anxiety an dizziness

[watsonichola]

hi im nichola, 30 yrs old, suffered with anxiety for 15 years, dont seem 2 get easier for me, i get so scared with the dizziness i also get vertigo, it has come on strong the last coupl of day i feel as tho im gonna fall an like im swayin, my head feels like its gettin thrown back an that also happens when im just sat down watchin tv, the vertigo is real bad an sometime i gotta quickly lean on things im so scared docs has not once done any tests on me other then thyroid plz do any1 else get this im so scared an feel the dizziness is makin my anxiety worse.


appreciate any comments thanx, ive 4 kids also who i feel for as they see me cry the best part of everyday xx

[nora006]

Hi.

I believe I know what you're talking about, at least the symptoms of dizziness, and the vertigo, which is really terrifying and brings on more anxiety of course because you feel completely helpless in that situation when your brain doesn't get proper information about where your body is located in "space". Dizziness is a common symptom that comes with anxiety(or the physical manifestations of anxiety/stress like heightened tension in the body). It is not dangerous per se, but highly distressing.

That being said, I find it a little disturbing that your doctor hasn't ruled out physical causes for the vertigo. Vertigo is not the same as dizziness and usually has a spesific cause and therefore you should undergo a thorough checkup. Vertigo can be caused by problems in the inner ear or in the brain.
I have experienced both "subjective" and "objective" vertigo several times and instinctively tried to grab whatever within reach that I could hold on to. Fortunately the seizures didn't last long but I would crawl to the bathroom just in case it should return and be very careful not to move my head. My doctor could not find any spesific reason for the vertigo I was experiencing. In my case I suspect extreme muscular tension as being the cause.

I suggest that you visit your doctor as soon as possible, and if  *he can't figure out the cause, ask him/her to refer you to a specialist.



Best regards,
Nora

[M4Y0U]

Hello there,

I'm terribly sorry to hear what you are suffering from. It's common for anxiety sufferers to experience dizziness and vertigo but since you haven't done many test maybe we can't blame it all on anxiety.

I would suggest seeing a neurologist to rule out other illness. Maybe he will suggest you do some scan like a CT-Scan or MRI to rule out serious illness.

I know anxiety can bring a whole lot of symptoms and it's really hard to deal with mentally and it can lead to depression so have you considered therapy or anti-depressants treatment. Some sort of anti-depressant like serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) and Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)
are widely used to treat anxiety and depression related to anxiety.

Also some other thing i suggest to everyone is physical activity and healthy diet ( a really healthy diet everyday for maximum benefits ). Physical activity will make you body produces a lot of hormones that are essential for physical and mental well being. The same applies to healthy diet.

Another suggestion would be luminotherapy. Luminotherapy means light therapy and usually involves half-hour sessions in front of a bright lamp (10 000 lux), specially adapted to treat seasonal depression. The principle is simple: light exposure slows down melatonin production, fighting sleepiness and depression. The light reaches the brain through the retina of the eye, as nerve impulses, to alter hormone levels, which in turn reset your body clock and boost your immune system. Some doctors and health farms offer luminotherapy as a treatment, but there are also special lamps on the market for home use. It can really be helpful for treating anxiety and depression, especially seasonal depression assosiated to the lack of sun which is a good source of vitamin D.

A good thing to do would be to consult a therapist which can be of great help. There's no miracle cure for anxiety. You have to try different thing and don't give up and use all the tool in your toolbox to beat this anxiety.

If you have any question about starting a anti-depressant treatment talk to a doctor and also don't forget that you could give a try to natural herbal product that are said to be good for anxiety.

Best regards,
M4