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dizziness from anxiety or medical prob?

by chatnoir, Jun 02, 2007 12:00AM
For about four months I've been having probems with dizziness. It seemed to begin once I started on birth control pills. I stopped taking the pill about three months ago but am still having dizziness. It only seems to hit when I am walking in large, open areas (usually doesn't occur indoors or when laying down).  My only other symptom is that my ears feel plugged most of the time.  I went to the doc and she did some balance tests and said everything looked fine, including my ears.

I will say this, if I take a Xanax, the dizziness is not there. Does this mean it is anxiety? I just don't get it. I'm not hyperventilating. I try to just take it slow and relax but when I step outside in a large area, the world begins to move on me. It's not spinning, but its like being on a boat.

Anyone else experience this??? I'm really tired of feeling this way.

Thanks so much for your time.
Member Comments (11)

by tke5768, Jun 02, 2007 12:00AM
To: chatnoir
Hello, Do your ears pop all the time, or everytime you swallow. I have extremely bad allergies, and everytime I swallow my ears pop. you could always try and get your allergies tested. Or try claritan over the counter.I could be anxiety, But try to see if its allergies first or it could be a componet of both.Let us know what you find

by chatnoir, Jun 02, 2007 12:00AM
Hi. Thanks for your response. My ears don't pop, per se; they mainly have this plugged feeling like being on an airplane. The ears really aren't a new thing for me . . . I usually have this associated with my allergies. I'm on Flonase but haven't noticed much change.  I just find it weird that I don't have the dizziness if I take Xanax so am wondering if this is all in my head.

by Carey01, Jun 03, 2007 12:00AM
HAve you ever read "Hope and Help for your Nerves" by Claire Weeks?  Diiziness -- she calls it giddiness -- is very common.  Do you kind of feel like the floor is swaying or tilting?

by chatnoir, Jun 03, 2007 12:00AM
Hello. No, I have never read the Weeks book, but I will certainly look into it. And YES, that is exactly what my dizziness feel like .. . the world is tilting on me. I just never expected that anxiety could have this effect; it's so unnerving and scary.

by suzi-q, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
I also feel like I get "sea legs" in open areas...it is part of my anxiety.

by chatnoir, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
To: suzi-q
Yes, yes, yes!! Sea legs in open describes it perfectly. Just knowing that someone  else feels it helps tremendously. I've struggled with anxiety for most of my life, but the dizziness and sea legs were new to me. I think we become so familiar with our panic/anxiety attacks so when something new comes along, it is very scary.

by suzi-q, Jun 04, 2007 12:00AM
you're not kidding...new things pop up every day!  sometimes they were always there, but it wasn't real bad, or we were too busy concentrating on another think that we didn't notice.....do you also get it in public restrooms?  That is another biggie place for my sea legs!  Hang in there..we are all in this "boat" together!!  Haha-get the pun?????

by circuit, Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
Hi there,
i have just noticed this forum today and what you experinecing sounds very simular to my symptoms.This is going to be long.. Four years ago i started to have servere dizzyness it would last for about 5 to 10 seconds, my ears would feel blocked and my head felt so much pressure and then it would dissapear. I was under the E/N/T specialist for 2 years and had various tests, such as balance, MRI scan and a nerves test and all came back o.k. I was taking medication for Menieres Disease for 18 months but this did nothing and now after all this time i am starting to have Anxiety Attacks constantly thinking about my breathing and feel like i am hyperventilating slightly. I have started to take beta blockers for the anxitey but it does not seem to help. The dizzy episodes are more like an unbalanced feeling, things are not spinning but they to seem to move slightly and if i try to walk i walk like i am drunk. I am thinking of trying Hopi ear candles to see if it can help my balance.

Any suggestions are greatfully received.

by suzi-q, Jun 06, 2007 12:00AM
I think it is time to get re-diagnosed...did the doctor say it was definitely meniere's disease?  Could those symptoms be related to your anxiety and not to ear problems?  I do not know...but that is where you should start.

Anxiety can cause all different kinds of symptoms.  and many times anxiety can result from chronic illnesses that you become "fed up" with and worried about.  

I would suggest after a physical to go to a psychiatrist with your symptoms to get a true diagnosis.  Best to you!!

by nocutename2, Jun 28, 2007 03:28PM
I have experienced similar problems for about a month now except I am feeling a bit differently than you all.  I experience the sea legs problem...like I might fall if I don't hold on to a wall or someone.  But my issues occur in open areas INDOORS...like at WalMart or the Cafe Court in the mall.  Outside I have been fine, except for once, and I am fine in aisles of stores.  But once I hit the transition to a "big area" I sometimes feel wobbly.  What have any of you done to fix this problem.  Please e-mail me at ***@****.  Any help you could give would be tremedously appreciated.

by tmoney189, Jul 06, 2007 01:56AM
yee, i have the same problem, i dunno wat causes it, i do have slight anxiety but nothing really triggers it, it just kinda happens
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