Feel dizzy and unbalanced while driving on the highways

[honestmale]

I am 44 years old and being driving for years but unfortunately, for couple of years I started to feel dizzy and unbalanced while driving on the highways for long time at a speed higher than 90 km/h (55 ml/h) specially at night.  It starts by feeling flashes at my head and then the difficulty starts. This problem does not occur while driving in the city.  I visited the EN&T doctor sometimes ago and he said I do not have an inner ear infection.  I visited eye doctor and no problem too.  Then I thought of it as driving phobia and started to take anti depressant drug but unfortunately, the problem still.  This issue is irritating me and I do not know what to do?!!!

[Canada01]

Hello,

I am a perfectly healthy 33yr old from Canada.  I do work in front of computer screens all day in a fairly intense and stressful environment..

I also have been having some issues on driving on the highway.  It has slowly been creeping as a problem where I can now barely feel confident going above 80-90km/hr when I can do those speeds no problem in country roads... it's a weird feeling to be a strong driver, except in the highway.

I have no idea what to blame it to... other then keep reading blogs like this.  

I feel overwhelmed by cars on highway, feel nervous and car feels unstable (or I feel weirdly the urge to squiz steering wheel) and I can't help but hit the breaks and slow down... all of these comes down to my hands sweating and more panic...

Thanks for JennyJ776 I did go for a  STERNOCLEIDOMASTOID (SCM) trigger point massage and am yet to test it out.. will let you know of any updates...

I have never suffered from vertigo or have any other health issues..

Lets keep sharing information and although I understand it's not the same problem for all, the power of knowledge is great to be able to figure how out it relates to our own issue.

Thank you!

[trined]

Hi, i'm a 31 yr old woman who has just started experiencing similar symptom's.
I was driving 110 kms at on a highway which had some easy bends. I was fine driving this same stretch of road in the morning when there was good light. I was nervous driving home at dusk, palms were sweaty and I started to feel nauseous at bends. (stomach turning at bends is normal for me). At a particular long bend, I had a frightening sudden feeling I was falling to my left, completely off balance. I had to pull safely off the road, this was difficult considering i felt disorientated.  The feeling has happened a second time, in exact same conditions, luckily without the imbalance.

After lots of reading, I've put it down to motion sickness. I used to get it a lot as a child in a car. In severe cases it can cause vertigo - disequilibrium and bring on anxiety symptoms. I'm trialling motions sickness remedies. Winding down windows and being hit with some fresh air has worked to some extent.  

[portvein]

Im here for the same reason as others.
I had this driving at speed dizziness for at least 4 years now. It was more severe after the weekends and when hung over. I have all anxiety and depression associated with it. I have to drive 500mi a week doing house calls (construction) and it really drives me crazy.
I vent to doctors 2 years ago and they did all tests and blood checks and said everything is fine. They did prescribed me meclizine that they sell everywhere over the counter. It does help, but taking it daily is something I have ben avoiding.
I quit drinking cold turkey 2 years ago. That helped for awhile, but dizziness never really go away.
I found that I was hyperventilating, and it helped a lot with anxiety, but dizziness still there lots of times.
I quit smoking, actually switched to Electronic cigarette 5 month ago. I'm lowering my nicotine level and hopping to drop it soon too.
Its always worth after the weekend of doing nothing or lots of time spent on the computer before the trip. Its worth after I sleep too much or not enough. Its better at the end of the day, if the day was active.
Dizziness is not always there, and most of the time comes after 1/2 hour driving on highway. Same time tunnel vision comes in and my eyes gets glued to only what's in front of me.
I thank god every time I drive for one hour and feel good, like in older days when I enjoyed doing cross county trips. I actually drive and look around and enjoy surroundings. I got to get rid of this thing. I'm a motor head and have a lots of toys to go play with, but getting them to play ground is the problem. I can run quads at the dunes all day, I can run dirt bike and my Jeep bouncing around woods and rocks! Not a problem! Get me on highway and I don't feel like going anywhere anymore.
I will try neck massage next. From reading here it sure sounds like doctors know less than people on internet. They couldn't even figure out that my anxiety caused from hyperventilating. I use to have it all the time! Now its only when I drive.
I'm 37, healthy and fit.

[stoneabba9999]

maybe Vertical Heterophora

[NettieNu]

Feeling sort of relieved that others have this problem & that I'm not going mad. Realised that problem started at same time that I had severe trigeminal nerve pain and wondering if connected. Oh the horrible feeling when going along a wide road or going down a wide slope with big open landscape in front. Usually fine on small roads, actually really enjoy driving on this type of terrain but had very bad day when had to drive for over an hour on very windy roads. Really hit me then that there was something similar to motion sickness going on. Also have lots of very quick vertigo 'hits' like when car or train first starts moving next to me. Feeling that I'm not just imagining it all and will now consult Dr.

[kuhnoak]

It's funny you should mention a spasam in your neck. I had one about two years ago that was so bad I could not lift or move my head and had to go to the ER, I do have allergies which affect me but now I have this feeling that the car is going to tip over.  I cannot get on the highway at this point and had my first ever anxiety attack. Went to the ENT and everything is fine. Makes you feel like your going crazy. I need help and do not know where to go to at this point.

[lisajean1960]

DebbieW818, I am going to try the Epley Manuever and see how that works for me.  I have issues on the highway especially with curves to the left so I think that it is my left side that is the problem.  Thanks so much for this post and if it works I will update you.

[Mitsubishi2011]

I had this problem as well for a few years. I have found a solution I was a heavy drinker at night and on weekends I also smoke and it would seem to be worse when I smoke and drive. I have quit drinking and I don't smoke on long trips anymore. After a month or two of not drinking at night or weekends anymore the dizziness while driving has gone away. I am able to drive at speed with no problems. I have read all the posts and they had fit me to a T. I'm sure their is some coralation with smoking and driving as well because it would cause I lack of oxygen to the brain.  If you are not a drinker or a smoker I would look into the medications you are taking that could be a cause. I hope this has helped somebody happy driving.