Dizziness is among the common symptoms of problems linked to anxiety. Although it is true that many people tend to feel anxious and do not get dizzy when suffering from this form of discomfort, in psychotherapy consultations it is not unusual to encounter patients for whom one thing is linked to the other in many cases.
In this article we will see a series of Guidelines and habits to apply on a daily basis to prevent dizziness caused by excessive anxiety.
The exact mechanism by which anxiety gives rise to dizziness is not known in detail; There are hypotheses to understand the relationship between both phenomena, but it must be taken into account that a large number of psychological and physiological processes are involved in both, in addition to individual differences.
On the one hand, it is known that Anxiety goes hand in hand with relatively rapid variations in blood pressure (which is logical, because it is an emotion that guides us to adapt quickly to possible dangers or windows of opportunity that we should not miss, reacting sooner rather than later); These changes can affect the organs responsible for the sense of balance, located in the vestibule of the ear, and also in the parts of the brain that work in coordination with the former.
On the other hand, sudden changes in the energy demand of the nervous system in situations of stress or anxiety can lead to the occurrence of a mismatch between the resources that the body sends to the brain and those it needs to function.
Furthermore, it is known that excess stress causes our neurons to lose the ability to adapt to the demands of the environment, modifying their interconnection patterns with the rest of the nerve cells, both in the brain and in the vestibule area; This can also lead to decompensation in times of anxiety, leading to dizziness.
As we have seen, the chain of events that leads anxiety to produce the symptom of dizziness is not very clear, but that does not mean that nothing can be done to treat this problem when it significantly damages people’s quality of life. , or even apply measures to prevent its appearance.
How to prevent these problems?
Many people feel scared every time anxiety combines with dizziness.; However, it must be taken into account that this phenomenon does not constitute a significant danger to health. In any case, you can take measures to prevent it from eroding your quality of life.
This is a summary of several psychological keys that you can apply to your life to prevent dizziness due to anxiety. However, do not forget that the most effective measure of all is to go to therapy, since this way you will have personalized attention adapted to your case.
1. Eat well
The appearance of dizziness is facilitated by the lack of nutrients available in the blood. To reduce the chances of suffering from this form of discomfort, start by eating well.
That doesn’t mean just not going hungry.but rather incorporate foods into your diet that contain all the necessary vitamins, macronutrients and minerals.
2. Get used to tolerating anxiety
A certain level of stress or anxiety is normal, and in many cases, it is even beneficial. Remember that the problem is excess anxiety and the intense symptoms that appear when it accumulates and is not managed well, not anxiety itself, which helps us adapt to the challenges of everyday life and makes it easier for us to learn.
That’s why, When you start to feel anxious, don’t try to block that emotion.; That will only give it more strength and make it grow, because you will be paying too much attention to it. Simply accept and tolerate its presence, and that will leave the door open for your attention to be directed toward other, more satisfying or stimulating sensations.
3. Learn relaxation techniques
There is an important variety of relaxation techniques that are easy to learn.; some of them are designed for specific moments and last a few minutes, and others last a little longer (around 20 or 25 minutes) and can be incorporated into your schedule to help you regulate anxiety periodically. Mindfulness exercises, for example, are very useful in this sense, as well as Jacobson’s progressive muscle relaxation (the latter is part of the long ones).
Are you looking for psychotherapeutic help?
If you are interested in attending psychotherapy to overcome anxiety-related problems, contact me.
My name is Fernando Azor, and I have been treating patients with all types of emotional, behavioral and cognitive problems for more than 20 years. Furthermore, my work is based on cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is very effective against anxiety disorders and problems related to stress. Currently I serve both in person in Madrid and Tres Cantos, and online through video call sessions. My contact information is available on this page.
