Balance Problem

[Off_Balance]

13 mo. ago I had sudden episode of dizziness so bad I fell to ground. Heart racing and very sweaty, had to lie in bed for hours. Since, I have a daily ‘balance problem’. Feels similar to being on a boat all day and then get back on dry land, or feeling like head is cloudy, or feeling like hangover from alcohol. Sometimes hard to concentrate, sometimes I need to sit down for fear I will fall down. I would NOT describe it as dizzy, spinning feeling. I’m 38 yr male, otherwise very healthy 6’1”, 150 lbs, no other illnesses, no history of probs, normal BP. Rarely drink alcohol, non smoker. No abnormal headaches. I generally feel this problem daily. Feel good when I first wake, worse as day goes on. Next saw a balance specialist at ENT clinic. They ran many tests: and concluded my inner ears were working normally. Next tried Physical Therapy to resolve balance prob: walking in straight line while moving head up down left and right etc but did not help. I also had eye check at the ophthalmologist, results normal. Next had MRI performed on my head, w/o contrast, looking for problems with balance system, results normal. After 6 months of PT with no improvement, PT guessed the symptoms maybe ‘atypical migraine’. She prescribed Clonazepam 0.5 mg tablet, 1/4 of tab in AM and another 1/4 of tab in PM. Good news is that I did show good improvement after starting meds but after 4 months, symptoms are now back as they were before I started the meds.  Exercising 2-3x per week also seems to help. Did I get an accurate diagnosis?  Could these symptoms also be related to an anxiety problem?  Is that common?  I do feel worse when I am stressed out, and I know that I have obsessive behavior and let the littlest things get me all worked up.  Sometimes I find it hard to enjoy life because I am so preoccupied with things like cleaning up household messes, dishes, kids toys, etc.  If related to anxiety and stress, what can I do to help reduce it?

[beebop243]

I have the exact same issue.  I was diagnosed with Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).  Everything I look up seems like the diagnosis is right on.  It's not your anxiety, but an inner ear issue.  I've had very violent episodes that took me out!  Hope this helps.  

Dizzy Lori in Ohio

[Jaquta]

I was wondering about the skin changes earlier this morning.
I have periods where my hands and feet go white and feel numb.  (Raynauds).
I was wondering how much emotional stress affected this.  Cold plays a part.
It was just a random thought.  Winter is coming up.  Before surgery I was told I had cold hands.  Emotional stress vs cold??

[babyt75]

I dont know if you have solve your issue with your balance but I am a 36 yr old single mother and Im new to this program. I have had just about every symptom of anxiety there is except blanching(thats when your skin changes to a pale color) I am no doctor but have done a lot of internet and book work on anxiety. Ive learned because I suffered severely with the cloudy head, spinning room, felt like I was being pulled to the floor, felt like my forehead was full of air or some liquid that was causing this strange pressure and sometimesleft me with sore eyes, lost of appetite, nausea, and only once do I remember vomitting. Well this program and others actually helped me out no prescriptions, I to have had test after tes ekgs, endoscopy,(I was convinced I had stomach cancer but due to my anxiety I couldnt eat and had to force myself to drink I lost 22lbs in two weeks my stomach was in knots due to the belief that I had cancer all in my head) Ive also learned that the reason for dizziness, light headedness, and being in the fog can  come from your brain being in over drive and it goes into a sef protect mode and kinda slows everything down since I learned this when I get those particular symptoms I sit down and start to focus on "what is really going on what am I over thinking now and all though you don't realize it T your thinking about to much right now so just start over erase all thoughts so that this can go away and think one thing at a time you can do it " besides who uis better at being nice and understanding to you as you are. Another thing I learned is that adults tend to hypervinilate oppisite from teens we think like ok I got it in control and we take long deep breaths to keep from doing it the teen way fast short breaths which is what I was doing that also caused dizziness I have purchased self help tapes that actually taught me how to breathe the slow deep breaths the right way I am no doctor and can not say to you that meds will not help you I am only stating what has helped babyt! I truly hope this helps sorry so long but other peoples symptoms helped me and I would truely love to be able to help someone else! I dnt know what your religious preference is but pray without ceasing GOD will hear you. It seems as though all the religious tv broad cast have been talking about anxiety since I started seeking GOD through His Son JESUS!

[Jaquta]

Hi Zack
That's interesting.  I guess it's a good thing to be self-aware.
A lot of the symptoms come on relatively quickly and it can be hard to discern a trigger.  (Mental health issues can affect many aspects: diet, sleep, cognitions, etc).

Thanks for the input.

J

[zack32]

I used to get dizzy and light headed a lot when I was younger and sometimes I  still do. It turned out to be a lack of sleep. So when I get dizzy days now I know I need to get some rest. I don't know if this helps or not, but it is just a thought.

[Jaquta]

I just wanted to thank you for your post.  It has helped me better understand things about myself.

J

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It sounds exactly like an anxiety issue..responds in just the way I would expect...the treatment is a combination of medication like klonopin, and psychotherapy...you will get a good result with this combination.

[Jaquta]

My first thought was an inner ear infection.
Did you get your heart checked out?
What is your diet like?  Are you hypoglycemic or dehydrated?

I'm not sure about the balance issue but from what you write it does sound anxiety related.  (Both exercise and clonazepam reduce anxiety.  And if it's worse when stressed ...).
The return of the symptoms could suggest a tolerance to the medication you're taking (or an increase in stress).

I don't know how common anxiety and balance issues are.
I've been walking into things a fair bit lately but I put that down to medication (lorazepam and zopiclone) I took a while back.

I have issues with stress and anxiety and have a fuzzy head and have trouble concentrating.  I've even driven down the road several times lately with the handbrake still on which is pretty bad.  (Not just for me or the car but other road users).

Stress induced migraine?
Just as an aside, do you drink much caffeine?  This can trigger migraines too.
I'm not sure about the diagnosis, only a doctor is qualified to answer that.

Medication can help reduce anxiety but therapy to address the underlying issues/ causes is most important.

J