked irritability, bouts of inexplicable tearfulness, or a general feeling of being emotionally "off" – it could be more than just stress. Some tick-borne illnesses can inflame the brain and disrupt neurotransmitter balance, leading to these "mood storms." When such changes are out of character and coincide with other potential exposure signs, they warrant deeper investigation.

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7. Phantom Itch & Crawling Skin: Sensations Without a Source

8. Sudden Mood Storms: Emotions Hijacked

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