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Avatar universal

Can anxity cause this?

For the past two and half months I have been suffering from constant dizziness, SEVERE dizziness 24/7.  I feel extremely light headed and feel as though I might faint.  It occurs even when I'm sitting down and still.  

I've already been to four doctors.  None of them can find out what is wrong.  I'm starting to think it may be anxiety.

The dizziness started as withdrawal symptoms from getting off of Effexor (I've been on anti-depressants for 7 years).  I had a miserable time for a couple weeks and then began to feel better.  It started up again as my wedding drew near, I was having panic attacks as well due to the stress.  The wedding has long since been over and the dizziness never went away.  It has ruined my life.  Going to work, cleaning the house, doing errands  are now an almost impossible task.

Is this anxiety or something physiologically wrong?  Help me. Have you ever heard of something like this happening?  I've heard of dizzy "spells," but this is an all day, everyday thing.

And I don't know if it is panic due to the situation or not, but my anxiety is worsening.
19 Responses
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Avatar universal
Yes anxiety plays a part, I was diagnosed with GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) several years before the Meinere's diagnoses.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
For anyone dealing with Meinere's, please watch your body closely, my severe vertigo came on when I took mucinex. It meant an ambulance ride to E.R. for I.V. meds, meclazine,valuim,phenergan AND zofran. I can only take 25mg of phenergan, anymore and I get so restless I cannot be still. Zofran isnt as good and I always thought it gave me my headache. The vertigo would wake me in the night, I couldnt watch tv or video games, drive, it was hard riding in a car, walking, etc... I still get light-headed, some dizziness, headache, ringing in one ear and hearing loss in that ear, but thank God, nothing sooo severe. Watch taking cold medicines, decongestants, eating subway, mexican or chinese foods!! Everyone should see an ENT and be tested for hearing loss and by process of elimination be diagnosed with Meinere's.
Helpful - 0
358304 tn?1409709492
Classic anxiety symptom. I get it all the time. I feel like a ritz too bc I seem so clumsy to people LOL. Walking into walls etc. I have faith it will ease up. Maybe ya need to take a little something for it? Ask your dr. Good luck to you.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yes!!! a little over 2 months ago i started getting dizzy ALL the time!! 24/7...i went to the doctor a couple days later and they did some blood tests and my blood sugar was a little high but not enough to make me dizzy so the doc put my on anxiety meds and a few weeks later i felt better. i still have anxiety symptoms like, dizziness, heavy head, light headedness, an many others but i just started seeing a counselor and soon i'll be on antidepressants and the doc said that should help a lot more.
Helpful - 0
402739 tn?1203538358
you sound just like me. 4 doctors visits, stress problems, etc. i'm glad to hear someone feels the same way! lol, but i'll say, like everyone else, that it's your mind. if you think about it, anxiety is like this weird membrane that traps you inside your mind. you want to break free of it and live in the real world as your normal self, but you're being held back. try to focus on outward things. for me, the dizziness seems to wear off when i relax and focus on evryday things. i hope you begin to feel better soon.
Helpful - 0
408853 tn?1202178282
i used to get dizzy to, then i went to the hospital after a while and they told me i have server anxiety...and put me on meds...
Helpful - 0
407812 tn?1211307057
I also get dizzy a lot. I also am always lightheaded, with weakness in my legs. I also get lots of headaches. I had cat scans done, ekg tests, blood tests, chest x-rays, you name it. All came back normal. I don't know what to do about this. Its making my life a living hell. I am thinking about increasing my dose of paxil from 12.5mg to 25mg like my doctor said I may want to try.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Have your ears checked. Could be Vertigo.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had dizziness on and off that I have been told is either my anxiety or some form of migraine headache (even when i am not necessarily feeling headaches).
I am assumming they checked your blood pressures and pulses in a lying,sitting, standing positions to rule out orthostatic hypotension? blood sugars checked?
i agree peace of mind is owed to us when we have these crazy symptoms....but often the answer is anxiety. the dizziness can occur from not breathing right, and i have noticed for myself that often when i begin to feel symptoms, i have either been breath-holding or breathing in a strange way that is not right.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
YES!!! I have had dizziness for a long time now. When I get up, my head starts to pound, or I can just be walking and run into a wall! LOL, especially in my small apartment. Getting up early and rushing to get to class also does it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes, anxiety definitely can cause dizziness! For me it happens when I start monitoring everything my body is feeling at the time trying to figure what is wrong with me(just in case it's something serious :) ya know?) and I stop breathing deep enough.Lack of oxygen tends to make you dizzy.The things we do to ourselves ;) right? Try taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling three times. Not only does it help you relax, it also lets your body get enough oxygen! Trust me, I had to have a Cat-scan on my head before I could believe my doctor that it was truly just from stress.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
I always get dizzy when I stand up too fast my doc. said my blood pressure drops quick......
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Could it be your blood sugar level? I get dizzy sometimes if I stand up too fast and I have always been told it is my blood sugar
Helpful - 0
213375 tn?1202403800
Forgot to mention that all my docs say it's anxiety
Helpful - 0
213375 tn?1202403800
The dizziness is a major symptom of mine too!  When I stand up after sitting for a long time, when I turn too quickly, when I roll over in bed at night, and more recently when I'm just sitting watching TV.  It is always worse on my most anxious days and when it occurs while I'm sitting I usually end up having a panic attack within the hour.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
I have alot of phycisal problems drive you nuts when you don't know what is wrong with you....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No, only contraceptives and I've been taking them for years.
Helpful - 0
154765 tn?1237247944
bip
Are you taking any meds ?  I get dizzy spells.  It could be number of things you already went to a doctor most likely it can be from your anxiety if it got worst.  Your mind is so strong it can do alot of tricks on you....
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Ah, I'm sorry to post this twice.  I thought I was posting on the doctor forum.  It's always full so I got excited for a moment.
Helpful - 0
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