Is my dizziness/vertigo due to anxiety?

Posted , 5 users are following.

About three months ago, I woke up with vertigo. I visited a doctor who told me there was nothing wrong with me and that the vertigo was probably due to labyrinthitis. That same night, I went to the ER due to a vertigo attack. Once again, I was told that there was nothing wrong and that I was having anxiety attacks. 

In the next three months, the vertigo (spinning) stopped, but I was left with an off-balance sensation, like I was going to fall to one side. I also had a rocking/swaying feeling. 

Those symptoms almost went away completely for a week. However, the vertigo suddenly came back a few days ago. I am feeling off-balance again. I have not visited the doctor, but I am extremely on edge because I am worried that there is something seriously wrong with me. I keep waking up with jaw pain and tense muscles.

Is this really anxiety? I really need some answers.

 

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • Posted

    Vanessa,

    I suffer from both Vertigo and Anxiety attacks. I can tell you for me when I get vertigo it usually brings on a anxiety attack. I have maxillifacial pain from clenching my jaw (stress) and get jaw, neck, head pain.. 

    For me, they are all linked.  Hope this helps!  

    • Posted

      Thank you!

      It really does help to know that I am not alone in this smile

  • Posted

    Hi you remind me of myself 3 years ago.i had exactly the same diagnosis from my doctor. After 3 years of worrying what is wrong with me I am now only starting accept that it's actually anxiety. The only advice I can give is treat it as anxiety try and relax more and don't start searching what you think is wrong with you. Find a hobby or do something that occupys your mind completely. Hopefully you can now work towards living with anxiety and what's works for you. Good luck

     

    • Posted

      Thanks for your advice! I am glad that I can finally find people who have gone through similar things and are getting through it. I find that people who have not experienced these things can be unsupportive at times.
    • Posted

      I agree, you will have good days and bad days just try and stay strong and live your life to the full. I am on sertraline now and it has really helped with the dizzyness just trying not to fight it and relax, take care x
  • Posted

    You have described exactly how I feel and I have stopped worrying that it is anything else ,doesn't,t always help though  because still feel dizzy and unbalanced and still panic over it .it is ruining my life . But it would be better for you to accept that it is anxiety and hopefully you will feel better soon 
    • Posted

      Yes! I also feel like it's ruining my life. I think it is time to just accept that it is anxiety. 

      I also hope you feel better soon! smile

  • Posted

    Viral labrythitis takes up to 18 mths to subside. Myself and many friends of mine had that years and years ago. Very important to see an opthamologist as well now and then go back earlt and make sure they do a peripheral vision test.I went to a balance therapy and they diagnosed it with a machine. No meds for it to cure it its viral. Anxiety causes lightheaded and dizzy as does dehydration but vertigo is evil. But it does subside in time and you cant get it twice. Some people are left with residuals, but never to the max that it was. This same virus my nuero opthamologist said he believed it effected my optic nerve. (Took 3 years for the optic nerve pallor to arise)Noted this years later. I was shocked. Nothing they could have done anyway and not everyine is effected the same. But it will absolutely subside over time. My friend went on xanax and prozac. Another friend took gabapentin. I let it run its course and used xanax on occasion but i did go to balance therapy. They have eye excersises to help with it! Theres actually an app for vertigo and it gives you excersises that help a lot. You can go to a balance therapy place if there is one and they test you for nystagmus in your eyes and straight know if it is viral labrythitis. Bp changes can cause it issues as well. It did alter my life. And of course it can trigger an anxiety attack. I did complain of being dizzy and off kilter for a while and i heard it could be from peri menapause so it did take a couple of months before i didnt believe it to be anxiety anymore and went to the balance therapy place. Nothing showed on an mri, or in blood, tested for lyme at the time. I have learned a doctor can and will only find what he is looking for and has knkwledge about. Im not saying its not an anxiety thing, im saying as i have experienced it and panic attacks there is, in my opinion another cause for it. But remeber if its viral theres no meds for it anyway. Doctors i used..ear, nose and throat, doctor who  Specializes in balance, and an opthamologist. A GP has no knowledge on this unless its a sinus infection. 

     

    • Posted

      Very interesting ,thank you very much for that . I am suffering from anxiety and panic but only after dizzyness or feeling unbalanced which is most of the time but if I have no physical symptoms I feel fine 
    • Posted

      it is nice to have someone who can relate and understand how it feels ,because there are lots of different symptoms with anxiety but mine is defiantly linked to feeling unbalanced and dizzy and my panic is defiantly linked. To that feeling if I find anything that helps I will post on here 
    • Posted

      Hey! I saw my doctor this morning and she diagnosed me with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). I then got a urine test and some blood work done. 

      It turns out that I also have a really bad UTI. The doctor told me that I am lucky that the infection has not spread to my kidneys. I am going to be taking antibiotics for the next ten days.

      This may explain why I was not feeling well. I guess that my anxiety was just making the symptoms worse.

    • Posted

      Really pleased you have found some answers sounds like you have a great doctor. Wishing you a speedy recovery and a successful future smile
    • Posted

      I am really pleased you are going to get the treatment that you deserve and it sounds a funny thing to say but I am sure you are pleased that a medical complaint has been discovered and you should now be feeling well soon .i am waiting for a 24 hr heart monitor to be fitted but I do not think that will find any answers .funny enough someone had mentioned to me about a water infection that can actually mimic anxiety symptoms .as Chico has already stated sounds like you have a good Dr . Let us all know how you get on .good luck and more importantly good health

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