One explanation for why anxiety and dizziness often go together is to do with the fight or flight response.  When we are anxious our bodies natural protection mechanism, the flight or flight response, tries to protect us by focusing our energy and attention on the perceived threat. It draws blood towards our core and gives less resources to unnecessary functions.

Somewhere along the line our balance mechanism in our inner ear is disrupted causing what is a harmless although unpleasant symptom.  It should be noted that dizziness can be caused by other things than anxiety, so a trip to the doctor to rule out ear infections, viruses, labyrinthitis and other physical causes is important.

Assuming it is anxiety, the best thing to do is to come to terms with it. It is harmless and passes quickly as soon as you relax. The problem is that because it feels so unpleasant we tend to assume it is more serious than it is, and this causes us to worry more and feed the fear cycle.

If dizziness from anxiety is a serious problem for you then the normal anxiety medications like SSRI’s and Benzodiazepines may well help. There is also a drug called prochlorperazine (marketed as Stemetil and Buccastem) which is used to treat dizziness and associated nausea or vomiting. Relying on drugs might not be wise though, why not also consider something like Panic Away to help you relax and cure anxiety.

Really though, drugs should be a last resort. Easier to say than do, but if you can accept anxiety symptoms they will pass, lessen and eventually disappear, and dizziness is no exception. Try taking some calming breaths and telling yourself that the dizziness you are experiencing is just an unpleasant symptom and nothing else.

Anxiety symptoms can be straight forward:

Hyperventilation

Palpitations

Churning Stomach

Difficulty breathing

These are the ones that people often mention. But there are many other symptoms that might also indicate anxiety or extreme stress:

Irritability

Vertigo/dizziness

Insomnia

Nausea

Upset stomach (diarrhea/constipation etc)

Feelings of unreality (feeling disassociated, disconnected or odd/ungrounded)

Restlessness

Playing with hands or touching ones face or forehead.

Looking around as if for an escape route.

This list is not exhaustive, but it gives an idea of the range of anxiety signs and symptoms that could easily be confused with something else. Of course the reverse is also true, which is why it is imperative to have a complete medical check for other possible physical causes of these symptoms.

Some  physical disorders that cause anxiety symptoms are Thyroid problems (both over and under active thyroids), food allergies and intolerances, vitamin and mineral deficiencies and IBS.