Dizziness, anxiety or something else..

[Flower55]

Hi,

I am looking for some answers regarding my dizziness. I have had it on and off for years. I have done all possible tests (MRI, ENT, bloodwork, seen neurologist) and everything is normal. I do have a bit of tmj on the right side but no issues with it, it doesnt bother me.

Everything points to this being anxiety which i have but find it so hard to believe that anxiety can cause such symptoms. I feel offbalance or disoriented at times, i feel like i am on a rocky boat. I never had true vertigo where room is spinning, nothing else moves, i just feel like im moving.

Any ideas as to what this could be?

Thanks so much!

[Hidden]

I‘ve been dealing with the same exact thing! It could be withdrawals from medication, medication side effects, severe stress and anxiety, vestibular migraines... and the list goes on. I also find it hard to believe that anxiety alone could be causing these debilitating symptoms.

[Flower55 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks so much for your reply. I havent taken any medication so it cant be that. I do have headaches and migraines, not sure if its that.Im just so confused when they say real vertigo is like room spinning while anxiety dizziness is not. Someone told me with real vertigo you cant get up or walk, you feel like you will fall over and your eyes start doing something funny. I never had that. For me its not outside environment moving, i feel like i am moving. Do you feel the same?

[Agora1 in reply to Flower55]

Hi Flower55, Anxiety can and will do this to a person. (including myself)

I had that off balanced feeling which I called feeling lightheaded. It felt as if

every step I took was sinking down like on a trampoline. I too went through

MRI, Neurologist and was told everything is okay. I had TMJ for a while, dentist said

the bite could be off causing this feeling. I had much physical therapy done to release

the trigger points that had developed in the back of my head, neck and shoulders.

I suffered both muscular contraction (tension) headaches daily as well as migraines several times a month. Because of this feeling in my head, I never felt secure or stable

with my stance. We can talk more as in how I got over both the headaches as well as

the dizzyheaded feeling. I'm happy to welcome you here. xx

[Flower55 in reply to Agora1]

Thanks so much for your reply. I have had this for years, it comes and goes. Its so hard to describe the feeling. I just feel so off. I dont feel like i will faint, i just feel so offbalance and sort of spinny in my own head. I never feel dizzy during night, i also dont wake up feeling dizzy. It comes on as i go with my day, which always made me think its not actual vertigo. Have you had the same symptoms? Are you better now? If so what helped you?

I definitely have anxiety and panic attacks, which are much better now. Im working on it a lot and trying to reduce stress. Its just hard to believe this is anxiety.. how can i feel so crappy and so offbalance for so long. Also, these dizzy spells are so random and sometimes triggered by movement. Stores and bright lights make it so much worse!

Would love to hear more about your journey.

[Littlemitten in reply to Flower55]

Your symptoms and mine are so similar! It also comes on as I go with my day. Mornings I usually feel low, evening I feel ok. I sleep ok too. It's also strange that being in the crowded stores somehow overwhelms me, which never ever happened to me before! I went to malls, shops, parties, clubs, any social gatherings, and never had problems. Now suddenly everytime I looked around those alleys, books in bookstores, I feel dizzy and trigger my lightheadedness. That's also why I can't believe if this all is anxiety, which I never even thought I have it. I'm getting frustrated. I'm a mom, homeschooling my son as well, staying home all day, this pandemic just makes me feel bad already. Please keep in touch, Flower. We're going through this together.

[pamb67 in reply to Agora1]

I have the same thing it’s horrible 💜

[Hidden in reply to Flower55]

Yes I feel the same. It could be silent migraines. They can make you feel like that. I’ve been feeling like the floor is moving like I’m on a boat or an elevator. I’ve also been told by doctors that this is vertigo and I told them I’m not room-spinning and falling down dizzy, I just feel off-balance and like I’m moving when I’m not. I guess there are different types of vertigo. But I’m still not really sure what this is. I keep thinking of a bunch of different things it could be and it’s been driving me crazy.

[Flower55 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I feel the same. Thats what I am so confused by.. is it an actual vertigo or anxiety. I feel like i keep searching for answers. But i also came across many forums where a lot of ppl with anxiety say they have dizziness, everyone just describes it different. For me its not a im about to faint feeling, its more so im off balance, i feel a pulling swaying sensation..

I also know 2 ppl (close family friends) who have vertigo and they describe it as room is spinning, i have to hold on to something. Theirs also sounds like it comes in episodes but mine seems so frequent, it does come in dizzy spells but its so frequent and it can last for hours and it leaves me so offbalance for days.

[Hidden in reply to Flower55]

What you described is exactly how I’ve been feeling. I’ve had this feeling on and off for a while, but recently it has been daily. I’ve been googling (bad, I know) and asking people if they’ve experienced this type of dizziness and trying to find answers for weeks. Just want to feel normal again.

[Littlemitten]

Hi! I'm having these symptoms as well! So weird. For me I too have this floating sensation as long as I know, but I only feel it when I'm in plane's lavatory. Other than that, nothing. Suddenly I had short vertigo months ago, out of the blue. And my journey to several specialists began. Until now I'm still undiagnosed. I feel it daily, along with lightheadedness that can come suddenly, even when I'm just resting, I can feel lightheaded. It's so weird and though doctors refer me to consult with psychologist, I still can't believe it's anxiety. I was ok, my life was fine, my health never bothered me before all of this thing. It happened just like that. This gives me health anxiety, never I visited so many doctors and worried a lot about what's going on with me. Are you taking any medicine or supplements?

[Flower55 in reply to Littlemitten]

Hi littlemitten,

I am not taking any medication, although i did have health anxiety.

Did this start for you after you gave birth? Mine did when my son was 9 months old. This is the reason why my doctor immediately assumed that it was anxiety post partum. Although i felt okay then, but months before i had a hard time breastfeeding and had a lot of anxiety!! So he thinks it just accumulated.

I have done all sorts of tests (family physican, ENT, neurologist, comprehensive ear testing, tilt table test, MRI, bloodwoork, acupuncture, chiro, naturopath.. and who knows what else). I have seen them all! No one could ever give me an answer.

I know few ppl who have that typical room spinning vertigo but i never had that. Mine is more like in my head spinning. Feeling so overwhelmed.

If i am on my phone and lets say someone is talking to me, i get so overwhelmed by that, i have to drop my phone and focus to what they are saying, it feels so overwhelming.

I wish i had an answer, but all i can come up with is anxiety.

I am going to try the migraine diet and slowly eliminate some things to see if it goes away. I eliminated alcohol and coffee and started taking Magnesium. Will try dryinking more water too. And will see how it goes.

[Littlemitten in reply to Flower55]

Hi Flower, I too worried a lot after I gave birth but I never thought it's anxiety. I had problem as well with breastfeeding but I didn't push myself and decided breastfeeding didn't work for me. I breastfed for first 6 weeks. He's my only son, so just like any new mom, I still learnt and worried a lot. But everything was fine with my health. It was 6 years ago. I just don't understand that since vertigo last year I have these weird symptoms and after months I feel it's still not getting better. Even night before vertigo I still did groceries, had long walks in the park, cooked dinner for our guests, had laughs and good evening together. Just like you, I can't stand long conversation. It makes me tired. I think I develope health anxiety from all this things. No matter how hard I try to cheer up myself, it's just difficult if your body doesn't feel good. I asked my doctor to check on my levels, monday I'll call for the result. Do you have any other symptoms apart of the dizziness and floating sensation? I still have weird discomfort (not painful) inside my left breast (around it, not specific) somehow, which I worry if it's heart related. Sometimes nauseous, bloating, lightheadedness that also worry me. I'm not taking any medicines, only supplement B6-9-12 and D3.

[pamb67]

I think anxiety creates so many different issues , I also get that dizziness and feel off balance and I think it’s very possible it’s anxiety related. Maybe you could look on YouTube for some relaxation methods it might help you feel better 🙏💜🙏