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Mental Health > Anxiety and Stress Forum > Anyone Know About Chronic Dizziness Related to Anxiety?? (Page 1)
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Q: Anyone Know About Chronic Dizziness Related to Anxiety??
asked by: emilybug on November 19th, 2005
New User
Hi there,

i've had an on and off sypmtom of dizziness for the last 9 months after a death in the family.
I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this?
I've looked all over the medical sites and dizziness & vertigo are always described differently than what i've been feeling and relate to other conditions and have other associted sypmtoms (that I don't have).
Its not a spinning sensation or losing my balance. I feel that I am walking on a dock or boat and the ground is floating up and down. Its mild but I feel it all the time. I also have a lot of neck and shoulder tension. I feel like this could be related but all medical text seems to discuss inner ear infections and things that don't seem to be the case. I don't presently have other sypmtoms that would indicate another disease, except anxiety!
If anyone has felt this and has more info from doc or other, could you please fill me in.

Thank you in advance !!
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Replies(23)
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pinksalter
replied on November 20th, 2005
Experienced User
Hi there i`m not sure if this is what your feeling but i`ll tell you what I feel and what I know.

I have the feeling like i`m detached from myself, like i`m not really here or invisible and sort of like the floating feeling you have. This is caused by anxiety and can go away. I think what makes it worse is when you focus on it, it seems to get worse and then you panic about it even more which keeps the cycle going.

As it`s anxiety related it will go away when your anxiety levels decrease. The dizziness that you are experiencing could be due to this as the anxiety has caused your brain to function on a different level of conciousness along with this ringing in the ears is common.

Hope this helps
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LITTLE LISA
replied on November 22nd, 2005
New User
Well said pinksalter!!!!

Yep it sure is anxiety!!!!!!

I myself have suffered from anxiety, panic attacks, depersonalisation and derealisation since I were 6 im now 27!!!!!!

Its only recently its been diagnosed ...... Thats enough about me sorry lol I get carried away
yeah seriously it is anxiety
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emilybug
replied on November 23rd, 2005
New User
Hi,

thanks for your responses. I think what i'm feeling is a bit different and may be caused more my the neck tension and tmj (jaw problems) caused by stress and anxiety rather than the panic or anxiety itself.
I've had the kind of dizziness you've described when i'm having a panic attack. I figure this is normal (yet disturbing) part of anxiety.

What i'm concerned about is this new thing i've had for 9 months now. It feels like i'm walking on a flaoating dock. The groud waves up and down. I don't feel depersonalaized.
I think it must be realted to the tension and pain in my neck.
Has anyone felt this?

Take care guys!!
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edwie
replied on November 27th, 2005
New User
There's Something You Can Do...
Hi emily,

i've suffered from the same thing for about 8 weeks now. It's not like i'm going to faint or feel nausea, but sometimes I feel like my eyes go out of place and my legs are weak. It's not disabling, but it's certainly uncomfortable.

It happened when I had a stress breakdown over a diagnosis. Fortunately I was fine. Emotionally I was not able to handle so much stress, so I kind of collapsed. I had attacks of anxiety that provoked extreme fatigue, depression and the dizziness you describe.

But I can say that I am recovering slowly. A month ago, the symptoms were much worse. I decided to go to a natural health doctor, and he put me on a nutritional treatment. It has helped me wonders with my fatigue (now down about 70%), my anxiety and stress.

My recommendation: find a place that offers neuromuscular therapy... It consists on pressing on certain trigger points on your body and it's amazing for stress, anxiety, tension, muscular pain and similar. I know it has worked for me. I've had three sessions already, still three more to go.

Not everyone responds the same to treatments, but based on my experience I believe it can help you feel much better.
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madge
replied on November 27th, 2005
New User
Dizzy Spell
On thanksgiving morning as I was waking up, I had a dizzy spell then vomited twice...Friday and saturday I was find but felt a little lightheaded...
Now this evening I went to lay down on my bed and got that feeling again.Not the actual dizzy spell but as if one was coming on..
This had never happened before, i'm wondering if its stress related... :( :(
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emilybug
replied on November 28th, 2005
New User
Madge, it could be stress. If you are also feeling anxious or have had a recent stressful event.
You might want to see a doc if it persists. Dizzy spells with nausea could also be related to inner ear infection. There are quite a few things it could be but stress seems likely if thats your main symptom.

All:
thanks again everyone for reading my original question and for your responses! Much appreciated.
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madge
replied on November 28th, 2005
New User
Stress
I think your right friends have said could be my job stress..But I will have it checked out...I exercised today and felt a bit better but its when I lay down that my head spins a bit...I had a terrible nights sleep last night ...I put a hot compress in the back of my neck...To see if that will help until doc takes me for appointment...
Thanks again...Any more input please let me know!
Madge!
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nmmcghee
replied on March 12th, 2006
New User
I Feel Like Someone Has Pushed My Head to the Floor!
I have suffered from anxiety for many years. About once every quarter I get this burning sensation that runs up into my head and a feeling like someone is pushing me to the ground. Almost as if I am going to pass out. After the episode, I become very tired and want to sleep. Sometimes it causes ringing in my ears when it begins. It happened yesterday and along with it I had a headache. I went to get something to eat and as soon as I began to eat I had the dizziness and it scared me.

My doctors say it's anxiety. I've been through many tests and they all say I am fine. It's almost like you want them to find something to bring closure to why this is happening.

Does anyone else get this feeling?
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sophira
replied on March 12th, 2006
New User
Emily, I know exactly what you are talking about! It is anxiety, but it took me forever to narrow it down to that. I, too, think it has to do with neck/head/jaw tension. I have a ton of that pretty much all the time, and almost everyday I have moments of "floating," where it feels like the ground isn't quite right. I don't think i've ever fallen or anything because of it, and there's no nausea associated with it. But pretty much anytime it happens (which was all the time after my dad died last year) you can bet that a really good neck or shoulder rub will help some. (gee, where the heck can I get one of those??)

a long while ago, I went to the doctor about it. He gave me motion sickness pills that did absolutely nothing. :roll:

anyway, if you do find a good way to relieve this symptom, let me know :s the best advice I have is massage, and it's hard to find, not cheap, and doesn't work for all that long.
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girly2006
replied on March 12th, 2006
Experienced User
Hey! My cousin's dad died last year and a few months after she had vertigo and fell on the floor once from it and also numbness in her arms and legs sometimes! Everythign turned out perfectly normal but she went to the doc and they like put something in her ear and she was fine ! I don't know what it was but ask your doctor!!!!!!
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dfbarnes
replied on March 13th, 2006
New User
I have those same dizzy feelings on and off, I went to many doctors, who all said it was anxiety. They gave me zanax, which took it away. I used .25 milligrams three times a day (whether I needed it or not), for 4 days, then I was feeling better.
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dfbarnes
replied on March 13th, 2006
New User
Does anyone get the dizziness feeling more in the afternoon than the morning?
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Bek
replied on March 15th, 2006
Experienced User
Mine is in the morning way more then at night. At night I have no symptoms ever!
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durangobluz
replied on September 7th, 2006
New User
Yes, I get more of the dizziness in the afternoon....Usually in the mornings I feel ok, but then later in the day I start to feel like im walking on a dock....Then I get the sharp shooting headache in the back of my head...
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Kategr818
replied on September 21st, 2006
New User
Vertigo & Anxiety
I completley know what everyone is experiencing. About 3 months ago I experienced vertigo. I came home from work, sat down and the room started to spin, I was sweating, I couldn't see and I had to hold onto the wall just to keep my balance to get to the bathroom where I thought I was going to vomit. After that happened, I started to get so anxious about this happening again. What if this happend at work? Or if I was out to dinner? This fear of vertigo was diagnosed as general anxiety disorder and panic disorder. I would get at least one horrible panic attack a week, one of which lasted for 7 hours and landed me in the er because, as we all do, I convinced myself I was dying. I was prescribed celexa, which I only took for a week because it made me feel sick. I then got prescribed prozac. It made me crazy. I had constant horrible anxiety, my heart was constantly beating rapidly, my mind wouldn't stop racing, I was getting panic attacks daily...It was a nightmare. I was missing a lot of work and becoming agoraphobic. I didn't want to leave my house at all, even going on a quick errand by myself sent me into a complete panic. I couldn't even go out on my past birthday, we got to the restaurant and I convinced myself that I was going to faint or vomit and had to go home, and we did. Needless to say, against my doctors will, I weened myself off the prozac. Well now, 3 months later, the only symptom I still have is difficulty breathing, which I am learning to cope with using tai-chi, an ancient technique that greatly improves breathing. The only advice for everyone out there suffering with this is that you have to realize you are fine. These are all "feelings" and you have to learn to leave it at that. You may "feel" like you are going to faint or vomit or have a heart attack but you are not. In all of your lives how many times have you done something like that? Maybe once? So now why all of a sudden would it start to happen every time you are out in public? Distractions are necessary, they are what got me through the toughest of times and attacks! I didn't think I had any stress or anxiety in my life either but my body was telling me otherwise. Slow down, try not to worry so much, and try some yoga and tai-chi. Good luck everyone!
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deedee22
replied on November 27th, 2006
New User
Yep! Happens to me all the time. I got it at work and I knew it was anxiety but now I dread going to work because I don't want it to happen. Like today before work I stared to get all dizzy so I called in sick. About an hour later I felt fine again. Its really wierd how the mind works
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cvimag
replied on May 23rd, 2008
New User
weird sensation
I sort of understand what some of you are feeling. I woke up one morning and the room started to spin. It lasted all day and i felt lightheaded for a few days after. Ever since for the past 3 years, I have had this weird feeling of diziness everyday all the time. It's not actually turning. It's like if it's going to start. I also feel like I am walking on a boat or if the wind is blowing hard and I tip right or left. I also feel disconnected from my body...I don't like to read anymore it seem to make it worst. I do feel stiff in the neck and jaw.

I don't know if this is anxiety or not but I do know that I am dead afraid of the it getting worst or the room starting to spin. I wish I knew what to do...I have been seeing specialist and no one know what it is. (they found brain lesions but say it's not related....)

My "diziness" gets worst as the day goes. The later it is the worst it is. The louder it is the worst it is and if the light are dim it's also worst....

If it is stress, what to do???
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eeyore46
replied on May 23rd, 2008
Experienced User
Have any of you been checked for Menier's Disease?
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Intheshadows
replied on May 24th, 2008
New User
Hi! I actually have both anxiety problems and chronic ear problems.
A few years ago I was feeling so bad all the time. NO ear pain but I was very dizzy, tired, disoriented, trouble with focus and concentration and a bit sick to my stomach all the time. Afraid of the worst, I put off going to the doctor for months. Till one day at work all I could do was put my head down on my desk and could barely lift it up again. All I wanted to do was lay down! I felt so so bad! My husband came and got me rushed me to the doctor. Tearfully I described to the doctor how bad i felt, fearing the bunches or test then bad news i just knew was coming. BUT NO, without hesitation he quickly diagnosed me as having an inner ear infection. I told him my ears didn't bother me at all. With doubt & very discouraged I took the prescription for antibiotics he gave me and I'll be darned! Within just a few days I was feeling better than I had in months! He was right!

I told a lady I worked with about all this and she said a fews years ago she collapsed with with left side paralysis! Stroke right? Nope it too was an inner ear infection.

My point is don't toss out the idea of inner ear problems right away. It could be just that simple.

It might be the anxiety (which seems to come with a million different symptoms), but it would be a lot easier to get rid of if it's just the ears.
Good luck to you! I hope you feel much better soon Smile
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