Could Dizziness Be A Panic Attack?

[Deleted member 1860]

I think dizziness is dizziness....a panic attack has very specific features, and much of the time, when someone gets hit with their first panic attack they feel like they're going to die, and many go to the ER. But dizziness? Could be a sign of anxiety or panic, but its not a panic attack.

 

[shell]

Are you breathing shallowly consistantly, I had this issue, I had a bad habit of not breathing correctly and it was causing dizziness and numbness at random times, I have had to learn to breath from my stomach. Over time it can cause excessive levels of carbon dioxide in the body from not getting enough oxygen. It is a common habit in people with anxiety.

 

[Fadeaway]

I have suffered from chronic vertigo since I was a kid. I feel for ya. I live on a steady diet of Meclizine. It is similar to Dramamine and way cheaper.

I do have low blood pressure, actually. But it's never been a cause for concern.

Low blood pressure plays a huge role in my dizziness. Doctors always remark on how great my blood pressure is. I have had doctors tell me they would kill for my blood pressure, until I mention chronic dizziness, and they'll do a 180 and say "Well, well it is probably low blood pressure." Dr.s are so used to watching out for high blood pressure, they forget that low blood pressure has it's problems too. Some people are more affected by it too. I have never had a Dr. express concern until I mention chronic dizziness.

The other thing you mention that is a cause for concern is how much water you are drinking. Drinking a lot of water is great but if your salt levels and other electrolytes are low, then you are at risk for dizziness due to an electrolyte imbalance. I am better that if you have low blood pressure you don't consume salt in excess am I right?

 

[jaccat]

I've had vertigo since I was little. Usually it's not too bad, but it really flares up when I'm under stress. The more stress the worse it gets. A few years ago I was getting almost daily attacks, and at it's worst I found myself sitting on the floor at work because anything above that level I just couldn't cope with. Now, a few years on, with my stress levels much reduced its back to manageable levels.

 

[SeaQuel]

It's awful!!! It hasn't eased up at all today. It's making me nauseous... and anxious, go figure. F*ck, I think it might be vertigo. How can this be??? It cannot be a coincidence that in the same year I developed PTSD that this is happening. There's gotta be a correlation, right?

I've been complaining about my loss of balance/lack of coordination for the past several months, but just assumed it was part of the PTSD or medication SE. Maybe it's part of this vertigo instead.

I don't know. I feel so confused.

What type of doctor should I see for this? The web says a neurologist. I don't want to waste time going back to my primary care doctor if she's just gonna give me a referral to a specialist.

I wouldn't even know how to prepare for this appointment. How can I possibly say how long the symptom has been going on for when I've experienced some form of dizziness (though probably all different forms) since the onset of my PTSD a year ago.

 

[Fadeaway]

Start off with an ENT/audiologist. They can do a lot of tests and then go from there.

 

[SeaQuel]

I'll make some calls tomorrow. Is there anything I can do in the short term to get through this? I feel incapacitated and like I am going to puke

I don't even know how I'm going to function at work this week

 

[Fadeaway]

Yes! Meclizine. I mentioned it in my post above. It is pretty cheap compared to the alternatives.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

It could be as simple as an inner ear infection. I do believe that with inner ear infections there is no pain (at least in some cases) as my inner ear infection had no pain but lots of vertigo and my brother had a long term inner ear infection and didn't know it until he started getting dizzy.

I think you may be freaking out prematurely as it may go away with a simple course of antibiotics.

(Outer ear infections cause pain but no vertigo.)

 

[SeaQuel]

Thanks @Fadeaway and @itsKismet

I am definitely freaking out and I hope prematurely

I hope it's just a matter of antibiotics, this is unbearable

 

[SeaQuel]

I really wonder about the trazodone too

 

[SabrinaB]

Trazadone does cause vertigo in 20-28% of people taking it so probably need to consider that as well as inner ear disturbance.