Orthostatic Hypotension or Anxiety?

Hello! It’s so weird as I haven’t been in here in a while and popped in to search the same exact feelings you are having and saw your post first! Sorry I can’t offer a reason but know you are not alone . It’s the worst feeling in the world to me. I’ve dealt with anxiety most of my life and thought I had it really under control for a while now and then boom these weird episodes I call them happen. They told me years back I probably had some orthostatic hypotension which I could believe then but now not so much as I’ve had slightly increased blood pressure. The difference I experience is not always when getting up but happening just randomly when I’m doing anything. Very strange. 

Hope you get some helpful advice here and some answers soon! 

Hey,

So the thing with anxiety is it makes you hypersensitive to the smallest things. Things you may not have noticed before your brain has decided is something that it should warn you about. I believe the lightheadedness is due to muscle tension in your neck or shoulders. If you sit for a long time and you are going through an anxious period, then your neck\shoulders are likely tight which is causing a tension headache type symptom and feels like you are lightheaded. 

I find this doesn't happen when you sleep and wake up because you are able to relax your muscles as you sleep and the tension goes away. Breathing is also another reason for lightheadedness. If went you sit down you are hunched it could make you feel lightheaded when you stand up. Try sitting straight up and expand your lungs when you sit and see if it helps  

Anxiety can make you feel weird because of simple things but also be fixed by simple things because of hypersensitivity.

So sorry to hear you are having a rough time with this right now. I understand exactly how you feel as I have been suffering with anxiety over 20 years, or so they say.  See that is the fun little game anxiety plays with us, makes us think that all the tests and doctors could be wrong.  Most often they are right on the money but from time to time they do miss an underlying condition.  I would try to do as much as you can to find things to ease your anxiety, whatever works for you, Lord knows I've tried a million and maybe a handful work for me.  Since you have already had so many tests come back normal, that is good news, and you should try to focus on that as much as you can.  I know you are still concerned they are missing something but until you can afford to investigate this further why not focus on trying to treat it as an anxiety issue, if it doesn't help no big deal but if it does you will be feeling so much better. I have had multiple symptoms of dizziness and feeling faint over the years but I don't think exactly as you are describing, doesn't mean it isn't anxiety and doesn't mean it is, could be your own fun little way anxiety affects you. I feel like I'm having a heart attack pretty much all day everyday, that is my fun...yay me LOL. I wish I had better answers but I myself am still looking for the magic cure. I can say that things like meditation, aromatherapy, journaling, grounding exercises, hot baths, and massage have all helped me.  There are tons of coping skills out there, special diets, herbal remedies, whatever you are into, they have something you can try. And of course there is always medication and therapy which were the only things that really helped me be a semi-functional human being.  Talk to your doctor and ask what they think your next course of action should be, and remember it is okay to get a second opinion.  Good luck to you.

Okay, I think I figured out what 10 doctors and over 200,000 dollars worth of tests couldn't. Being near death, my symptoms were getting worse and I couldn't even get out of bed to go to the bathroom. It wasn't until I had an anxiety attack in the hospital, before being sent me off to an expensive inhouse mental facility here in Tulsa. After having orthostatic hypotension for over 10 years, I had developed severe anxiety. They gave me Klonopin and I slept soundly through the night, but this drug lowered my BP to 50/30. I took a Midodrine in the morning and it helped some. This hospital got me to where I could at least function. When I left I was taking over 120 pills a week to treat low BP, acid reflux, constipation, high cholesterol, anxiety, low potassium and insomnia. When I got home he symptoms continued and I was week. Read this carefully. It could bring you back to the living. I'm feeling better everyday. After a simple google search, I discovered it was my Adrenal Glands. I found out they control blood volume (people with O.H. have 17% less blood), blood pressure, Anxiety, Metabolism, Stress and Potassium levels. OMG! All of my symptoms. I stopped taking Klonopin and started taking Effexor for anxiety which even helps raise BP. Effexor can take up to 3 weeks to start working. I stopped taking Fludrocortisone (steroid) which was causing chest pains, constipation, acid reflux and keeping my Midodrine from working. My legs would ache. As soon as I stopped it, no more pain. Slowly, everything began working. I now sometimes even forget to take a Midodrine. I got my life back. I only take Midodrine and Effexor, plus a statn and Plavix for stents I had placed. Even though my Adrenal Glands checked out normal, they in my opinion were overworking. Adrenals don't have an off switch, so I needed the Effexor to calm them down. I wasn't getting the right amount of the right sleep. Hope this helps. Remember some medications like Effexor don't start working for several weeks. It took a psychiatrist to prescribe it. Also remember a steroid like Fludrocortisone can help fuel your adrenals and possibly make things worse, like they did for me. I only need my Midodrine now to walk. The Effexor was my life saver.