Question:
I've posted here a couple times before about the dizziness and other
weird symptoms I've been having. It all seems to be related to
anxiety, although my doctor is still running tests (I've had an MRI,
ENG, bloodwork--all negative). Next up: tilt table test. It's been a
strange 3 months!
Anyway, my question is: for those of us who have near constant
dizziness related to anxiety, what is causing the dizziness? Is it
hyperventilation? I don't notice that I'm hyperventilating. My
therapist suggested that it is caused by neck tension constricting
blood vessels to the brain. Or is it chemical? All of the above?
Different for each person?
I'm trying to figure out how to go about reducing my symptoms. My pDoc
put me on Remeron. But I've not tried a benzo. He doesn't seem to
favor them. I'm thinking of finding a new one (this guy actually dozed
off during one of my sessions--no, I'm serious! It was like straight
out of a Woody Allen film! And he costs a fortune!)
Answer:
if you have *near constant* dizziness, I think you need to see your
doctor and have some tests. It could be something physical.
Dizziness is certainly a known symptom of anxiety, and many people
experience it, but not on a near constant basis.
the last psychologist i saw said i was hyperventilating even though i didn't
think i was.. he was staring at my chest for ages, i just thought maybe he
was a bit of a randy bastard! but it turns out he was just watching my
breathing. i get dizziness all the time, it's low blood pressure and the
fact that i breath incredibly fast, even when i'm calm!
you might not know you're doing it if you do it all the time, i didn;t
realise at all! it's just the normal way i breath. one day i counted how
many breaths i took in one minute when i was calm, then counted how many my
tiny little cairn terrier took. they were very nearly the same amount!
anyway because i breath so fast, it only takes the tiniest change in my
breathing rate to make me feel really, really dizzy.. you could be doing
something similar, i don't know. i didn't think i was doing it until someone
told me... and even then, i'd seen loads of people before who hadn't
mentioned it!
i;ve been giving 4 fold breathing exercises to do, to make it slower.
they're really hard though...
