Why exactly do anxiety/depression cause weird dizzy/lightheaded spells???

[JamesAA]

I've been battling daily lightheaded/dizzy spells for several weeks now.  It hits me stronger on some days than others.  After going through all the hoops (cardiac, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc, etc) it appears that it is indeed anxiety related.  I say this because (1) everything else, healthwise, checks out ok, and (2) there's a direct correlation between my dizzy/lightheaded spells and my anxiety.  There are WEIRD things though when it happens.  For instance when I look down to text on my cell it feels WAY worse (normally I can look down and text all day when I'm not feeling lightheaded or dizzy with zero problems).  Also when it's bad I feel like I can't even walk.  It's a crazy feeling but I feel like I must be home and in bed.  Usually when I get home it subsides even without me laying in bed--probably cause anxiety slowly goes away.  But when it's really bad I'm basically useless out in public and almost can't even get myself to my car.  

I'm already a pretty severe agoraphobic.  This makes it 10000 times worse now.

So what, physically is causing this dizziness????  I want to stress that my heart is NOT racing when it's happening.  Last night I was leisurely biking in my neighborhood, but the second I got off my bike and on the playground with my wife and son....IMMEDIATE dizziness/lightheadedness.  Somehow the bike ride didn't let it happen.  And it's not a post exercise thing because I exercise WAY WAY harder at the gym and don't get dizzy afterward.  So I'm just wondering if my heart is not racing, meaning I'm not short of breath, why is it happening???

I don't feel depressed for the record, I'm just sick of this dizziness.  Other than that I'm pretty content.  But even if there was some underlying depression, how could that cause these symptoms.

One more note--my sleep *****!  I don't get very much restful sleep.  

If anyone has any clues, suggestions, pointers, I am ALL EARS.

I thank you for reading this novel (sorry about that) and HAPPY 4th OF JULY!!!  +* +*+

[des900]

did you have neck pain? if yes its worth to check your posture when sitting, sleeping etc. raising your head high when sleeping will help.

also check all the medicines taking it might be contributing lightheaded though never thought about it. even non medicinal ones like baking soda, apple vinegar, lemon can cause dizzy as these all can affect liver.

[aasik]

like james said (((IMMEDIATE dizziness/lightheadedness.  Somehow the bike ride didn't let it happen.  And it's not a post exercise thing because I exercise WAY WAY harder at the gym and don't get dizzy afterward.  So I'm just wondering if my heart is not racing, meaning I'm not short of breath, why is it happening???((

when i go puplic if feel dizzy why

[james11662]

I just started reading this post because I too, have lightheadedness. After reading about anxiety, I'm wondering if that's what's causing it.  How can anxiety cause physical symptoms?  Do you also have tingling in your hands and feet?  How were you diagnosed? Are you on any treatment?
James11662

[Margaret14]

James,

I am having very similar symptoms almost daily and was diagnosed with anxiety a month ago, did you figure out what it was?

Thank you,
Margaret

[JamesAA]

Thanks Sheena.   You guessed it...no yeast infections for me.  :)  LOL

I WISH I was taking meds so that I could experiment to see if that was causing my issues, but I don't take any.  I also don't smoke, drink coffee, and I gave up liquor a couple months ago.  I'm more saintly than most priests I know.  LOL  

I feel like somehow it's related to my serotonin levels and/or anxiety but it's an educated shot in the dark at best.  

[SheenaMonkey]

Hello :) A friend of mine had unexplained dizziness and vertigo for almost a year. I tried what I thought was everything to help her figure out why. Come to find out she was on a medication and THAT was the cause. She was taking a yeast infection medication. (I see you name is James, so I know that is likely not your issue) but we had never thought that something so SIMPLE was causing something so life altering. She could hardly drive to work and ended up quitting one of her jobs before the problem was solved.

Hope this helps :)
Take care and hope you feel better soon!

[franceslee]

The exact same thing happens to me!!  It really scares me too!  Hoever, I have started exercising daily and going to therapy and it seems like I am getting my dizziness spells under control.  There are also some meds that can help with dizziness too.