Vertigo may be a symptom of psychiatric illness. Alternatively, vestibu- lar dysfunction or other organic causes of dizziness may trigger psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression or panic attacks. Different mechanisms might account for the link between anxiety and vestibular disorders.
Psychogenic dizziness or vertigo consists of a sensation of motion (spinning, rocking, tilting, levitating etc.) that can be reasonably attributed to a psychiatric disorder (e.g. anxiety, depression, somatization disorder).
Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It's the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning. This feeling may be barely noticeable, or it may be so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks.
Anxiety, by itself, does not produce vertigo. However, in association with conditions that do produce vertigo, anxiety can make the vertigo much worse. People with certain anxiety disorders such as panic attacks can sometimes also experience vertigo.
Vertigo is a common clinical syndrome, and the annual prevalence and incidence is about 5% and 1.4% in adults, respectively. The most common causes of vertigo are peripheral vestibular disorders. Clinical practice has demonstrated that many patients with vestibular peripheral vertigo also have depression/anxiety.
Central vertigo is due to a problem in the brain, usually in the brain stem or the back part of the brain (cerebellum). Central vertigo may be caused by: Blood vessel disease. Certain drugs, such as anticonvulsants, aspirin, and alcohol.
Although vertigo usually starts with a condition in the inner ear, stress and anxiety can make it worse. Chronic stress or worry can also lead to more episodes of vertigo in the future. In stress-related vertigo, using strategies for both the body and the mind is the best way to regain your sense of balance.
There is no permanent cure for vertigo, with or without medication. To treat vertigo successfully without medication, physical therapy techniques, chiropractic care, lifestyle changes, and even supplements are all positive steps toward reducing vertigo attacks.
The dizziness that accompanies anxiety is often described as a sense of lightheadedness or wooziness. There may be a feeling of motion or spinning inside rather than in the environment. Sometimes there is a sense of swaying even though you are standing still.
Most people with vertigo get better without treatment. Treatment will depend on the cause. A GP might prescribe antibiotics if it's caused by an infection. You could also be given exercises to do to try to correct your balance.
There are two types of vertigo, peripheral and central vertigo.
Driving with Dizziness is Against the Law
If you are dizzy at all or recovering from a vertigo attack, then driving should be avoided.
One of the most common types of vertigo is called benign positional paroxysmal vertigo (BPPV). BPPV is caused by deposits that build up in your inner ear, which navigates your sense of balance. Vestibular neuritis, stroke, head or neck injuries, and Meniere's disease are all other conditions that can cause vertigo.
Chronic anxiety can cause a wide range of symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. In fact, dizziness commonly accompanies both acute and chronic anxiety. Additionally, people with inner ear disorders, which can cause dizziness, may be at an increased risk of developing an anxiety disorder.
When vertigo happens, panic can often set in because people experiencing vertigo feel a loss of control. Vertigo is a condition that can be triggered by a change in the position of the head.
Staying active, finding ways to control your breathing, talking out your anxieties, and coming up with ways to de-escalate stressful situations can all provide relief from dizziness caused by anxiety.
Without treatment, symptoms might continue for a few weeks before going away. In a small number of people, the symptoms never come back after the first time. Unlike some other causes of vertigo, BPPV doesn't cause nervous system symptoms such as severe headache, speech problems, or loss of limb movement.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most frequent form of peripheral vestibular dysfunction, followed by Meniere's disease and vestibular neuritis [9,15]. BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo and dizziness from childhood through to old age, peaking at about 60 years [21].
Vertigo is a common symptom in individuals who have experienced blunt trauma to the head, neck, and craniocervical junction. Injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents, falls, assault, and contact sports may cause vertigo.
Can Vertigo Be Triggered by Stress? The simple answer is that stress can trigger or worsen your symptoms, but it doesn't cause vertigo. Stress affects your body's major systems.
Clinicians have noted an association between vestibular dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Patients with dizziness/vertigo frequently complain of memory loss or cognitive decline.
In a general sense, vertigo-associated disease is commonly treated using vestibular blocking agents or VBAs. These include medications such as antihistamines (promethazine or betahistine), benzodiazepines (diazepam or lorazepam), or antiemetics (prochlorperazine or metoclopramide).
In rare cases, vertigo may be associated with a serious medical condition, so you should call 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room if your sense of imbalance is accompanied by: Shortness of breath. Chest pains. Facial numbness.
Your family doctor or primary care provider will probably be able to diagnose and treat the cause of your dizziness. He or she you may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a doctor who specializes in the brain and nervous system (neurologist).
Acute vertigo is best treated with nonspecific medication such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine®) and meclizine (Bonine®).