Is vertigo caused by a panic attack?

I’m not sure that I’ve ever seen it listed as a symptom of panic attacks, but I can say that they seem to go hand in hand for me.
I’m assuming by vertigo you mean the sensation that the room is spinning, and not just general dizziness. Dizziness is commonly related to anxiety and panic.

Vertigo is essentially a problem with your inner or middle ear. You need to have an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor check it out.

It is extremely unpleasant and can certainly make you feel very panicked.

Hey @ANef_is_Enuf yeah more than just dizziness, the one I had last night I had to hold onto the bar – I work in a bar – as I thought I was going to fall over…. it’s horrible.

Yeah, that happens to me, too. I feel like I’m drunk, but I’m not. My doctor has connected my vertigo with my anxiety. Getting dizzy after standing up quickly is called orthostatic or postural hypotension, you could ask your doctor to check your blood pressure the next time you visit. Also make sure to stay hydrated. As gailcalled said, it could be an ear issue. Any of these concerns can be discussed with your doctor, there are a lot of things that it COULD be.

yeah only issue is health insurance I don’t have it, but after 4 years it surely couldn’t be anything to bad could it?
I do need to get it checked though you’re right… it’s a very strong horrible feeling having to hold onto something for absolutely no reason, not to mention I feel kinda foolish!

I lived for almost 8 years with no insurance, so I definitely understand your predicament. I would say this is one of those things where you should just accept the bill and get it checked out.

If you have episodes of the room spinning and cannot afford to see the doctor, you might want to try the “Epley exercises” that you can do on a hard bed.

Here is a discussion of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and some self-help tips, including the Epley manoeuvre.

Thanks @gailcalled, I don’t get them often, in fact maybe once a year, just they are bloody scary.

Vertigo? Or just dizzy? Maybe lightheaded?

Do you think you have had any hearing loss? Vertigo can be a sign of Meniers disease.

It seems logical to me if you are prone to anxiety that vertigo might bring on a panic attack. Feels bretty out of control to have a room spinning.

Winding roads could just be motion sickness, but usually the driver does not suffer from it, more likely passengers.

Standing up too fast can be blood pressure as someone mentioned above, or dehydrated.

Hi @JLeslie!
Definitely Vertigo, everything spins to the point where I feel like i’m a boat, I have had hearing loss as well, it’s minimal but the doctor did notice it when she checked my ears after my infection, however I started having vertigo, or my first episode – really bad one, about 4 years ago, so not sure if the two are related, maybe it’s just a part of having anxiety, I do suffer it really badly… and maybe internally I have not learnt to deal with it properly.

I had vertigo a few years ago and it wasn’t caused by a panic attack. Rather, it was caused by a cold virus, one I had recovered from weeks earlier, but one that impinged on my inner ear nerve. The cold virus had affected my inner ear, which caused me to have vertigo for 4 days. I couldn’t walk well, and my vision was upset. It was awful. The condition was called “vestibular neuritis”, according to my doctor.

@tan235 Did you see an ENT? I would go to a specialist. Getting dizzy while driving is not good. You endanger yourself and others, besides the fact that I want you to feel better.

Do you have any chronic sinus and congestion problems?

@gailcalled is absolutely correct, except it’s the inner ear (not the middle ear).

I do experience vertigo and panic attacks together, sometimes. It’s hard to say which causes which, though. Kind of a chicken/egg scenario.

Since, I was nine years old, my mother has had vertigo. I have stayed with her many days from school, because she panicked at the bedroom going around and around.

I was too young to observe if she had panic attacks. But, from my memory, I could tell she was panicing over her attack of vertigo.

Medicene helped her, until she passed.

@Rarebear: Sorry for being sloppy.

I had one horrible, terrible, nasty really bad episode of vertigo that lasted for several days. Finally, I staggered to the ENT’s. During the second visit, he manipulated my head in a nasty way…the Epley manoeuvre. There are some pretty good descriptions on YouTube if you have a trusted friend who can follow instructions.

I then had to sleep sitting up for two days. But the vertigo has never returned. However, I do avoid the traditional triggers.

For example, I always arrive at the hair salon with clean and conditioned hair. Sitting with your head tilted back over the sink is asking for trouble.

And so is being jerked up and down and back and forwards in the dentist’s chair. He now lets me direct the adjustments so, again, there is no sudden movement.

As long as I am mindful (getting out of bed slowly..rolling onto side, raising my self into a sitting position on the edge of the bed, and thinking good thoughts for a minute or two before standing) I am fine.

What caused it @gailcalled?
Was it the things you sent hte link about, the calcium deposits or something?
Mine I think is linked to anxiety, I have had anxiety now for about 8 years, but never got vertigo this badly, but maybe it just come and goes…. who knows, it’s horrible, I don’t want to get anymore.

@gailcalled Your information is very interesting.

I don’t think there is any link. Vertigo is caused due to some other reasons.

My husband passed away recently. Today I got dizzy and the room started to spin around. Could this happen because of the stress of losing my husband?