Sudden brief dizziness, head rush and slightly faint feeling

Hi,

I joined this forum to see if any other anxiety sufferers get this symptom?

I sometimes get a split second feeling of dizzyness, feel slightly faint, and it comes with what feels like a head or adrenaline rush. It lasts seconds, can sometimes feel like I'm falling depending on what I'm doing.

There's no residual dizziness after. Just anxiety about worrying what happened, does anyone else get these?

I have just had a cardiac ablation for WPW but I've worn a monitor when getting these episodes are they are not cardiac in nature, I.e not an extra beat and in a normal rhythm.

They can happen at rest, but mostly when slightly stressed such as daily when working staring at my lap top!

I've had an MRI, seen an ENT doc and seeing an endo to check for adrenalin levels but starting to think these may be anxiety/stress related. However my CBT therapist thinks dizziness with anxiety only comes on through irregular breathing? Not sure if that's true.

The only trend I can find with these is that they come on when there's heightened levels of stimulation like work stress or concentrating on playing a computer game.

Any one else get these?

By the way I'm 25 and male, the only drugs I am on is omeprozol for GERD.

Thanks

Hi and welcome. Dizziness is a pretty common symptom of anxiety, and quite a few of us here have experienced it. I agree with your therapist regarding the breathing connection. When we are anxious, we tend to breathe improperly, taking rapid, shallow breaths. When this occurs, the symptoms of hyperventilation can occur (dizziness, numbness/tingling in the extremites and face, feelings of derealization, ect.) You probably are not even aware that you are doing this, but the fact that it happens when you are stressed, or engaged in a tense activity, supports the idea.

The best thing to do to reverse the imbalance of O2/CO2 in your blood stream is to take slow, deep breaths. We have some good breathing how-to links in our Anxiety Resource Guide. You can find this at the top of the main paige. You may already know these from your CBT, but it doesn't hurt to check out new ones:)

I hope that this is helpful. Again welcome, and post anytime with questions or sharing. I hope that you find this a place of information and support! (we also have a fabulous Heart/Cardio forum if you haven't already checked it out)
Take care,
Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hi Serb,

I've been having this same thing lately. I get a sudden dizzy spell then feel like a head rush kind of thing...and it's usually when I'm using the computer. I'm not sure if it's being on the computer too long, or if I need to have my eyes checked as I've suspected that as a problem as well. It could very well be that it's a breathing issues as Scaredy Cat mentioned, so it wouldn't hurt to give the breathing exercise a try. I honestly had not thought of that, but will be checking my breathing the next time it happens to see if that is what's going on. Hope this helps!

I have been having these very scary symptoms for about six months. The dizzyness and head rush is sometimes concurrent with a sense of a change in pressure in the head, neck and chest. Sometimes there is brief neck pain or head pain, like a pinched nerve. Sometimes there is a sense of heat and then cold that rushes through my chest, arms or hands. For at least a half an hour afterwards there is a sense of unease. They almost always happen when I am sitting in a way that is somehow confined and bent somewhat forward, like my office chair or while driving. They can also happen when I am lying on my stomach, which also involves pressure. Sometimes a dry or bitter taste in the mouth accompanies the worst of them. I have noticed that often I have a sudden presence of mucus in my chest/throat/sinus concurrent with the episodes. I was diagnosed with GERD shortly after I began having the symptoms. I strongly suspect they are somehow a response to reflux in the esophagus or some other mechanism of GERD.

I have also had some pretty bad dizzy spells with stomach upset! I have dizziness anyway as an anxiety/hyperventilation symptom, but I notice that sometimes at it's worst, the dizziness coincides with indigestion/bloating/heartburn.

There has to be a connection, but not a strong one that I could find with a goolge search. Have you had this confirmed or denied? I am curious! Thanks for posting:)

Feel well,
Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Welcome to HealingWell !

I to have dizzy spell and head rush I went to the hospital thinking heart attack. The doctor told me it was a hiatel hernia that is making me fell this way.

Hi Jrzart and welcome. Sorry to hear about your HH. It is really interesting to me the crossover of symptoms with A/P and gastro issues!

Do you also suffer with anxiety? We have a lot of people who are dealing with both anxiety and stomach problems. Please feel free to start your own thread if you feel comfortable doing so, as I'm sure many members can relate/help with what you are experiencing.

We also have a great GERD forum if you would like to post regarding the HH.

Again welcome and I hope that you find this a great place for information, sharing and support:)
Scaredy Cat

---

Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hi there,

I have been having the same head rush feelings for the last week, but they happen constantly, more than 6 in an hour. Often when I turn my head to look another way, or I could be just walking or sitting, but it isn't triggered by any change in position.

I am on medication that treats anxiety among other things but I have been taking the pills for 7months and haven't had any side effects before.

I am feeling more and more that it is imminent I will faint soon. Does this sound like it is related to medication? I haven't had any issues relation to digestion.

Hi DS88 and welcome! Your dizzy spells could be from the anxiety itself, the medication, or an organic issue such as an ear problem or vertigo.

The only way to know for sure is to ask your dr. I went in awhile back when my dizziness increased...I have it as a transient anxiety symptom anyway, but this was over the top! I turned out to be a middle ear infection that I had no other symptoms of. No pain, just increased, constant dizziness. So it's always good to consult your dr.

Please feel welcome here and post anytime. This is an awesome community with so much information and support!

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

---

Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hi SAR and welcome. It sounds as if you may be sensitive to the heat. Be sure you are staying well hydrated and taking it easy when you get the dizzy spells. Heat stroke can be serious, and if you are not drinking enough liquids, the pre-symptoms can include feeling dizzy.

Remember 6-8 oz glasses of water is the minimum, but on hot days, or with increased activity, you will need even more.

Take care and post anytime:)
Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hey Serb and respondents. I'm a male in my 30s. I've been getting this split second dizzy feeling with faintness for some years now (can't say how long exactly). I usually feel myself going towards the left... like feeling like I'm going in that direction (falling/vertigo/fainting). Have had it while watching TV, using the computer and probably while doing nothing in particular as well. I don't believe I'm hyperventilating or anything like that, but stress level is pretty high these days. I also know to question what I may have eaten, taken in terms of medicine, whether I was very tired, etc., etc...

It's scared me, but I figured I'm under a lot of stress and maybe it's just anxiety. I'm on medication, but many times I hadn't taken it yet when this symptom exhibited itself. I do use mild RX glasses at times, (have wondered about it being an eye thing). Don't know. I am going for a physical this week coming.. so maybe I'll mention it to my Dr. I do know that my blood pressure is a bit on the low side at times as well.

Anyway, your post got my attention. When I get this dizzy/fainting feeling... it's usually as transitory as yours... happens and then it's not there anymore, but it freaks me out! I'm gonna try not to over think this thing though because that's what I tend to do.

Wanted to welcome you to HW. :) You may be dizzy, but there's usually sound and balanced advice on here. :)

Dizzily
PresentTensed

I've been having all of the same symptoms for the last year.  The dizzyness, head pressure, bitter or dry taste and sudden presence of mucus in my sinuses - almost like a gush.  This all comes on suddenly and then is almost always followed by anxiety, feeling shaky and also a sudden exhausted feeling.  At the suggestion of my doctor, I saw a neurologist who tried to convince me that I'm having partial temporal lobe seizures, but I'm not ready to believe that.  Anyone else have any idea what this could be or similiar symptoms?

Hi Clm10 and welcome! I am sorry that you are dealing with these symptoms lately:( It is hard sometimes to distinguish anxiety from something more physical in nature, so I understand your confusion and frustrataion!

An MRI should be able to tell precisely if you have had any seizure activity in the brain. (I believe that scar tissue is visible) Also, you may want to see an ENT as the dizziness, head pressure and sinus issues could be due to a chronic sinus infection?

Have you had anxiety/panic issues in the past? If so, then you may just be dealing with new symptoms...they can change over time!

I would follow through with the medical testing, just to be sure, but in any event, let us know how you are doing.

Post anytime, and even start your own thread and officially introduce yourself if you are comfortable doing so:)

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Alot of these symptoms seem to be what i go through only after my 1/2 second feeling of falling with the head rush i get extremely tired afterwards . I have recently been diagnosed with cervicogenic vertigo from whiplash injuries to my neck, i notice i get more spells if i am staring at a computer , fine print on paper or anything that will strain my eyes , as we all know all your vestibular system is inter connected .. eyes , ears , neck , spink , brain .. ect ect .. i am a server anxiety sufferer as well as an agoraphobic so after one of these spells you get an overwhelming anxiety rush cause it is a very scary experience that you encounter when you have a sudden spell ou of no where , Its kinda like walking down a hallway and someone jumping out in front of you .. you get scared right .. same concept, so in order to relieve the stress after the spell we have to retrain our brains cues to adapt to the false feeling of movement we do this how... with vestibular therapy , i have a therapist that comes to my house 3 days a week and works on my neck to strengthen it because i have no control over the deep deep muscles in my neck the muscles that give you more control, i also do eyes movement exercises called Cawthorne Cooksey exercises.. im not saying this is whats wrong with you but its something you might want to check into , i have been doing this therapy for 2 weeks now an i dont see a huge progress as of yet but i see a slight one therapist said it would take a while to retrain my brain , i am writing this cause for the first time since i have started therapy i had another spell where i got dizzy for a split second it went away and now i am extremely tired and there is ringing in my ears and hands and feet are numb.. here is a link to the eye excercises you can try on your own but make sure you read it cause if your unstable dont do it without a professional.. ty P0tluck

Post Edited (P0tluck) : 12/10/2011 4:52:52 PM (GMT-7)

I get almost the same symptom set, but without any pain and mostly when I am either lying down or driving. I also have GERD. I recently went off proton pump inhibitors after 6 months straight. Had a really scary night a week ago with head rushes every time I started to fall asleep. I also spend too much time with my neck in a crunched position at the computer. I have had my heart checked out - all is okay there. I have had thyroid problems in the past, but not recently. I sometimes wonder if menopause is involved.

So, neck or stomach or hormones? I have never experienced anxiety symptoms in my life. I am 53.

Just wanted to comment that these sound just like me. I will be in line at the grocery store, doing fine, then suddenly my brain says to me "You're going to faint" and all of a sudden, I feel the room spin and feel like I'm in a dream world for about 20 seconds and then it's gone. But then I feel unease for about half an hour. I assume this is anxiety as it only heppens when I'm out in public - esp. places like stores, church, crowded places etc.

My guess is that at this point, the best thing to do is try to stop those automatic thoughts. Anyone try this or have any success with it? I am starting to avoid public places like the plague, but I know tha'ts not a good long term idea!

THANKS!

Hi katierinker and welcome!

What you are describing is a perfect example of the 'What you think is what you feel' principle.

In CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) a popular and effective treatment for anxiety, you learn that it is the negative/scary thoughts that affect and control our feelings/reactions/symptoms.

Therefore if you are uncomfortable in a public place, and your thoughts tell you that you might faint...the result is that you will feel the anxiety in a real physical way.

A simplified exercise to try would be to replace the negative thought with a positive/rational one such as...'There is no reason to think that anything bad or scary is going to happen to me. I am safe and simply feeling anxious. I have felt this way before and made it through!'

I hope that you will continue to post here with us. Many of us have had similar struggles, ans are here to support you, and help when we can:)

Take care and Happy New Year!

Scaredy Cat

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"It is when we are most lost that we sometimes find our truest friends"

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Hello, I'm also new to this board. I have this sensation as well. Like many of you, I have this more when I have been looking at a computer monitor, etc. you aren't alone.

I also have this sudden yet brief vertigo attack. It happens to me often when I'm drifting off to sleep or when I'm on the computer. It last less than a second but feels like I'm going to fall out of my chair. Of course, it does cause a feeling of uneasiness and anxiousness afterwards. I've dealt with balance problems off and on for the past five years. I'm 27 years old and have been to many different doctors and had many different test done. Acccording to the regular MD's I'm healthy (which I'm thankful for). However I still have this problem. Lately I've tried something called NUCCA chiropractic. NUCCA stands for National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association. They've found that the very top bone (atlas vertebrae) was moved out of place and pressing against my brainstem. I've been adjusted a few times and it seems to help. Recovery is slow, kind of a two steps forward one step back process. However it does seem to help me relax and has lessened the frequency of my severe vertigo issues. The doctor says it will take a month for every year my neck has been out to fully recover. I've only been seeing him for a month so I've got a ways to go (I figure this has been a problem at least 5 years). I do think it holds promise though as nothing else seems to help.

 Can someone please give me some feedback on this topic?  I am a 57 year old female, work out several times per week, take very good care of myself, take vitamins, try to do all the things they say you should do to stay healthy.  I am 5'5" tall, weigh 139 lbs, still proud of how I look, even though I am over the hill.  I am under stress, but let's face it, who the hell isn't??

i have this same feeling like ima fall out of my chair an uneasy feeling
i have been tested on a EkG and no heart problem and had a catscan no tumor or stroke

I moved your post to a thread of your own.  Just look for your name in the title of our threads.

Welcome to HealingWell's Anxiety/Panic forum. We're glad you joined. We ask that you take the time to introduce yourself in a new thread before you begin responding to the topics already in progress. This is easily done. Simply click on the "New Topic" button and the program will open a box for you to post your intro. This will help members see your first post and extend a hand to you.

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 2/6/2012 8:09:35 AM (GMT-7)

Hi,
I am 24 years old and have been seeing a psych MD for about 3 months now. I am currently on Wellbutrin, Lithium and Valium.
I have had these head rushes/whirling/blood rushes. It is hard to explain. I have had these symptoms for about 3-5 years now. I had been to my regular MD and had a EKG and blood draw. Everything came out normal. I had also been to the E.R. and had the same tests done and everything was normal. My psych MD thinks its from anxiety. I started taking Valium due to what he believed was anxiety attacks. It helped for maybe a month but they are back. This sensation can happen at any time. I can be sitting, standing, shopping, driving or just anything in general. I am so tired of this feeling and it makes me feel sick all day. I am on the verge of tears everyday that I have to deal with this horrible symptom. I am at a loss of what to do anymore. I can't possibly continue to feel sick everyday of my life. I recently started my period and that is when they came back. I have endometriosis all the way up by my lungs. I am not anemic and have tried taking Iron daily since I started my cycle to try and see if that helps but I get no relief. I am an L.P.N. and none of my coworkers have any idea as to what is going on. I don't know what to do anymore. It makes me depressed and just want to cry and lay in bed all day because it seems as if that is the only way I can get relief from the whirling. I can have up to 30 occurrences in a 1 hour period. I have to make myself go do things even though I feel sick. I am not depressed. The medication I am on is doing wonders. It is just these annoying, sickening and miserable sensations that are just not normal. I can't take it anymore and I need help.