Brain Shakes and Dizziness

I have read multiple descriptions of "brain shakes" on this forum but none seem to describe my experience. I have gone to two different general practitioners and they tell me that I am suffering from vertigo but my symptoms do not seem to completely match vertigo either.

I am a 27-year-old, healthy and active woman. Several months ago, I began experiencing these random episodes of brain shakes that are followed by dizziness. The "brain shakes" feel like a jolt and vibration that last about a 1 second. These "brain shakes" are sometimes violent and because they are unexpected, I react by placing my hands to my head. But my head does not actually "shake", its is merely an internal sensation that I'm reacting to. The "brain shakes" are immediately followed by dizziness. I feel like the room is spinning and sometimes I become flushed and nauseous. The dizziness lasts less than a minute. The dizziness is initially severe and then it fades away and is completely gone in about a minute.

These episodes have occurred approximately 6 or so times. They appear to occur randomly and they are spaced out; sometimes a couple weeks and other times about a month apart. I am almost never moving when these occur. In other words, they don't seem to be caused by sudden movements or physical fatigue. Most times it has happens when I'm sitting at my desk working or in a car or at lunch with a friend. When they occur, I am immediately fine when the dizziness wears off as if nothing happened. They also occur one at a time; I've never had more than one per day. Also, these episodes to do not appear to be stress or mental health related. I am a mental health practitioner and was able to rule that out.

Although these episodes have not significantly impaired my life functioning, they are certainly scary and concerning. Any insight about what might be happening would be greatly appreciated!!

[Kirst10]

I have the exact same thing, you described it perfectly. I've had these for probably about a year now.  It happens randomly and lasts less than a minute. It can happen anytime and it feels like your brain is vibrating and then its fallowed by dizziness and its the worst feeling.
I'm only 18 years old and I'm healthy and fit as well.
if you find out what it is I would love to know and it would be appreciated as well.

[mg409]

Thank you for posting Krist10. I haven't been able to find out anything at all. Have you seen a doctor? I plan to go to a ear/nose/and throat doctor in a few months. Also, do you fly a lot? I do and I thought it might have something to do with that but I'm not sure.

[SW8676]

I just had the same exact thing happen to me two days ago. It was so scary, and now I am constantly worried it will happen again. I went to the ER the same day and had blood work, EKG, and CTscan and all came back normal. I am going to schedule and appointment with a neurologist and see if they can help. I was also not doing any crazy movement that brought it on, I was standing in my kitchen stirring something and the vibration in my head went off followed by the extreme dizziness. I am pretty nervous about it, but am very thankful I am not alone. Has anyone figured anything else out? Keep me posted! Thanks!
Samantha

[mg409]

Hi Samantha,
I still haven't figured anything out. I don't have insurance so it is a bit difficult to keep going to doctors. Mine have continued to happen. It seems like they are more frequent now but are less severe. They still are frightening...please keep us posted on you neurology results!

[joejoe1108]

I have felt the same thing too. Normally when I don't get enough sleep. I first started experiencing it at 11 years old and I am now 21 years old. For me it feels like my brain and eyes are shaking, and if I close my eyes, my brain begins to teeter. I guess that's the vertigo part. I am active as well. I don't travel, don't do any drugs, and don't drink. It happens while I'm reading a book before bed or when I was at a spa or even while I was d stress free year. Is it stress related? Do I need more sleep? Do I need to avoid certain foods? If you ever find out, please let me know.

[gabbbbbbyyy]

I have recently experienced the exact same thing as you've described. It happened the first time a few weeks ago while standing on a bus and I thought it might be because I was tired and hungry but it's been almost a daily occurence since then and scares me every time. Any updates or anything? Everything I've read about vertigo (because that's what I thought it might be) doesn't seem to fit. Any help would be appreciated!

[mg409]

Hi All,
Here is some good news...my brain shakes have stopped. I am uncertain of the reasons why but I have a hunch that it could be a number of things. About 7 or 8 months ago the shakes stopped around the same time that these things happened: 1) I completed a really stressful graduate program. I was always under a lot of pressure so the shakes might be stress related. 2) I found out that I was severely deficient in Vitamin D. I was prescribed a high dosage of the vitamin to get me back on track which also may be related to the brain shakes (although the doctor didn't seem to think so). 3) I think I may have been dehydrated. I wouldn't drink water for weeks at a time. Once I was drinking water more regularly I felt better. Maybe one or all of these are related to the brain shaking/dizzy thing. Hope that helps!

[cmwooten]

Do you or have you taken any kind of anxiety or antidepressant medication then stopped?  I was told these are a symptom of withdrawal.  I tried to look it up, because it just happened to me.... I was walking then all the sudden it felt like when I took a step the world shook, but it was just in my head... I saw fuzzy colors for just a second, and it happened every few steps, then it felt like my brain was shaking up and down.  I was very dizzy. It's really scary.

[deer4321]

my 20 year old daughter has had these very same symptoms!  Our general practitioner suggested the vertigo, but I do not think that is it! We are definitely seeing a neurologist soon! Has anyone else seen a Neurologist?

[aamcz]

this just happened to me at work about an hour ago, did a google search and this thread poped up. I had the jolt in my head that lasted a second followed by immediate dizzyness for just a couple seconds. Not on any meds or anything.  Mg409 mentioned dehydration. I work outside and it was like 85-90 degrees outside, and I know I wasnt drinking a lot, as my mouth was a little dry and had very faint headache.  Was sitting writing report when it hit me.  I feel this shake and dizziness has happened to me at least once before but cant remember when or what I was doing.

[BH85]

This just happened to me for the first time today as well. I almost never take meds unless its a prolonged sickness in which case I take antibiotics, but haven't had to do so for at least a year. I don't drink any alcohol or caffeine beverages, and don't smoke. Today was a stressful day and I did miss eating a decent breakfast and lunch, so am wondering if its a correlation...seems likely. It was scary; I was driving home when it happened. I felt like my brain was shaking and then felt dizzy for a few seconds. I had the same reaction of putting my hands to my head.  

[ashash4]

Hi..im 31and have gone thru the same priblem.It is related to the imbalance of the fluid in your ear and ear pressure.This is what a v good ENT specialist told me.she gave a 15 day treatment and it was fine in a week.So better consult an ENT specialist

[kiki1822]

I've been going thru the same thing for months around 8-9 months, I've been been to an ENT, you mentioned being put on a 15 day treatment, may I ask what that was?? was it an antibiotic??

[Ank120]

i also went for ENT and he prescribed virtin 16 i felt exactly like MG409,wILL SEE A NEUROLOGIST AS WELL. I AM WITH U ALL GOD WILL BLESS US AND WILL MAKE US FINE

[leema16]

Hey guys. Im 15 years old, and i have exactly what you guys are experiencing. People keep telling me its veritgo, but i know its not. The back of my head feels like it has a small motor in it (as weird as it sounds) and it feels like its vibrating. But as soon as it starts, i feel like i've been punched in the head. And to others watching, it looks like i just jerked my head or something. But then i have to put my hands on my face and concentrate on something because the room starts violently spinning. But idk what is going on and no one does either... But i dont have these like every week... I have them almost every day. Today i've had 3. And they are at the most random times. But if you know anything, let me know(:  thanks(:

[Iceskatebabe96]

I have the same problem as well. I can be sitting watching tv and all of a sudden my head feels like it is vibrating for a second and then I get dizzy and nausea comes on. I am very athletic and I have been to several doctors. I have low blood pressure and they checked my heart to see if it is a regular beat and it was. They said to drink more water even if I think I drink enough they want me to drink more and stay away from caffeine. The thing is that the vibration sensations happen about 50-75 times a day. It is horrible and no doctor has helped me. I have had this since I was 13 and I am now 17. I need help

[Sarah__Z]

Since this question was posted over a year ago I don't know how many people this will help. I had brain shakes for about three seconds followed by vertigo. At its worst I had to grab the counter at my work when I fell over from the vertigo. I was conscious the whole time. This scared me so I finally went to see a neurologist. I went through alot of testing. EEG's/sleep studies and nothing. My neurologist decided to send me for a short day study. They used flashing lights which I felt nothing to be a problem. After that they had me take a short nap. While I was sleeping they discoveries I had two small seizure in my temporal lobe. I couldn't believe it. I had temporal lobe epilepsy. On a side note when I was younger I was diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenia. My doctor put me on a regimen of Lamictal. I was at 400 mg when it was like a light switch. I was happy everyday, no migraines and no emotional mood swings. My life has changed for years now. Recently I started getting normal migraines again so he moved the dose up too 500 mg and I've had none since. I suggest all who have this problem to not stop trying to figuring out the reason. I hope this helps even just one person.

[Jonnnnny]

yeah, your description is exactly like what i too am facing. i'm an 18 year old guy and have experienced only a small handful of these. one, about a year ago, which was very severe. in the past few minutes i experienced this again which made me wonder what it is. perhaps i'm not getting enough exercise. that's been my hypothesis, sense i have been laying around from this entire past winter basically. i've also considered the possibility of this occurring because of a lack of liquids or perhaps because of stress, although i'm rather satisfied with life right now. anyway, if you get any answers, plz include me in on you revelation. so whether it's serious or not, i'm interested in hearing exactly what the problem is...