Hi Everyone:wave:
I decided to start a new post the question about Anxiety Disorders and Dizziness has been being mentioned a lot these days. So many questions, so many unknown reasons, and most of all so much fear on how this makes us feel.
I am a Daily dizzy suffer and have been for many years, as well as a Panic Disorder suffer and a GAD suffer. I decided to start a new post for all of you interested in Daily Dizziness.
Here is what it is like for myself, I get a floating feeling, intense Falling to the side & backwards sensation, sinking to the ground feeling, a motion sensation as if I am swaying on a boat, and my favorite the good old dropping feeling you get on an elevator.. The "elevator sensation" I also feel like my head is very heavy foggy and swimmy and some days just have trouble holding it up! All these sensations I experience on a daily basis mostly 24/7 The only time I don't feel this way is if I am laying down, it seems to subside then. I have gotten many eye rolls from the Doctor's I have seen in the past.. As if these feelings were being made up in my head.. These daily sensations have caused me more anxiety and intense panic attacks.. It seems as soon as I experience any one of these sensations my panic attacks kick in full force..
OKAY so now the big question we all ask "can anxiety really make me feel dizzy" The ANSWER is yes, Doctors have known for many years that psychological disorders, such as anxiety, can cause symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. This type of dizziness was given the nonspecific name of psychogenic dizziness. Here is what I have learned through my years of struggles with anxiety related dizziness, and believe me I research and research and ask my therapist to explain it over and over again..
What disorders are associated with psychogenic dizziness a question all of us on this board commonly ask, well the truth is Several studies point to a specific set of disorders that can cause symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. All these disorders are in the anxiety disorder family and include panic attacks, certain phobias, and chronic anxiety disorders.
What symptoms are the symptoms? How does your dizziness feel? Another question we all ask on this board, the answer is Psychogenic dizziness will present with a variety of symptoms including lightheadedness, feeling heavy headed, feeling a pressure sensation in the head, feeling far away or detached from the environment, feeling like they are going to fall, and sometimes even the feeling as if you are going to faint.
Can something else be causing my dizziness? Another question that floats around here as well. And the answer is yes, inner ear disorders are the most common reasons for dizziness, In fact inner ear problems that have completely resolved but the symptoms still persist, despite the resolution of the inner ear disorder can happen. In this case I was told and found VERY interesting is that it appears the inner ear disorder triggered an anxiety, panic, or phobic state. In this situation, the psychological disorder perpetuates the dizziness, despite the fact that the underlying inner ear disorder has resolved. How interesting is that!!! I couldn't believe that when I was told by my Doctor.
Well I never had a ear infection or disorder, so what else could it be? Another question that goes through our minds.. The answer is there are several physical disorders that can present with symptoms similar to those experienced with psychogenic dizziness. Some of these conditions included anemia, thyroid disorders, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disorders, hormonal disorders.. Just to name a few. But keep in mind these disorders present many other serious symptoms and NOT JUST dizziness. So you see my anxious friends, We all know we are on this board because we suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder, But we tend to question the symptoms of our anxiety. And question whether or not our dizziness can really be just related to our disorder. And now you see that it in fact can!!!! Anxiety Disorder can come out in us in so many ways not just dizziness, and I think it should be know that the mind is a powerful weapon and sometimes when we suffer from this condition we tend too become so sensitive to what we feel .... I know that's how it is for myself!! I hope many of you can relate to my post as well as find comfort in knowing IF YOU are one of the Psychogenic dizzy suffers you are in fact Not by any means alone!!! I am a suffer as well...
If you found interest in this post perhaps my post titled My Disease Called Anxiety would be helpful to you as well. This is also located on the anxiety board... You Just have to search for it.. My best to all and any thoughts or comments I'd love to hear!! Remember finding comfort in others who are feeling as you is the best medicine in the world!!! Boxerlover:angel:

A week or 2 before I started getting anxiety/panic attacks I was on medication for an ear infection. I woke up one day feeling fine, went to work and a few hours later began to feel very dizzy. Called my dr because I new this was ear related. Gave me medication and said "if it's viral it won't do a thing". After I took all of the meds i then began to have the attacks. (It didn't help that I was drinking 10 to 12 cups of coffee a day.) I have since been back to the drs because I didnt know at the time this was anxiety - one dr said I had an ear infection, 2 days later after my face got numb another dr said you don;t have an ear infection. I demanded an CAT scan. They gave me one and found nothing. I have been dizzy and foggy ever since. And like you the only time I get relief is when I am lying down. This is making life very difficult to live in this fog all of the time. I am on Celexa for about 2 weeks and although it has helped with panic I am still dizzy and foggy. Maybe it's klonopin I take at night? I was foggy before that though. Sorry this long winded but i needed to get this out. Thanks for reading

Hi boxer,
Thank you for posting all your experience with the dizzy spells. I really saw myself in some of your statements. I try to go off meds after being on them for several years, but only make it about 3yrs. and then I have to go back on. I discovered that even when I am off the meds I have dizzy spells. I remember times in the evening when suddenly I felt as if I couldn't get from the den to the bedroom to retire after watching TV., I was so dizzy and I wasn't on any medicine, so I couldn't blame it on that. I'ts pretty scary and you keep asking yourself, what caused it? I don't have any problems with my ears either, I have known for several years that it is my anxiety, but it still frightens me. My daughter has the problem too, and I'm always reassuring her that it is anxiety. So far, she has been able to stay off drugs and control her anxiety and I hope she never has to go through what I go through on a daily basis. If I stay on meds. the problems with dizziness seem to really ease up and I barely notice them. I hope someday they make a safe medicine for anxiety that you can stay on for 30 or 40yrs. if you have to and it keeps working so you don't have to worry about changing your meds if they poop out on you. That is the only reason I stop my medicine every few years is to give my body a rest, but the relapses are horrible, I wish I could feel safe about never going off so I could feel good until my time is up of old age.

Thanks for posting about this.

Hey boxerlover! Great post! I hope that someday I can get to where you are and believe that my "dizziness" is caused by my anxiety. I'm not quite there yet. My unsteadiness started before the anxiety, so who knows? You sound very positive in your post, so maybe both of our minds are getting better since the beginning of the week. :D

p.s. I'm planning on dumping the cigs this weekend so hopefully I'll see you on the cs board.

Have a great day!

Good Morning My dizzy Friends~ :wave:

Some days I believe it is my "anxiety" some days I don't! I realize I have other issues with my headaches and such, so I do attribute a lot of the dizziness to that as well as my Tmj problems. I just wanted to reassure others that "anxiety alone" can cause dizziness, as well as the foggy head feelings.
It just seems as if all us dizzy suffers :dizzy: are constantly not getting straight answers from our Doctor's as if these symptoms are non existence in the medical world, unless you have a ear disorder than they relate your balance problems to that. It's very frustrating, very scary, and very real!!
I myself have spent years struggling with these feelings and I just wanted to share as much information about the relationship to anxiety and dizziness that I have. The bottom line is even if your anxiety is related to your dizziness or your dizziness is related to your anxiety, It still is a delibitating symptom that we struggle with daily and can wear you down mentally.
It's real, it's not something we "think" we feel and finding a treatment/solution is my new focus and goal. I don't feel as if myself or any of us suffers should have to feel like this the rest of our lives!! When we feel dizzy just "telling" ourselves that it is just "anxiety" is not going to make the feelings any less dizzy..
I truly feel for all my dizzy friends on this board because I know the daily struggles you face as well as living in a world of fear and anxiety, it truly is a challenge each day "trying" to live a normal life when feeling like this.
I am glad I started this post and hope others will share their struggles with this as well as their story or experience, so our support and comfort could be that much more!! Knowing others understand, and feel what you feel makes your day being dizzy :dizzy: a little more tolerable..
Thanks for all your support to those who have responded so far.. I look forward to more feed back on this subject...
Leela~ I am ready when you are I will look for you this weekend on the cs board!! I know it isn't going to be easy but I know the time has come as well to kick the habit, One less illness my anxious mind has to hopefully worry about!!! ;) I will check in with you all later today!! Boxerlover :angel:

Hi Guys, This is sooo interesting to me as I have been having dizzy spells lately. I personally believe that meds are a big contributor to the problem, but have found other many other causes too. It might help our drs to do a little tracking of when the dizziness started & other notekeeping in order to figure out what might be causing our dizziness.
Has anyone ever heard of ear crystals?
There is a condition called BPPV--benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A very common disorder which may be accompanied by hearing loss, reduced cognitive function and facial muscle weakness. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo occurs when debris made up of calcium carbonate and protein (called otoliths or ear crystals) builds up in and damages the inner ear. Inner ear degeneration (usually occurs in elderly patients), head trauma, and inner ear infection (e.g., otitis media, labyrinthitis) can cause BPPV.

Some medications and environmental chemicals (e.g., lead, mercury, tin) can cause ototoxicity (i.e., ear poisoning), which may result in damage to the inner ear or the 8th cranial nerve (acoustic nerve) and cause vertigo. The damage can be permanent or temporary.

Long-term use or high doses of certain antibiotics (e.g., aminoglycosides [streptomycin, gentamicin]) and antineoplastics (e.g., cisplatin, carboplatin) can cause permanent ototoxicity.
The list goes on and on....
I hope to soon find out what is causing my dizziness, so that I can get back to making it though a whole day without lying down. Best wishes to all of you!

Hi Kidd123~

Thanks for adding to this post! I am sorry to hear you are a daily dizzy suffer as well, but on the flip side I am glad you understand what the other dizzy suffers feel. I just wanted to say thanks and I know what you go through feeling as if most of your days are spent laying down. It's such a depressing feeling. Please keep this post going by updates, and any new information you may wish to post. I will do the same... I just wanted you to know your not alone:)
Feel better Boxerlover:angel:

Well, as most of my posts mention, I also suffer from the dizzys. It's 24/7 and it is wearing me out. I have been on disability for 2yrs now due to panic disorder, and I sooo feel for you people that have to hold down a job, while feeling this way. I just don't know how you do it. Some days I can barely get my dishes done. The only thing that helps me also is laying down, but then I end up sleeping way too much. But it's the only relief I seem to get. I am fed up with no answers by all the doctors I have seen over the years. Nobody should have to suffer on a daily basis with all the things we suffer with. What kind of life is this?
I've been thinking about starting a support group in my home, but I really have no idea how to go about it. I just wonder how many people in my area suffer in silence, with nobody to talk to that understands. I know for me, my neighbors had no idea I was going through any of this, because i've learned to hide it so well. After being invited over and over to social stuff, I finally just told them why I don't attend. Now instead of them thinking I'm just anti-social, they know I suffer from panic disorder, agoraphobia, etc. And in the process, I found out one of their sons suffers from the same issues. I see him almost everyday, and had no idea. Maybe if we all just knew others around us are going through the same things, we wouldn't feel so alone, and assume everyone is just so happy in their lives.
Well anyway, hope that all makes sense, sometimes I can just go on and on.

I would just like to stop the dizzys, because that affects me more than anything. If anyone ever comes up with a solution.....post it immediately in BIG BOLD LETTERS. :D

Diane
:angel:

Thank you for starting an intelligent discussion on this. I am glad you addressed the link between inner ear disorder and anxiety. Coming to this detailed diagnosis has taken forever for me (2.5 months has been like forever for me).

I have been through the lightheadedness, bluriness in vision and fatigue. It happened all of sudden one day, went away after 3 days and then returned to stay 24/7.

Another important fact about this is that postpartum depression/anxiety has been severly underdiagnosed due to social stigmas. My son was 6 months old when this started all of sudden. I did not believe it to be postpartum because I had heard of postpartum anxiety hitting someone immediately after giving birth, but in reality it can hit any time upto a year.

Best Wishes for a speedy full recovery to all.

Hi temp:wave:
I find what you wrote very interesting as well. I have been an anxiety/panic suffer for a few years prior to the birth of my daughter. Along with the attacks of dizziness/vertigo which became a 24/7 thing for me as well.. Then during my pregnancy the symptoms diminished almost completly.. Well after giving birth I felt okay up until maybe 4/5 months.. Then the anxiety and all the other wonderful symptoms returned... EVEN WORSE... I was like you I thought post~partum happened right after giving birth.. I guess I was wrong!! You mentioned you had a link between inner ear and the anxiety.. what was your diagnosis may I ask? Or was it all anxiety related?
If you don't mind me asking.. Thanks Boxerlover:angel:

Hi Boxlover,
The link between inner ear disorder and anxiety is what you mentioned in your first post:
"In this case I was told and found VERY interesting is that it appears the inner ear disorder triggered an anxiety, panic, or phobic state. In this situation, the psychological disorder perpetuates the dizziness, despite the fact that the underlying inner ear disorder has resolved. How interesting is that!!! I couldn't believe that when I was told by my Doctor. "

Actually I had come to a similar conclusion a few days ago. Probably what hit me initially was an inner ear viral infection - which got better after 2 days but then the lightheadedness/bluriness hit me again and stayed for 24/7 later (which was a manifestation of anxiety).

Postpartum anxiety/depression is very real and DOES hit anytime upto a year. All of these symptoms of anxiety can be caused by it. I think that once one realises this it can help one cope with it better. The worst part about all of this is getting to this diagnosis - all of the tests MRI/CTs/blood work can cause an immense amount of anxiety and hence one feels that the symptoms are becoming worse.

With Regards,
Temp

hi boxerlover brilliant post youve got the dizziness issue spot on. i had it for 4 years solid and it was my anxiety. as i got better and became calmer and stopped tensing my body the dizziness subsided and eventually went. i still get it back when im anxious or stressed. i had everything you described.neck tension is also a cause of balance problems and as we all know we put alot of tension on our bodies with anxiety so neck massage,heat packs or relaxation exercises will help.langy x

Thanks Langy:wave:
I am sorry you were a dizzy suffer as well. It really takes a toll. I have been suffering for years with this as well, I guess as long as my anxiety and panic disorder first started back in 1997!! I feel like this everyday worse when my anxiety is at a high of course. There are so many others feeling this same way, wondering why, and if.. and that seems to make things alot worse.. I just wanted every other dizzy suffer that suffers from anxiety also to know that they are not alone.. As well as that their sympotms are VERY real!! I find tons of comfort in others sharing their feelings, thoughts, and expereince
as well.. So I thank you for doing just that! It's medicine alone... and you are right about the tightness in neck, I have this as well!! Thanks again for sharing.:) Boxerlover:angel:

I will make this extremly brief:
I have very semiliar problem, axept mine is a little worse, and it happens to me either staning, sitting,lying.
I think the biggest problem for me is that i'm afraid of passing out,(because i have passing out episodes) sometimes, well actually all the time, when someone is talking to me for more than about 10 seconds, i begin to feel very weird, dizzy, and my legs begin to get very weak so i have to hold on to something...(because i'm thinking: "oh no, what if i begin to feel like i'm gonna faint..")and it usualy happens when I'm around when thereare lots of people.. there is also a different feeling that i get, but that one is because of blood pressure..

Hello Iov,
I am sorry to hear you are having such a hard time with this symptom. Are you currently taking any medications to help treat your anxiety and dizziness? If it makes you feel any better I too feel this way sometimes. I believe it has to do with "social anxiety disorder" I also suffer from panic disorder which is always triggered in large crowds for me as well as other situations. It's amazing how anxiety can manifiest into so many different
things.. I hope you feel better soon, all my best Boxerlover! :angel:

What about the dizziness when you close your eyes to sleep??? i get it really bad then, just like my head is spinning. also, in my dreams lots of times i am really dizzy, to the point where I can't walk. also, having vertigo. I look down and things just "swim". anyone ever experienced this?

Hi Boxerlover,
I am new to this forum {REMOVED}

I can so relate to your post. I have had my anxiety for 3 years and have had .25mg of Xanax perscribed. I only take it every now and then but since Friday last week I have been taking one or 2 each day. On the friday in question I was standing at work having a chat not feeling anxious (or more then normal) and I suddenly felt like I was falling/passing out. I turned my head quickly to focus on something else and the feeling went away, then of course I went all red and my heart races and I felt sick etc.

About an hour later I was sitting at my desk and leaned forward to get a drink and then when I leant back it felt like I was falling of my chair backwards. So then I freaked right out thinking that there is something major wrong. I took one of my xanax.
The rest of the time up until now I have not had anymore of these "turns" but I have been feeling off balance and like I am in a bit of a dream. Is this how they started for you?
I have learnt to deal with all the aspects of my anxiety but this one is knocking my for 6.
I went to my doctor and he wants to change me from Xanax to Zoloft! I don't want to do that because with my xanax I take it as needed and it work straight away, I don't want to be on something daily.
thanks for listening

I can relate to the dizzy spell but mine is different from most of yours. Maybe someboby can help me out. I do fine until I lay down at night to go to bed and when I lay my hed on my pillow, for a couple of seconds it's like everything is spinning around me, Also when I get up during the night ior of the morning, if I raise up out of bed and stand up, I get so dizzy that I fall back down on the bed and I have even fell into the wall in front of me. I have also noticed if I look up at something towards the ceiling, I feel like everything is spinning and then it stops. Or if i look down, I get dizzy. I do have high blood pressure and I am on medication for it but I have never done this before. Can anybody relate to this and maybe help me? Thanks

Jan:)

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That's exactly how I felt when I was diagnosed with BPV. See an ENT who should be very familiar with it and they can do a simple maneuver with your head to fix it. There is a very high success rate for the Epley maneuver but unfortunately, 5-10% doesn't work and I'm one of them. Look up Benign Positional Vertigo and you'll be surprised. Hope this helps.

Hello bek262:wave:

First I want to explain the "Feeling like you are in a dream" comment you made. What you are describing is called Depersonalization which is nothing more then a SYMPTOM of an anxiety disorder. Depersonalization can not exist without anxiety, but anxiety can exist without depersonalization.
Depersonalization is caused by a shift in the part of the brain that provides us with a 'real' awareness of our environment, which are caused by changes which occur in the way nerve signals are processed by the brain during anxiety disorders. I DID tons of research on this myself, in fear of thinking I was going crazy!!
Depersonalization can include feelings of, unreal unattached, spaciness like a dream state, spaced~out, feeling like your head is in a fog, withdrawn, and dreamlike state.. Derealization is completely harmless but can be very disturbing. I know I myself often have depersonalization/derealization feelings
For me I feel at times as if my surroundings just don't seem real, everything
becomes vivid in a way and places or people that I know don't seem real at times. I feel like I am looking at things through a mirror or movie screen if that makes sense.. It's just all part of this wonderful disorder!!!
AS for the dizziness. I feel like I am falling to the side, backwards, forward as if I am being forced or pulled it's that intense. I also feel like I am sinking, swaying like I have been drinking all day, along with a floaty feeling like my body weight is almost weight less.. I get the sensation as if I am on an elevator going up or down that same dropping feeling that too is very intense. I use to just get them a few times throughout the day. I remember my FIRST sensation which was years ago I was sitting at my desk at work and I felt an intense falling sensation. It scared the heck out of me and followed with a major panic attack.. I now have these wonderful feelings on a daily basis and if I am having a stressful anxious day they are that much more intense. I still think it could be related to something other then anxiety, I am thinking my daily headches, or possable inner ear or my TMJ which is
(jaw problems) from clenching do to stress.. It's hard to determine if the anxiety is causing the dizziness or if the dizziness is causing the anxiety, But I can tell you this if one is worse for me one day that means the other is 100 times worse also!! :dizzy: Do you find the xanax calms things down for you? meaning you feel these sensations less after taking the xanax? Has it been mentioned to you that it's all anxiety related or did your Doctor mentioned possiable ear realted? I find if I take a xanax same as you .25mg the feelings are less intense. I still have them but they aren't as bad, it kind of takes the edge off the dizziness. I was told that benzo's like xanax are used to treat inner ear disorders as well it helps calm down the signal to the brain from the inner ear.
You mentioned you have had anxiety for three years, did this symptom just start happening? I can tell you from my own that I was an anxious anxiety suffer before I became dizzy and that the dizziness just happend one day like I said sitting at my desk at work "9 YEARS AGO" and haven't left me since!!! A long time so I am a pro at what you are feeling and have a lot of research under my belt when it comes to vertigo!!! :rolleyes:
I hope you as well as anyone else out there feeling this way has found some comfort in this post. Please keep me up~dated and any thoughts or questions let me know.. Boxerlover :angel:

Hi Boxerlover,
Yep the xanax takes the edge off but I do still feel off balance. I have never had any troubles with my ears. I do get sinus troubles - well it feels like sinus - for the last 3 years and I know that I have a sist in my sinus canal. I have had millions of test - been to 3 cardioligist because I was so sure I had a heart condition but they all come back with "healthy heart" anxiety is the trouble. I guess they can't all be wrong

Sounds like you have looked into each and every symptom fully. How do you handle your anxiety? Do you still lead a normal (as possible) life? I read alot of self help book and somethimes I go months with out having to take my xanax, this can be bad though because you forget how bad it is so when it comes back it hits you like a tonne of bricks.

I have a 2 and a half year old, so I tried each day to lead a normal as possible life for her. I dont want her to have the memories of a mother that couldn't do anything of go anywhere etc.
I am currently seeing a hypnotherapist - my second visit is today at 1.00pm. Not sure if it is working or not because at the moment we are trying to find the problem - once we do hopefully we can get rid of it!

Bek

Hey Bek262~

I know how you feel completly.. I have a "almost" 2 year old daughter and I feel the same way as you. But somedays I am so dizzy I have such a hard time just functioning...
Are your "dizzy" feelings like mine? The floaty swaying falling sinking feelings?
I can honestly say I have them for so long you think I would be use to it by now.. I read a lot of self help books.. I did 2 years of therapy and take a xanax when days are bad.. I am like you I had a time where my anxiety went away during my pregnancy and then after birth wham came back even stronger! I am starting to learn that I have a habit of not breathing correctly, meaning I breath from my chest not my belly.. So I tend to walk around in a hyperventilation state, which is common in panic disorder. I am not walking around gasping for air or panting, just not breathing right because I am always on guard for the next attack.. It's called Hyperventilation syndrome!
Yeap another wonderful syndrome related to anxiety!!!
I did tons of research over the years and learned a lot through threapy and mostly I get through my days with support from others that are going throught the same.. I wrote another topic called my disease called anxiety on this board I think you will find that post of intrest. I will bump it up to the first page hopefully you will find it and it also will be helpful to you! keep me posted on your answers to the dizziness I am interested to find out if it's all anxiety related... :rolleyes: Any questions or thoughts I am always around here lending support as well as gaining! Good Luck Boxerlover:angel:

my god reading your post - I had to check that I hadn't written it!!! The breathing thing is spot on. I too breath through my chest rather then my belly. short shallow breaths all the time. Doctor reckons that this is some of the reason for my dizziness. Mornings are normally the worse for me I walk around sighing all morning or yawning! Sound familiar
Do you get cold hands sometimes too?
Yep my dizziness is how your described it definantly. I have always had dizziness with my anxiety but like I said the last 10 days or so I have had the falling feeling like you discribed so well. Too really bad attacks where I was just chatting an then felt like I was falling forward and going to pass out the next time while sitting and then leaning back on my chari felt like I was falling to the floor! They where so scary and since then I have just been off balance and it is like I am waiting for another to happen.

I always related the dizziness to my heart rate. I have a resting heart rate of about 60bpm and a holter monitor showed a sleeping heart rate of 33bpm which had me so freaked out but 3 cardiologists later and being told that I have a large heart therefore it doesn't have to beat as fast as others has put me a bit at rest. But it is so hard to be reassured when I am feeling dizzy and tired. This is what caused my anxiety in the first place I am SURE. now each day I think about it but try not to worry. I guess if it got too low I would pass out and then they would have to give me a pacemaker or something. However whenever I am dizzy and I take my heart rate it is normal 60bpm perfect the cardioligists would say!!
I didn't know however that a low heart rate is a sign of anxiety. Cause everone always talks about heart racing etc no one ever talks about slow heart rate. The doctor said to me that a lot of people have a sleeping heart rate in the 30's even 20's but they never know it because they nevet get monitored.

have you had heart monitors etc?

hey Bek262~
I happen to be one of those who have the fast heart rates.. Sometimes 120bp my resting heart rate is in the 70's and when sleeping in the 50-60's
I had all the heart test done years ago about 3 and everything came back good.. They said it was anxiety related.. Now after a few years I start worring again about the heart issues again.. But when I take a xanax the heart rate goes back to normal. So I am thinking it's all still anxiety related.
As for the cold hands.. ALL DAY LONG!! My hands are always cold!!! I always feel chilled with anxiety not so much sweating.. I too have the falling feeling it's really strange that we both feel it the same way. Like were going to fall or pass out, it's such a unpleasant intense feeling. I try to explain it and so many Doctors look at me like I am crazy.. I guess because I never actually passed out.. when you get a chance look up Hyperventilation syndrome if you haven't already.. You will be amazed at the symptoms and how dizziness and vertigo plays a major role in this syndrome. So your Doctor may be right.
Even when we are not panicking or having anxiety if your breathing pattern is wrong it could cause a tremendous amount of symptoms.
Sometimes I catch myself and then I start the sighs, and yawns. I always feel like I am walking around holding my breath if that sounds Familiar!
I want you to know I was like you always anxious and then one day woke up with the falling feeling and that was it, it became such a vicious cycle..
Keep me posted I am looking for my other post I told you about.. Hope you get a chance to read it.. I'm here if you need to talk or any thoughts I truly understand! Boxerlover (Boxers Leave Paw Prints In Our Hearts Forever) :angel:

holding my breath YES YES YES.

I am going to look up hyperventilation syndrome - I always said that is one thing that I never had with my anxiety, because I thought that it was like in the movies gasping for breath and that sort of thing little did I know it was what happens to me each day.

we are so similar I am so sure we will help each other.

I have a tight chest today too - went to the physio yesterday as I have heaps of trouble with my neck because I am always SO tense. So today I am feling bruised and sore. AND OF COURSE the oain inmy neck and shoulders also makes my upper chest hurt!!!
Also have very dry throat and feel like my eyes are so tired - I think this is sinus?

Are you on anything other then the xanax? My doctor suggested last week went I went to him about he dizziness that we try Zoloft - but this is a daily thing. I like xanax cause I take it when I needed it. I must admit of late it has been daily - I haven't taken any today or yesterday though.

I am off to my hypnotherapist appointment - it is 12.15pm here in Australia - not sure what time it is there but I will message you when I return to tell you how it went. The first time I cried my eyes out thinking of good and bad stuff that has happened. Lets see today!!!

Hi bek262~
I will be here with my fingers crossed that your appointment goes well.
I am in New york and it's now 11pm on Monday. I am usually on at night because during the day I am chasing the little one around!
I will send you all my information I learned on "hyper~ syndrome" I am telling you we are a lot alike and I am sure of it that we will help each other!!
I tried the SSRI's like zoloft but it just increased my anxiety so I stopped. Perhaps you will have better results.. My neck is a mess too always tight and my chest is the same, but that is from the way we breath, Put your hand under your breast and you should take a deep breath in through your nose, this should make your hand move, then you know you are breathing the way you should with your belly :) then slowly release the breath through your nose again. Not your mouth! After doing this you should feel calmer it's a breathing exercise I have learned over the years, simple but important in the way we breath. See you and I we walk around holding our breaths and we hold it in our chest. This causes alot of discomfort in many areas of our body as well as mind because we are actually lowering our carbon dioxide in our blood stream by hyperventilating.
I will check back later to see how you did at your appointment. I moved up the post I was telling you about.. hope you find it! Boxerlover:wave:

today was a good session

last week we found out that when I was 4 and my parents left me with my granny for 6 weeks that she filled my head with alot of thoughts about death and being scared of dying etc lots more.
Anyway, today we went back and I face granny as a full grown adult and told her how she hurt me by telling me these things and that she was wrong etc and got her to apologise and then let her go. She id dead anyway but this was a way of letting the problem go.

She says that my anxiety is to do with the seperation from my family and they fear that she made me beleive.

The funny thing is that I never thought of this until Thursday when I met with her so it is true that things so small can hae a huge impact.
I am back next week.

I am about to look into the hypo symdrome!

Hi boxerlover,
Just wanted to thank you for telling me about hyperventilation syndrome. I printed heaps off of the net yesterday and have started watching my breathing and only breathing through my nose and today - most of the day - I have felt great.
Thanks heaps

Hello Bek262:wave:
Your very welcome!! I find it amazing that when you step back for a moment and look at something as simple as "the way we breath" throughout the day and find that we are in fact walking around Hyperventilating and don't even realize it until we practice breathing correctly! I walk around feeling like I am holding my breath all day, as I mentioned to you before and sometimes I catch myself as well.. I am glad you are feeling alittle better today and now you are aware at what you were doing as far as your breathing pattern goes..
You mentioned in therapy you learned about things from your childhood and the fear of death that was brought into your mind at such a young age. I found this interesting because a similar situation was brought up in my therapy session. I fear death and illness due to what I thought was a loss at such a young age, My grandma who was very special to me like a second mother in a way had passed when I was young and her passing was my first experience with death. I was with her when she passed and the image replays in my mind over and over again still till this day. My loss was so deep and the hurt was so great I missed her dearly each day that passed without her presence. And I kept having a hard time getting past the last moments spent with her. BUT my therapist seems to think it's not so much the "being there" with her when she passed, nor the hurt so much from the loss. But more the LEARN behavior I was taught about the fear of dying and illness. So you see as things are deeply brought up from your childhood that you never even realized effected you or never really came out as anxiety up until now you will begin to learn that anxiety can live inside us for many years knocking at the door to come in and when we are "less" aware is when it takes us over and comes out in symptom form. And after being in therapy for awhile you will see that it becomes an elimination process meaning you will go through things in your life that may or may not have caused you some anxiety or phobia and address them all individually like you did your grandma, and eventually you begin to eliminate each anxiety, each phobia, and each fear.. For example I am VERY claustrophobic, if someone is standing to close to me I feel smothered. I never could understand why and after years of therapy I realized that after my grandmothers funeral the coffin was closed and this instilled a claustrophobia feeling to me. And from that moment on I couldn't stand to be in a situation where I felt like I was trapped or closed in.. I never related the two together until I started therapy and was brought back to my past.. AMAZING how the mind works, amazing how the mind remembers!!!
I just wanted to share that with you because I think you and I share a lot of the same phobias, fears and symptoms... I think therapy all though at times maybe draining in the long run will make you stronger, more aware of your feelings more aware of why you are anxious and in the end you will see how much it has actually changed and helped you for the better! Good Luck:)
keep me posted and I am here if you have any thoughts or questions. Boxerlover:angel: (keep the breathing pattern going);)

I agree totally.
Yesterday like I said was a great day, I had not taken my xanax for 4 days which was good because prior to that I had taken them every day for a week!! Normally I take them once a month if that. Well like I was saying yesterday was a great day but the night was a differant story I got home and started cooking tea and the feelings started. Sudden fatigue, nausia, chest pain etc. I tried to breath through it but to not escape so I took my xanax - it took an hour to work and it was a bad hour!

I think that I might go back to taking one each morning whether I need it or not until I am feeling back on top of things. Each day it is a challenge at the moment and I want to stop that and if it means taking a xanax each morning for a week or to I am going to do that.

What do you think?

I know that feeling all to well.. an hour feels like forever!
I agree if the xanax is helping why stop, I take mine as needed also but latley I have been taking them daily as well due to feeling very anxious.
I think the xanax and the therapy is the right track... You will begin to see as I did that the xanax blocks the anxiety and panic attacks, and what happens is eventually your mind becomes trained from not having them that after your therapy treatments and finding the route to the cause and learning how to deal with it your need for the xanax will no longer exist. Meaning you will learn to handle the anxiety in a diffrent manor. Right now everyday is a challange and so many things are being brought out in therapy that the xanax can be very helpful to the recovery of your disorder as I said before it helps block the anxiety and the panic. I say continue the xanax if you feel it is helping you, why suffer..
That's my opinion from my own experinces!:)
Boxerlover :angel:

you are on the same .25mg aren't you?

Do you sometimes take more then one a day? When I was first on them some times I would take one in the morning, one at lunch and one at night.

I agree my anxiety has risen since starting therapy so I think that I will go back to taking them daily until I have none for a while then ween myself back off them until I am back where I was 6 months ago!

I think that I took to much for granted I weened myself off the pills and didn't deal with the anxiety. So I started trting to go back to normal and it slowly resurfaced.

I have taken one of my xanax this morning - even though I was feeling not to bad and will more then likely take one tonight if I feel on edge.

hi boxerlover brilliant post youve got the dizziness issue spot on. i had it for 4 years solid and it was my anxiety. as i got better and became calmer and stopped tensing my body the dizziness subsided and eventually went. i still get it back when im anxious or stressed. i had everything you described.neck tension is also a cause of balance problems and as we all know we put alot of tension on our bodies with anxiety so neck massage,heat packs or relaxation exercises will help.langy x

Hello langy and boxerlover
I am too a dizzy/ sense of off balance (light headed/ foggy/ hazy) sufferer. I have been from May this year. I went to the hospital end of April because I had left sided aching muscles and tingling in my hand and leg. Plus a tension style pain in my left side of my head, cheek, eyebrow, eye. So basically my left side of my face, neck, shoulder, arm, underarm leg and foot was aching. The hospital kept me in for one night and a Neurologist came to see me and ordered an MRI. The next day I had the MRI and there was nothing significantly wrong except a few white patches that are apparently can be normal or due to migraine sufferer which I dont think I am. Anyway he ordered another MRI in 4 months time which I had the other day. I am waiting to go and see him next week so he can explain the results. In the meantime, my dizziness lasted for about six weeks since end of April and then disappeared only to return end of July and it is still with me now. My GP referred me to ENT specialist and I had tests yesterday. I am waiting to see the doc next week. But it looks like my balance is fine even though I feel these symptoms since I can drive and do things but really have shrunk back from a lot of social activities since Im feeling generally off balance and light headed. So I have been told that it could be anxiety as well since I have had a lot of stressful relationship issues in the last year. My chiro thinks Im tensing my body, anxious etc, similar to your symptoms above.

Ive been going for walks, do yoga twice a week, had acupuncture and nothing seems to be working.

Please tell me, how are you feeling now? I hope you are better, and if you are how did you get better?
Is anyone else feeling the same way as me?
I am due to go on a business trip in 6 weeks and am seriously thinking of cancelling due to this "unwell" feeling.

hey Bek262~
I happen to be one of those who have the fast heart rates.. Sometimes 120bp my resting heart rate is in the 70's and when sleeping in the 50-60's
I had all the heart test done years ago about 3 and everything came back good.. They said it was anxiety related.. Now after a few years I start worring again about the heart issues again.. But when I take a xanax the heart rate goes back to normal. So I am thinking it's all still anxiety related.
As for the cold hands.. ALL DAY LONG!! My hands are always cold!!! I always feel chilled with anxiety not so much sweating.. I too have the falling feeling it's really strange that we both feel it the same way. Like were going to fall or pass out, it's such a unpleasant intense feeling. I try to explain it and so many Doctors look at me like I am crazy.. I guess because I never actually passed out.. when you get a chance look up Hyperventilation syndrome if you haven't already.. You will be amazed at the symptoms and how dizziness and vertigo plays a major role in this syndrome. So your Doctor may be right.
Even when we are not panicking or having anxiety if your breathing pattern is wrong it could cause a tremendous amount of symptoms.
Sometimes I catch myself and then I start the sighs, and yawns. I always feel like I am walking around holding my breath if that sounds Familiar!
I want you to know I was like you always anxious and then one day woke up with the falling feeling and that was it, it became such a vicious cycle..
Keep me posted I am looking for my other post I told you about.. Hope you get a chance to read it.. I'm here if you need to talk or any thoughts I truly understand! Boxerlover (Boxers Leave Paw Prints In Our Hearts Forever) :angel:

Hello Boxerlover, wow your posts seem exactly the way I feel. I just joined this board after looking up Dizziness and after scaring myself with all the wonderful stuff on the Net that dizziness could be, Im lucky I found you on here. Now I didnt think that I was panicking as I was always socialising and working. I know that I am a bit anxious and get nervous and worry very easily.
I am wondering how you are now? And what you have been doing to get better? Ive never taken Zoloft or Xanax, are they beneficial?

Hello langy and boxerlover
I am too a dizzy/ sense of off balance (light headed/ foggy/ hazy) sufferer. I have been from May this year. I went to the hospital end of April because I had left sided aching muscles and tingling in my hand and leg. Plus a tension style pain in my left side of my head, cheek, eyebrow, eye. So basically my left side of my face, neck, shoulder, arm, underarm leg and foot was aching. The hospital kept me in for one night and a Neurologist came to see me and ordered an MRI. The next day I had the MRI and there was nothing significantly wrong except a few white patches that are apparently can be normal or due to migraine sufferer which I dont think I am. Anyway he ordered another MRI in 4 months time which I had the other day. I am waiting to go and see him next week so he can explain the results. In the meantime, my dizziness lasted for about six weeks since end of April and then disappeared only to return end of July and it is still with me now. My GP referred me to ENT specialist and I had tests yesterday. I am waiting to see the doc next week. But it looks like my balance is fine even though I feel these symptoms since I can drive and do things but really have shrunk back from a lot of social activities since Im feeling generally off balance and light headed. So I have been told that it could be anxiety as well since I have had a lot of stressful relationship issues in the last year. My chiro thinks Im tensing my body, anxious etc, similar to your symptoms above.

Ive been going for walks, do yoga twice a week, had acupuncture and nothing seems to be working.

Please tell me, how are you feeling now? I hope you are better, and if you are how did you get better? Do you think that my stiff neck could be causing the dizziness and perhaps holding my breath which I have caught myself doing expecially when Im talking too quickly.
Is anyone else feeling the same way as me?
I am due to go on a business trip in 6 weeks and am seriously thinking of cancelling due to this "unwell" feeling.

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