Dizziness is common among anxious people. In fact, researchers have found a definite link between persistent dizziness and anxiety. This is particularly true if you have a history of panic attacks.
Anxiety related dizziness comes in many different forms and can range from annoying to downright terrifying. It can make you feel like the room is spinning, like you’re off balance, or like you might fall down. At the height of my anxiety I experienced this symptom a lot and often felt like I was walking on a boat.
I remember on one night in particular things got so bad that I literally staggered across my living room and fell onto my couch. When I landed I closed my eyes tight to prevent the dizziness from getting worse.
For some people this might not sound like a big deal, but tell that to someone that feels dizzy all the time. It’s actually pretty distressing. Most people take their sense of balance for granted, but you can easily become flooded with fear when experiencing dizziness.
Anxiety related dizziness can also be made worse by movement. For example, when I used to get onto elevators everything would be fine until it was time to get off. As soon as I stepped out I often felt like I was still moving and would have to take a seat until the feeling passed.
Because this issue is so common I thought it would be helpful to produce a podcast all about anxiety related dizziness. So in this week’s episode of The Anxiety Guru Show I explore the cause of anxiety related dizziness and the one very specific thing you can do to decrease it.
Listen to The Anxiety Guru Show…
To listen, you can click the play button below or visit the AG iTunes page.
Paul – As usual – your latest podcast has really spoken to me. We have talked in our coaching sessions about my dizziness and my fear (read: SHEER TERROR) of dizziness. It is the basis for my panic attacks. Over the past several weeks I have been struggling terribly with anxiety. I have struggled with feeling “off-balance” for many years and have been given a clean bill of health. But, when I am having an anxious stretch, I feel “off-balance”. And like you said in your podcast, movement and motion make it worse. This time around I have put it to the test. When I have begun to feel “off-balance”, I lay down and meditate for about 20 minutes. EACH AND EVERY time, the “off-balance/dizzy” sensation has passed completely. I am slowly beginning to see that I DO have some control. I am trying to really be focused and patient and cannot tell you enough how thankful I am for your podcasts – MOST ESPECIALLY this one on dizziness – it truly helps to make me feel like my “off-balance” isn’t some horrible inner ear disease…it is just anxiety and I WILL gain control over it! : ) Thanks so much!!
Hi Lara! So glad that you enjoyed the podcast. Your description of laying down and meditating is a perfect example of how simple things can help us regain a sense of control. This is crucial when it comes to long-term recovery as it builds confidence in your ability to deal with symptoms like dizziness. Lara 1 – Anxiety 0.
Paul,
Thanks for this podcast! Very informative. This very topic really hits home. My first (and thankfully only) panic attack was triggered by dizziness. Since the panic attack, I was highly sensitive to my thoughts and physical feelings. 3 Months later, i’m doing much better thanks to local counseling and your podcasts. I still visit your site and listen to your podcasts because the topic in itself is very interesting! I always learn something, thanks Paul and good luck with your studies.
Ah yes, the dreaded dizziness. How I love thee…okay, no I don’t but it is what it is.
I’ve had the vertigo/dizziness/off-balance feeling for over 2 years now. Not a day goes by without it. I had tests done in December 2014 to see if I had BPPV, which is what I was diagnosed with when I went to the ER in 2013, and it came back negative (although the tests caused the worse dizziness I’ve ever felt.) Obviously, I asked my doctor what was wrong, and he told me that it could be caused by too much salt (which causes the tubes in your ear to clog up.) I haven’t researched it but I’ll take it for what it’s worth. “Decrease your salt intake” was is recommendation, so I’ve tried.
Today, I feel off-balanced, just like Paul describes it (being on a boat.) Do I think stress and anxiety has to do with it? I do. Am I doing something to address the “dizziness” itself? Well, I do yoga, meditate, and I have seen some “improvement”. Am I frustrated about it? Sure am, but I persevere.
This was a great podcast because it deals with my biggest issue right now. I guess I have to practice what I preach and just do it.
Thanks Paul and good luck with your exam.
Arturo
Great podcast! I had a massive panic attack about 7 weeks ago and had off balance feeling since. Just went and did vestubular tests and all was normal. Anyone else have constant off balance feeling for weeks? Wondering too if ssri would help. Been getting CBT and doing much better except for this physical symptom! For me to even go get these tests was a huge step!
Hi Margie – Yes! I have had the off balance feeling for years and years, off and on. I too have had the vestibular/neurologic tests done and all was normal. I went to the neurologist last week and he is suggesting SSRI – thinks it is definitely PSYCHOGENIC DIZZINESS. So far, I am still very off balance but, am hopeful. I am sorry to hear that you are suffering with this but, I have to say – it feels good to know that i am not the only one out there who feels like this. It is scary and lonely and just miserable! I hope you are feeling better. Take Care.
@Lara- have you ever tried vestibular therapy? They suggested it to me at the vestubular tests. This is the 2nd bout I’ve had with it. The last time was about 7 years ago. Although at that time I didn’t associate it with anxiety at all. Last a few months. Please let me know if the ssri works!
Have been having epic dizziness for a week or so now. Really giving me the irrits. Like I’m riding a wave the whole day long (or at least when I stand up). Sometimes it’s just a little one footer, other times it seems to be a tsunami.
One thing I do notice, however, when I’m dizzy I also have neck pain or tension, so I wonder whether the dizziness is actually the result of the neck tension (possibly the tension is putting pressure on the blood vessels and restricting ever so slightly the amount of blood being delivered to le brain). Just a thought.
I have suffered with Anxiety and “dizziness” most of my life. But my constant “dizziness” feels more like I’m light-headed (most of the time). A light-headed , like I’m floating feeling. Not Vertigo, room spinning-dizziness. Does anyone else feel light-headed? I hate this feeling, I’ve had 2 MRI’S of the brain, they are normal.
What is a vestibule test? what does this test for? I have normal to low BP.( 90/60, sometimes 85-50) This is not the cause of my light-headed. Thank you for any responses..
Marie
I have these sympthoms mostly when standing and standing still makes it worse can it really be anxiety
I have been an anxious person for most of my life. I think that there might be a need to distinguish dizziness from the spaciness that many anxiety sufferers experience. Dizziness is when the room is spinning out of control round and round. Many of times there is a physical reason for this like fluid in the ears, etc. However, there is this spaciness that happens when you are so overwhelmed with anxiety that you feel like your reality is almost suspended. Its like your head feels like its full of air or like you are looking at your environment through some fog. For me, when I first developed anxiety, this spacy feeling stayed with me for almost two years daily and even now still comes and goes occasionally. It was persistent because I did not know what it was and it scared me. Like with most anxiety symptoms, the more we fear it, the more it persists. This link is one of the best explanations of the feelings we all tend to get with anxiety and it helped me out so much. The best thing that you can do to alleviate it is to go about your daily routine. Its just another symptom of anxiety that will go away when YOU FLOAT with it. When we give it more attention, it persists because it is a response to overwhelming thinking and catastrophizing. I hope this helps.
https://www.lucindabassett-truthbetold.com/moving-forward-out-of-depersonalization/
Hello this is the first time I have listened to your podcast. I really enjoyed it and I have had every symptom one can have with anxiety. And of course dizzines is one but I was listening for one thing which was did you ever get long term relief which I mean like have you gotten relief for years and I’m guessing what I’m asking have you kicked it for goodinner I know own everyone is different cause everyone is different I had terrible anxiety my first year of college second semester with a instant unexpected headache and dizziness. Long story short. It lastedoesn’t 7 months and I was anxiety free for 2 years and just relapsed for the last 8 months and am struggling to find hope. You seem so collected and confident which rubbed of on me a little its a good feeling. So im just wondering have you got rid of the dizziness?
I started feeling off balance about 6 months ago, I have been to a neurologist and had MRI of brain and spine, CT scan of sinus and brain, and tons of blood work. My scans were all normal, the only thing I have is low thyroid and low iodine. The docs have ruled out inner ear and all other things associated with the ear. They have ruled out anything with brain as well. I have asked every doctor that I have gone to, “Could this be anxiety?” and they all say it is possible, but would not occur all the time…so I have tried various vitamins and take .25mg Xanax per day, but nothing helps. I am so debilitated. I have noticed my vision is decreasing too, so I wondered if my balance problems were related to my eyes, but my eye doctor said it would not. I really need to know if there is anything I can do on my own, or any suggestions? I just want a diagnosis and it is hard to accept that it could be anxiety after 6 months. It seems to be not as bad when I am outside walking, the off balance is worse inside stores and buildings. Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you.
hi..i have same symptoms..feeling lightheaded and off balance everytime..it was 3weeks from now..im just remembered 1month ago that like im suffering panic attack and anxiety like all symptoms in me.sweaty feet and hand.some time cold.pumping heart.feel like nervous and anything..because im here now working in saudi.maybe because of my stress also..i have no rest.working all day..and my worrying about my family and children get more worst..and i start this feeling..i dont know..but i try to control it..i plan to travel back in philippine to take some relax and rest next month..but as of now i always feel off balance.every morning i drink a cup of tea with a pinch of lemon.it little helps to relax..u can try..
Does anyone else have trouble driving at higher speeds. I have not been driving long distance now for over ten years due to tge lightheaded thing. 😞
Is it curable? Had this one symptom for years before having a panic attack at traffic lights. Now i have a driving in busy traffic phobia.
Ashley…i would try relaxation therapy everyday for half an hour…just to see if it decreases the lightheaded feeling. I also have suffered with this for years. It has got better with time…was so much worse years ago..but it still interferes with driving which sucks.
I have light headed off balance heavy head sensations after each panic attack usually lasting 1 – 2 weeks and typically worse the week before and first couple of days of my menstrual cycle. Panic attacks occasionally occcur for no apparent reason but usually occur when driving at high speeds or in windy conditions. Begin with tense neck and shoulders, sweaty hands, shakey with spacy feeling, then numb tingly jaw, or arms or legs, then sort of a dizzy feeling then a brain zap. If I’m driving I have to pull over and calm down or have a little cry to ease the anxiety and get rid of the excess adrenalin. The high speed or high winds trigger the initial anxiety and as I am terrified of passing out while driving or loosing control of the car this triggers the panic. Then for the next few days or up to1 – 2 weeks I feel off balance especially when turning or looking up.
Then it passes until next time.
I’m only reading this now and its June, 2017 but came across these comments and just to know others are going thru this made me somewhat feel better.
I have had anxiety/panic attacks starting with a job I had that was very stressful and altho I don’t work there anymore, the anxiety always re-occurs. Another comment I was glad to read was that the more you think about the lightheadedness and dizziness, the more it happens. Like that saying, the mind is a powerful thing. “it” seems to know you’re worrying about it, and it happens more.
My one thing to add….sometimes when I read, I get the dizziness too…or walking thru a store…guess that falls under movement makes it worse.
it does pass….and I find when im involved with something, a movie, a conversation, or talking on the phone, it passes. The thought of going to the doctor for this gives me anxiety, also, as I think in my mind I have some rare disease….but reality is, it all falls under anxiety…am I a mess or what?
Hello Paul! I stumbled across your podcast in my google search of my symptoms of this vertigo feelings. I’ve had one symptom I have became obsessed over after another. My symptoms have become more consistent over the past 3 months. My grandmothers passing really took a tole on me emotionally and I assume physically since I have these sensations. I’ve always been an anxious and mildly depressed person but I feel my grandmothers death took me over the edge. I do have a couple of doctors appointments coming up that I’m a bit nervous about. I had an Echo and EKG a couple weeks back but I have not gotten results back. I was wondering about my symptoms being a bit diffent because I feel the vertical whether I’m sitting laying walking or standing… some positions are more pronounced than others though.
I would be interested in hearing your feedback after reading my comment.
Thank You!
Hi All
I have the same problem. at first, i thought i was the only one in the world to feel this way. I had an MRI done, inner ear test and blood tests done, and everything came out positive. My doctor decided to put me on 10mg of Lexapro and i have been on it since December 2016. So far so good, the dizziness gradually went away and i became more confident to do things on my own, take on new projects and do everything a normal 26 year old would do. However, there were only 2 instances (both after my period started – and lasted for about 2 weeks) that i have felt dizzy, i felt the life was drained out of me, and was constantly dizzy and faint and DO NOT EVEN MENTION MALLS OR BUILDINGS, they made me feel whoosy and dizzy all the time, i don’t know why.
The best thing you can do for yourself is be brave, even if you are dizzy, go out and do things on your own. I know its hard getting off the couch or putting clothes on, but if you do it, you win one over the dizziness.
My friend told me eating whole foods will also help as it is pure nutrition, it will regenerate your cells and eventually replace the damaged cells and replenish your body. I don’t know how much of this is true but i am willing to give it a try as I do want to feel better. I am constantly on a dizziness and anxiety phase and i would give anything to feel “normal” again.
Good afternoon,
My father (who is presently 83) has been complaining of dizziness on and off for many years. The past 6 months have however been his worst – to the point that we had no choice but to admit him to a Frail Care facility in a Retirement Village on Wednesday this week ! Up until 5 weeks ago, he was still VERY independent : driving, working a few hours a week, cooking, doing errands for us etc etc. then it suddenly got worse and he became dizzy 24 hours a day , 7 days a week ! He became incapable of doing anything on his own and required a nurse 24 hours a day. He has had every test and scan that you can imagine and is otherwise 100% healthy except for arthritis in both knees. Now the constant dizziness combined with his arthritis means that he can barely walk or even move unassisted. For several weeks and up until this past Saturday (strangely enough??), he was having anything between 10 & 20 panic attacks per day & per night ! Lasting only for about 5 seconds each time ! No doctor or specialist has to date been able to give us an accurate medical answer – they have only been prescribing medication which in turn made his dizziness even worse. For the first 6 months of 2017 he was mostly completely alone, my mother passed away 5 years ago, he is no longer working full time and was instead constantly worrying about us his children and our kids (his grandchildren). We have stopped ALL medication I am 100% convinced that it is anxiety related and I will pursue further research on my own – thanks to everybody’s feedback. We are also hoping that his new environment will be conducive to his improvement, his general well being and with full time nursing care contribute positively to a drastic drop in his levels of worry and anxiety. Thanks everybody for your input….
I came across this site by just simply googling “unbalanced feelings related to anxiety”. This unbalance feeling for me usually happens before my menstrual cycle but only lasts a day or two. This time around, it started for me on August 25, so bad it was making me nauseous sitting at my desk at work I had to leave. I have not gone to the doctor yet (as it freaks me out more/extra anxiety). I had a similar episode about two years ago where I felt dizzy and short breathed for a month, went to the doctors got tests done and everything was fine, and I was told it was anxiety or stress. I quit the job I was at then, and felt a lot better. Now I am in a whole different job environment and believe it is stressing me out the same way (along with planning a wedding). I feel unbalanced almost all day, some moments worse than others, and feel amazing when I lay down or sit. This feeling has literally drained me of all my energy and all I want to do is sleep. Does anyone else feel this exact way?
Thank you!!
Martyx,
Hi. I certainly do feel this same way, in the whole hormonal interplay myself ( I;m in the longest menopause transition ever). Hormones are a bitch, to be sure. Paul has an article and podcast on perimenopause
that has been invaluable to me.
This dizziness that I have been experiencing comes in waves , sometimes daily. There is something beyond disconcerting about the swirly sensations that overtake, especially when I;m moving.
I am getting further away from the knee-jerk reaction of self-blame and self-checking whensymptoms arise . I cant tell you how much i can relate, albeit loosely perhaps. The past few years have been such a whirlwind of many things good and not-so that my inner voice of self compassion has taken on the tonality of beratement. (never helpful. Moreover NEVER TRUE).
what helps me is to keep going through anyway. No matter what bodily symptoms arise. I tell myself ” Keep going. You know this goes away.) And I do. I try through gritted teeth to not start examining the content of my thinking in that moment. Sometimes I am successful at that. I redirect the thoughts onto something humorous, mildly self deprecating..just to break the cycle.
I think that at particularly high stress times in life, all things within our body are on alert. Sounds like you have an array of great changes coming up. Happy ones. Planning a wedding is a huge deal.
I know I do not have any precise directives to offer, as I feel we all ahve to formulate and stick to our own customized recovery plan.
I had a ” mini-meltdown spazz” the other day when i realized winter is coming, and my excersize routine would have to be altered dramatically ( i walk ten miles a day). So, the future thinking entered , I catatstrophized …and got all maudlin for 5 minutes. Then I baked a cheesecake and took myself out of my head. Occupation helps immensely..Movement even more. Facing the eye of the storm. In this case, moving when dizzy is a big coup even if you have to come back to the activity that made you stop.
Paul has a wealth of concise knowledge on here. Check out that article on Perimenopause.
Very Best to You,
Shell F.
This was great to come by (googled dizziness from anxiety). I have had this for 3 years about. Started with a panic attack during a bad dream at night. Not that I like that anyone else feels this way, but good to know I am not alone…..I was on celexa, and it helped with the panic attacks, but could never shake the “off” feeling.
Wendell Kendricks. I am suffering from
Anxiety and depression. Can that make it harder to sleep I have developed a phobia on sleep. Where can I get help.