Anxiety dizziness

[Frosty6611]

Does anyone else suffering from anxiety have this symptom? I feel like I’m on a boat and everything is slightly moving. I’ve been tested for all sorts of things at the hospital to rule out anything sinister (brain mri, inner ear imbalance tests, eye exams etc) and everything is always normal. I suffer from bad anxiety and my neurologist is saying that this sensation can sometimes be a symptom for some people. I have noticed it definitely flares up when I’m stressed out and worrying about something. It almost disappears when I’m relaxed or completely distracted.
If any of you do have it, have you found anything that helps? It’s such a horrible feeling and I hate when it comes on when I’m out in public on my own. Currently trying things like mediation to try and keep calm

I get it from time to time, occasionally escalating into a panic attack. I use CBD oil which seems to help, I still get a swimmy head when I stress out but it doesn't escalate beyond that

I have anxiety and for the last few months I have had dizziness which is unexplained.
It just happens from know where.

@tatiebee I take CBD oil too and it def helps a bit. I’m a lot better than I was this time last year but I just wish I could completely get rid of this moving sensation. Sometimes it feels like I’m tilting to the side, or like the floor underneath me is moving like there’s waves. I was just having a stressful discussion with my landlord and it started to get really bad

@pip me too. Before I had anxiety I never had any dizziness ever. It just started out the blue one day and I wish it would stop

Buccastem tablets work for me.
Pharmacists can be awkward about selling it for that, so have a chat with your GP.
My local pharmacy are happy to sell it to me as I've had it in the past.
I don't need it very often but it's a life-saver. (I've had vertigo before, but when my dad was dying the anxiety brought it on. I was able to carry on driving safely - without it I didn't feel I had enough balance.)

@mine thanks i’ll def Check that out and speak to my GP. Do you have spinning vertigo? Or is it more like what I have where you feel like you’re on a boat?

Thank you for sharing this. I've started to experience this too. It's sometimes accompanied by the sudden onset of extreme fatigue and breathlessness. It's so annoying. It only occured to me that it came on when I was gearing up to my driving test and now it comes back when I'm anxious.

@hogtini it’s horrible isn’t it?! I try so hard to keep calm and avoid stress but it’s difficult when feeling like I’m always moving. I’ve also noticed if I sleep badly or if I look at my phone/laptop/tv for too long then it flares up too :-(

I could LITERALLY have written this... I've had it for over 6 years now. Had allll the tests going and the diagnosis I was given is 'chronic hyperventilation disorder' - look it up and see if it sounds like it might fit. I would swear to you that I was breathing ok, but apparently I'm breathing one or two extra breaths a minute, or maybe breathing a little heavier than a 'normal' person (due to underlying anxiety) and this is what causes the horrible dizzy/boat sensations.

I've actually just been to see a neurologist for a second opinion because naturally I can't believe that anxiety can cause these very real physical symptoms... and he has also said it's anxiety related but he also mentioned pppd (persistent and perceptual postural dizziness). It sums me up exactly!

Bottom line is... there's no quick fix for it unfortunately. But tackle the anxiety at the root of it as best as you can and the dizziness lessens as a result. CBT and medication would be my two recommendations... and mindfulness can definitely be useful but for me I found it made me notice my symptoms even more. I'm in the minority though I know! It works well for most people.

I've had months out of work because of it over the last few years and even became agoraphobic, but at the moment I've got myself in an okish state and am able to work which definitely helps as it keeps me busy and I don't think about it or notice it so much. The more you focus on the symptom the worse it'll get! So much easier said than done I know. But rest assured you are not alone!!!

@statham sorry to hear you have been suffering so much with it. I was also having to take time out of work when it was at its worst. And I also felt agrophobic as was so worried about getting really dizzy in public. Stuff that I used to take for granted like going to a restaurant or going to the cinema became such a huge mission for me to accomplish.
My neurologist has mentioned that I might have pppd but he’s not 100% sure. He thinks it’s anxiety but he can’t rule things like that out yet.
I was seeing a gastroenterologist as I have IBS and he said that the boat sensation can sometimes be caused by gut issues if there is pressure being put on the vagus nerve which travels from the brain to the gut.

Also saw a gynaecologist when I was having treatment for CIN2 and she said that women can sometimes start experiencing hormonal dizziness. I do notice I flare up around ovulation and PMS.

Seems like there are so many different things that could be causing it and it’s hard to pinpoint which it is. You’re definitely right about things feeling worse when I’m focusing too much on them

Yes same Frosty, those factors definitely make it worse. I also get migraines, neck pain and nausea with it. It feels so debilatating sometimes like I feel I need to have someone with me because I feel so out if it. I appreciate the symptoms could be related to many other things but I definitely feel like it's an 'attack' of some sort. Last one was 4 days long.
Like statham said it's good not to be alone in this. Hope you're able to tackle it . I find mindfullness helps but that was pre this and I've let it slip, might need medication to really help me get started again/take the edge off.

Sorry not to get back to you sooner - RL and all that.
Yes, feeling like I'm on a ship and also if I turn too suddenly I might fall over.
I do think you need to get a prescription and go from there.

@mine seeing my dr at the end of the week so i’ll ask about the buccastem then. I want to avoid going on anxiety medication so want to try as many things as I possibly can first

Hi
I’ve just joined mumsnet to answer you and I totally sympathise, it’s a very unpleasant sensation.
My swimmy head started about 18 months ago, I can only describe it as a feeling of seasickness, I did notice it became worse when I was very anxious or stressed. Some days I avoided going out at all as it was so bad and it was sometimes accompanied by overwhelming tiredness. I now know it was definitely stress as a month ago I kicked my emotionally abusive partner out and went no contact, went to my lovely GP and confessed all, she put me on Seroxat for PTSD and I’m starting to feel human again, I haven’t felt swimmy for a couple of weeks and it’s such a relief
Stress/anxiety can cause really unpleasant physical symptoms.
I hope you can find some relief soon, you have my full sympathy.

Thanks - glad to hear you are starting to feel a lot better.
I wouldn’t wish bad anxiety on my worst enemy!

Thank you and goodness neither would I, it can be crippling!as a previous poster said Buccastem can help if you have nausea, I think it was a combination of getting rid of the stress and an SSRI, I’ve always avoided antidepressants in the past but I can honestly say that they have opened up my world.

I’m really trying to avoid medication but I’ve heard from lots of people that SSRIs made them feel back to their old selves again so maybe I should just give it a go.

This is so interesting to me... I'm convinced I have PPPD, previously CSD, linked to my anxiety, I've been adamant that I don't want to try meds but I've tried hypnotism, acupuncture, cbt, private scans - everything, it's been a very long road 😔

@pinkrabbits39 how many hypnosis sessions did u have? X