One of the most common causes of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which is caused by dislodged canaliths in the semicircular canals. This can be diagnosed by Dix-Hallpike maneuver and treated with Epley maneuver, as illustrated in the articles referenced above.
There are various causes of vertigo. Here are relevant articles which may be of benefit:
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2017/0201/p154.html
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0815/p361.html
Hi Paxil. Yes, I was having health issues in the past, but then got better. I have been having issues since I moved to New Zealand from the states about 7 years ago. I got married, moved, and have been homesick off and on since. Plus, a couple of years ago, my husband got bowel cancer,had to have part of his colon removed, and was in the hospital for 85 days, for awhile, we thought he would not make it, but he pulled through, no more sign of cancer, and is doing fair. He was in the hospital again last December for complications with the stoma. So, life has not been the calmest.
Our health care system is such that if you go government funded, your referrals and doctor visits to the specialist and all procedures are free, but, if the main GP doesn't think it is necessary, he won't refer you and you have to go private which means high fees. So,most of us here go public whenever we can. We didn't pay a penny for all of Steve's health care for cancer, even our stay at this lovely lodge owned by the cancer society, was paid for, we were there for almost two month out of town while he underwent Radiation therapy. With my issues, however, such a worrying about my heart health, the doctor doesn't think I need to wear a monitor or see specialists, so, I would have to go "private" well,we can not afford it, so, yes, I do worry, the last time I wore the heart monitor was 10 years ago back home in the states. I feel like they are playing Russian roulette with my health, try as I might and beg,no GP will agree that I need a specialist, so, there you are, same with the dizziness.
In answer to your question, was I thinking anxious thoughts before this happened, well, probably, so, I am always worried about Steve's health, if he were to die, I would be on the streets, no way could I afford to live here, prices are so high, but, I could also not afford to return home. I have a lot on my plate as they say, so I am very seldom calm,but I work at it through prayers, etc.
I think a lot of my fear is due to the feelings that I think will happen if I do certain things, being dizzy really sucks.
Yes, I was on SSRI's for a very short time many years ago when my dear mother was having heart issues, but, they only made me worse, so now, all doctors just tell me to go out, take a walk, or do things I enjoy.
I have trouble with anxiety off and one since my 20's, but it usually gets lots of better on its own.
The first question to ask yourself is, were you thinking anxious thoughts obsessively before this event in bed happened? Anxious people think anxious thoughts on a chronic basis to the point those thoughts crowd out other thoughts and take over. If you weren't doing that, you didn't have an anxiety disorder. If all your fear is because of this actually scary thing that is happening to you, that's not an anxiety disorder either, that's fear of something that is actually happening, more like stress. Now, you do say you have taken SSRIs in the past and that suggests you have had some sort of mental problem, but again, if you weren't having that problem when this happened it isn't anxiety. You don't mention whether you were having anxiety problems before this happened, and it's the first question you need to ask. Those of us who have anxiety problems get things like anxiety attacks and obsess over ordinary things that aren't actually scary to us -- it's irrational, which is why it's an illness. And it's chronic, getting in the way of our lives. As for facing fears making them go away, if this is a physiological problem that docs haven't found yet, which means you need better docs, you aren't going to make it go away that way. But even with anxiety, CBT, which is what you're trying to do to yourself, isn't easy. It takes time and in fact you are supposed to have problems at first and work your way through them anyway, which is how you retrain your brain not to be afraid. And it doesn't work all the time. For some it does and for others it doesn't. It never worked for me, though I would still suggest anyone with anxiety give it several tries before giving up on it. Having a therapist probably makes it more likely to work. But assuming this is an anxiety problem it will take longer to work. And you have to recognize how you're thinking for it to work and do relaxation techniques to help you do it. Given all you're saying, the only thing that comes to my mind is what some people suffer when they stop taking antidepressants or benzos and go through a withdrawal, but you're not doing that. Also, the ER isn't the place to get treatment. They will stabilize you, but for long-term treatment and diagnosis you have to follow up with docs in their offices. I'm thinking if it's not your ears a neurologist might be the next place to go but I really can't know, I'm not a doctor. Peace.