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vertigo when having anxiety attack?

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Posted 12/3/2014 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I've had GAD for years, and initially it was very typical symptoms - trouble breathing, shaky, feeling like you're going to die, hot flashes, generally feeling scared and helpless. But within the past 6 months when I start to get anxiety I start getting almost dizzy to the point it knocks of my balance and makes my stomach turn, its almost like my vision is hallucinating- its hard to focus and it kind of looks like things are moving. It almost feels like I'm really drunk or drugged. Anyway its very scary and really heightens my anxiety, I've read that people do get vertigo while experiencing anxiety. It does eventually end - it doesn't last nearly as long as my other symptoms. I also think its worsened because this lack of control is such a scary feeling to me that I now fear. Has anyone else experienced anything like this during an anxiety attack or with general anxiety?
Posted 12/3/2014 11:37 AM (GMT 0)
My drunk feeling is 24/7. So, dizziness is part of anxiety. But to be sure go to your doctor.
Posted 12/3/2014 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Awil and welcome!

I am sorry to hear of you anxiety and symptoms. They can indeed be scary and confusing.

I have had vertigo as well with anxiety...but it also is tied in with migraine issues...so it is unclear where one issue starts, and the other ends!

If you have ruled out, with a health screening, any other reasons for your dizziness, then you can safety assume this is an anxiety issue...and treat it as such.

What if anything have you done thus far to treat your challenges and symptoms of anxiety? Therapy/self help? Medication?

Let us know how we can best support you...and keep posting if you find it helpful. We understand and care.:)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 12/4/2014 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Scaredy Cat,

Yes there are not other reasons for my dizziness- its definitely tied to my anxiety. I believe that the symptoms of vertigo have to do with the hyperventilation that occurs while having an anxiety attack (well for me at least). I guess I'm trying to figure out why my anxiety has recently come back very strong and morphed in the past six months. I recently moved abroad about 10 months ago and I don't feel significantly more stressed, but I do think being so far away from home in a foreign country has something to do with it. I'm in Asia and unfortunately mental healthcare doesn't really exist (when it comes to therapy) so I'm trying to set up a phone call with my therapist, its just hard with the time difference- but any suggestions for self help books would be great appreciated! I do take .5mg of klonopin as needed (at this point once or twice a week), but the type I get here doesn't seem to work nearly as well as the stuff I brought from home.
Posted 12/4/2014 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have recently started hyperventilating with my anxiety attacks.. I get dizzy as well.. I really hate it... I have to try hard to refocus.... It is so scary sometimes.. I hate to be alone... Im used to anxiety but not used to hyperventilating so this is new and horrible for me... Im more scared now then before to even go out for a walk alone..
Posted 12/4/2014 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Here is the link to our Resources here. There are great self-help ideas, book remmendations, therapy worksheet downloads and more!

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Find what look helpful for you, and get comfortable with the stress relieving exercises and breathing techniques for reducing your symptoms.:)

Keep posting!

S.C.

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