Dizziness is both common and unpleasant. When you have dizziness, you may feel lightheaded, dizzy, or off-balance.
This is not the same as feeling like things are spinning or moving, which is called vertigo. The terms dizziness and vertigo are often used as if they were the same thing, but they are different. Dizziness refers to any feeling of lightheadedness or loss of balance. On the other hand, vertigo is a unique spinning sensation, as if you or your surroundings are moving.
Can Dizziness Be a Symptom of Anxiety Disorders?
Many types of anxiety can cause you to feel dizzy for the following reasons:
- Your breathing changes: When you feel anxious, you often start breathing rapidly and deeply. This causes a drop in the level of carbon dioxide in your blood, which can cause dizziness as well as lightheadedness, nausea, and tingling in your hands and/or feet
- Your fight-or-flight instinct kicks in: Your fight-or-flight instinct is often triggered when you feel anxious, as your body prepares for what you believe is danger ahead. This can lead to a rush of adrenaline, which can make you feel dizzy and/or lightheaded
For some people, their anxiety and lightheadedness can increase to the point where they experience a panic attack. Symptoms of anxiety, lightheadedness, and dizziness can vary in intensity; on some days, the feeling may be particularly intense, and on other days, you may feel much better.
You may find that your anxiety and lightheadedness increase when you are in situations that make you afraid, such as in crowds or on public transport. Dizziness, when associated with anxiety, is often accompanied by a feeling of lightheadedness or the feeling that you might faint. To know that your dizziness is caused by your anxiety, anxiety symptoms will appear, such as fear, chaotic thoughts, increased heart rate, and inability to concentrate.
How to prevent dizziness caused by anxiety?
Being anxious and feeling faint, dizzy, and lightheaded is not a pleasant experience. Often, the occurrence of these symptoms can put you in a cycle of feeling anxious causing dizziness, which in turn worsens your anxiety.
There are many things you can do to calm your anxiety and relieve your symptoms quickly. Try these common ways to help you reduce dizziness:
- Use some relaxation techniques: breathing exercises, visualization, and muscle relaxation are all useful ways to help you calm down in the moment when you feel anxious. If you can focus beyond the feeling of dizziness and lightheadedness, relaxation techniques can be great for controlling your breathing and reducing tension in your body
- Avoid stimulants: coffee and alcohol can contribute to dehydration, which can make dizziness and lightheadedness worse. Drinking water regularly can help prevent things like headaches and help you feel better if you think you might faint
- Distract yourself: refocusing on whatever is making you feel anxious can help relieve symptoms quickly. Something as small as moving to a different room can help you refocus on what is making you anxious and therefore reduce your dizziness
- Listen to some music: certain types of music are known to reduce anxiety, help slow your heart rate and distract your mind. If you feel dizzy or faint, sit down and put on some soothing music
- Take a moment: More than anything, you need to take a moment, away from the situation that is making you feel anxious. Help yourself calm down and give your dizziness a chance to subside.
