Imagine finding yourself in a motionless room, but your body perceives a constant swaying, as if the floor moved under you. This feeling of instability can be experienced with stress dizziness: A disconnection between the real world and internal perception, where the body and mind seem to speak different languages.
Anxiety and stress dizziness is not simply a sign of discomfort, but a condition that can limit daily well -being and generate a vicious circle difficult to interrupt.
Even more destabilizing is the difficulty in understanding its causes, which often escape immediate explanations. However, recognizing these symptoms and adopting targeted strategies to deal with them allows to reduce their impact and facilitate the achievement of greater well -being.
Psychogenic dizziness: what are they?
Stress dizziness, also called psychogenic dizzinessare a condition characterized by a feeling of instability or loss of balance associated with states of anxiety and stress. Unlike vertigo caused by physical pathologies, such as vestibular disorders, stress those derive from aActivation of the central nervous system.
The term “dizzying stress syndrome” describes a set of symptoms that includes instability, dizziness And feeling of fainting linked to situations of internal emotional tension. Dizziness can be caused by many factors. While the physical causes are linked to specific problems of the internal ear or the peripheral nervous system, the dizziness of anxiety originate in theHyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-length axis (HPA) and in the physiological response to prolonged stress.
Recent studies on stress neurobiology highlight how chronic activation of limbic circuits, an internal area of the brain responsible for managing emotions, contributes to dysfunctions in the nerve centers that regulate balance, aggravating the perception of instability (Biondi, 2016).
A further contribution (Mucci et al., 2018) highlights how similar syndromes, such as the Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MDDS), are frequently associated with psychological stress and depressive symptoms.
Dizziness constitute a very common symptomatology in subjects who turn to a mental health specialist, even compared to larger problems that include them and represent real psychosomatic disorders.
These clinical paintings underline the need for a timely diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to distinguish dizziness and stress bhbs from neurological, psychiatric or induced effects from side effects of drugs.
How to recognize stress dizziness
Recognizing the dizziness caused by stress is essential to distinguish them from other medical conditions.
The symptoms of anxiety dizziness are usually of the type:
- physicist: sense of light head, instability, sbandations and sometimes nausea
- psychological: fear of falling, feeling of loss of control and anticipatory anxiety
- behavioral: avoidance of situations perceived as stressful and difficulty concentrating.
The combination of these symptoms, often associated with a context of acute or chronic stress, can lead to a progressive worsening if not faced in an adequate way. This symptomatological picture, although initially linked to moments of strong emotional pressure, can evolve towards chronic states of imbalancereducing the individual’s ability to carry out daily activities safely.
In chronic cases, dizziness can become a factor of social and work disability, further aggravating the anxious-depressive picture. In addition, patients who chronically manifest dizziness of any origin may present difficulties in the daily, social and working sphere, with consequent predisposition to anxious states and depression.
These disorders would only seem indirectly related to the gravity and duration of the dizziness, requesting a separate evaluation and specific management for the different levels of operating (Yardley et al., 1992).
Why do stress and anxiety cause dizziness?
Stress affects balance by activating the nice nervous system. This system, part of the “attack or escape reaction”, causes a release of cortisol and adrenaline, increasing the heart rate and altering the perception of the surrounding environment. In moments of prolonged stress, this activation translates into a greater sensitivity of the vestibular system, with symptoms that may include dizziness and dizziness.
In addition, the fear of falling further feeds anxiety, creating a vicious circle that perpetuates the dizziness.
Among the aggravating factors are theanticipatory anxiety And the difficulty in managing stress situations. The continuous activation of the limbic system and the amygdala can also lead to an alteration of emotional memory, amplifying the intensity of dizziness in stressful situations.
Anxiety dizziness: how long do they last?
The duration of this condition may vary according to the intensity of the stress and the ability of the individual to manage it. Acute episodes can last from a few minutes to several hourswhile in chronic situations the symptoms can persist for weeks or months.
The difference between acute and chronic episodes lies in the management of stress. Early intervention is essential to avoid the chronicization of symptoms, which could lead to a deterioration of the quality of life. According to the general adaptation model described by the Austrian doctor Hans Selye, theexhaustion of physical and emotional resources Due to chronic stress represents one of the main causes of persistence of dizzying symptoms.
In addition, a story of trauma can contribute to the gravity and disability of dizziness, regardless of their cause, highlighting the importance of an in -depth evaluation of the personal history of the patient (Radziej et al., 2015).
How to treat stress dizziness
To manage stress dizziness there are different strategies, which range from immediate remedies to more structured and long -term interventions, highlighting the effectiveness of a holistic and personalized approach.
Among the immediate remedies we can find diaphragmatic breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques, which aim to quickly reduce the activation of the autonomous nervous systemstimulating the parasimpatic system and favoring a sense of calm. These tools are particularly effective during acute episodes, when stress can aggravate symptoms (Saglam et al., 2015; Miskinis et al., 2021).
THE changes in lifestyle They represent a crucial component in the prevention of stress dizziness. Strategies how to maintain a regular routine, reduce caffeine consumption, practice moderate physical activity and follow a balanced diet have been demonstrated effective in reducing the intensity and frequency of psychogenic dizziness (Saglam et al., 2015; bisdorff, 2011).
The Integrated therapeutic approaches They can prove to be fundamental to reduce symptoms and improve general well -being. There psychological therapyin particular cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), has proven useful in identifying and modifying dysfunctional thoughts that feed stress and dizziness.
In addition, the Biofeedback It proved to be effective in reducing cortisol and adrenaline levels, hormones closely linked to the responses to stress (Murofushi et al., 2009; Pancheri et al., 2005).
Significant innovation is represented by Combination of virtual reality and music therapydescribed in the study Virtual Harmony: Music Interaction With Virtual Reality To Reduce Stress (Miskinis et al., 2021). This approach combines relaxing three -dimensional environments with music with a slow rhythm similar to the heartbeat, stimulating views, hearing and touch. The results indicate that 90% of the participants reported an improvement in stress levels, underlining the potential of these technologies in the integrated management of dizziness (Miskinis et al., 2021).
Finally, long -term interventions aimed at facing the causes of stress and developing coping capacity, together with Mindfulness, are crucial to prevent recurrence.
When to consult a specialist
It is important to contact a specialist if the dizziness become debilitating And carrying out normal daily activities becomes complex. If the condition persists despite the remedies adopted, a psychologist can provide tools to manage anxiety, while a doctor can exclude the physical causes below. A multidisciplinary approachwhich includes neurologists, psychotherapists and basic doctors, it is often the most effective solution.
In more complex cases, it may be useful to involve an otolaryngology or a vestibular specialist to exclude complex organic conditions, such as the Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (Mucci et al., 2018).
Finding lost balance is possible
Stress dizziness are a complex, but manageable phenomenon. Recognizing symptoms and intervening promptly can significantly improve psychophysical well -being.
In fact, promoting stress management practices from the first signals can reduce the negative impact of dizziness on daily life. Finally, the importance of a personalized treatment And interdisciplinary cannot be underestimated: only with a complete and targeted approach can an effective and long -term management of anxiety vessels be guaranteed.
