Difference between anxiety disorder dizziness and normal dizziness

The main difference between anxiety disorder dizziness and ordinary dizziness lies in the triggering causes and accompanying symptoms. Anxiety disorder and dizziness are usually caused by emotional tension, accompanied by autonomic symptoms such as palpitations and sweating; Ordinary dizziness is often related to physiological and pathological factors such as changes in body position, inner ear diseases, or anemia.

1. Inducing mechanism

Anxiety and dizziness are caused by hyperventilation or sympathetic nervous system excitation, and changes in carbon dioxide concentration in the blood lead to vasoconstriction in the brain. Ordinary dizziness is commonly seen in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, where the shedding of otoliths stimulates the hair cells of the semicircular canals, leading to imbalance, or is caused by metabolic factors such as hypoglycemia and dehydration.

2. Duration

Dizziness during anxiety attacks is often paroxysmal, fluctuating synchronously with anxiety emotions, and symptoms alleviate after the emotions calm down. Ordinary dizziness may last for several hours to several days, such as during the onset of Meniere's disease, dizziness can last for more than 24 hours, and orthostatic hypotension repeatedly occurs when quickly getting up.

3. Accompanying signs

Anxiety and dizziness are often accompanied by symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome, such as numbness in the hands and feet, chest pain, etc. There are no abnormalities in neurological examination. Ordinary dizziness may be accompanied by nystagmus, hearing loss, or gait instability, and abnormalities can be seen in vestibular function tests.

4. Relief methods

Anxiety induced dizziness can be alleviated through abdominal breathing training and cognitive-behavioral intervention. Ordinary dizziness requires targeted treatment of the underlying disease, such as ear stone reduction therapy, iron supplementation to correct anemia, etc. The effect of simple sedative drugs is limited.

5. Objective Indications

Anxiety disorder and dizziness lack positive laboratory or imaging results, diagnosis relies on symptom assessment scales. Ordinary dizziness can be detected as evidence of organic lesions through vestibular function tests, head MRI, or blood tests.

It is recommended to record the situation and duration of dizziness when it recurs. For anxiety related dizziness, try mindfulness breathing training combined with regular exercise. For organic dizziness, complete ear, nose, throat, and neurological examinations are needed. Avoid excessive reliance on self diagnosis through the internet. If dizziness persists for more than two weeks, seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out cerebrovascular disease. In daily life, it is important to maintain a regular schedule and moderate intake of magnesium to help regulate the nervous system.