Does anybody else get dizzy?

[azarrah]

Hi all, hope you're doing well at the end of a busy year!

Ever since I had the panic attack which triggered my anxiety, I've had bouts of dizziness, with varying levels of severity. Sometimes it's constant and at a low level, like I just feel a bit off-kilter. Other times it rises up suddenly and I have to sit down, because the whole world begins to spin. To be clear, it's not a spaced-out kind of dizziness, but rather a vertigo-type thing. Actually, when I first came to uni, I was under a lot of stress subconsciously, and I really did have full-on vertigo for the first couple of weeks. I know the dizziness is caused by anxiety, but it's extremely annoying. It doesn't seem to correlate with times or more or less stress, or even with my (occasional) panic attacks - it just seems totally random, which makes it more irritating.

Anyway, I'd love to know if anybody else has similar experiences. I would also be interested to know the more scientific explanation, if there is one. I hope I'm not the only person who feels this way!

azarrah

(For reference, I am currently not seeing a psychologist as it made no sense to try so close to the end of semester, when I will be moving. That's a job for once I'm back home! I would like to, though).

[blondguy]

Hi Azzarah

You have written a great post and thankyou!

The dizziness is very very common where anxiety disorder is concerned. I was 23 with my first mega anxiety attack and was dizzy for a long time afterwards....on and off for a while. Dizziness is common with anxiety as our adrenaline is pumping so hard we feel 'lightheaded' prior to and after a period of anxiety.

Pumping adrenaline consumes a huge amount of our mental energy and will make us feel dizzy or very dizzy..

The good news is that the dizzy feeling is just another anxiety feeling....even though it feels awful of course...

I was a bit of a jerk and didnt see my doc for a few years of having the same dizziness. She told me all about my anxiety (in many visits) and I realised that I was actually frightened of the anxiety feelings.....(dog chasing its tail)

Like you mentioned you are so close to the end of your semester....you have a lot on your mind at this time of year and your dizziness (anxiety) doesnt have to have a reason or a common denominator......Looking for a reason or a trigger will only exacerbate any anxiety..

The best 'clinical' explanation of anxiety I have studied was by Dr Claire Weekes in her book 'Self help for your Nerves'...Claire Weekes was a psychiatrist that also had anxiety disorder. Its only a small paperback but has been sold in dozens of languages for many years. She passed away a few years ago but her anti-anxiety books are a gift and will dissipate anxiety to a much lower level of intensity.

I hope some of this has been of help Azzarah 🙂

Great to see you on the forums as always

My Kind thoughts

Paul

[Yana8216]

Hi Azarrah
I feel light headed and have trouble focusing/concentrating especially in times of stress. All health tests have revealed my physical health is perfect, the light headedness etc is purely a symptom of my anxiety. I sometimes have these symptoms at times when I wouldn't expect to be anxious, but on closer examination I can see how there were some stress triggers at the time. A recent holiday has given my brain a welcome rest! Symptoms returned now I am back home, but are lessor . Hope your symptoms ease soon.

[azarrah]

Hi Paul and Yana,

Thanks so much for your responses. It's good to confirm I'm not the only one, although I'm sorry you've also experienced this! I'm pleased that your symptoms have subsided, Yana - and that gives me hope, also.

Thank you very much for the book recommendation and explanation, Paul. I'll definitely check out the book, looks like a good one.

[Daveo77]

I am currently suffering with this I had an issue some years ago with dizziness and light headedness accompanied by feelings of dread and fear. Doctor put me on some light meds. took them for a while and weaned off about 18 months ago as seemed to be Ok on doctors advice. symptoms have returned just recently the last couple of weeks possibly due to the pace of life, issues with life as it comes at you, work, homelife no time to self or quality time to spend with loved ones. blood pressure checked recently and it is up a bit to much.Today woke up cried in the shower because i felt like I needed to then felt great all morning come midday dizziness tearful and feeling like I would faint cried again in toilets at work and now back at desk feeling slightly better. Sorry this is all just running out of me as i have not time to tell the story concisely just needed to get it out there. Seeing the doctor monday to tell this to. Anyway Cheers

[KittyCat17]

Yes! Dizziness is one of the scarier symptoms I get from anxiety. Like you, I sometimes just have a low level dizziness that just makes me feel a bit weird but other times I will be speaking to people and feel I need to sit down.

I have been advised that it could possibly be to not breathing full enough. When we are anxious and our sympathetic nervous system or "flight or fight" response is to breath shallower and therefore we arent getting enough oxygen into our body which could cause dizziness. During these periods I try to make sure I take a couple of long deep breathes which usually helps.

Another factor is muscle tension. I was having a lot of dizziness and I went to a physio who said I had a lot of neck, shoulder and back tension, another thing probably caused by my anxiety. Once I had some treatment on those tight muscles the tension has eased there and the dizziness subsided. I just have to make sure I go get a treatment every 8 or so weeks to ease the muscle tension.

Anyway there are just some things I learnt throughout my anxiety and may be of use to you 🙂