Are you wondering if anxiety can make you dizzy? If you feel like you’re going to lose consciousness due to stress from anxiety, rest assured, you are not alone. Many people experience these types of symptoms as part of their anxiety disorder. It can be frightening for anyone experiencing these feelings, but it can be comforting to know they are quite common and there are ways of treating anxiety to help alleviate them.
In this article, we’ll take a look at why some individuals experience dizziness/fainting as a result of their anxiety disorder, as well as preventative measures, including anxiety treatment options, for addressing the symptoms.
Why does anxiety make you feel faint?
Anxiety starts with the body initiating its natural fight-or-flight reaction, for which it alters the physical processes in response to it. The main problem with fainting due to feeling anxious is the change in breathing patterns. In a stressful condition, breathing becomes quick and shallow, resulting in hyperventilation unconsciously.
This is how it progresses:
- You start being restless and breathing differently.
- You would breathe out a lot of carbon dioxide.
- Your blood vessels shrink.
- The blood rushes less to your brain.
- Your brain sends a message that makes you feel faint.
Your brain is your friend in reality. It is smart, which is why it orders you to lie down so the blood will flow easily to your brain. For that reason, you might feel the overpowering urge to sit or lie down when you feel faint.
Different ways anxiety can make you feel faint
The fact is that anxiety-induced fainting is not the same for everybody. Some people describe it as feeling lightheaded or dizzy. Others say they feel weak in their legs or like their body is floating. You may have the sensation as if the room is spinning or as if you are about to collapse.
These sensations could disappear shortly or instead could persist for a longer period. Some days might be better or worse than others. This happens even though the symptoms of anxiety do not show a perfect pattern. This is a completely normal condition with anxiety. Usually, symptoms don’t follow a regular pattern.
The scary cycle that makes things worse
Here’s a thing that almost all people with anxiety have in common: you feel faint, and this makes you more anxious, which is followed by more faintness. It is similar to being on a never-ending, scary carnival ride.
You might start developing thoughts such as:
- What if I pass out in public?
- What if something is really wrong with me?
- What if I faint while driving?
These worried thoughts reinforce your feelings of anxiety, which in turn make your body react more, which makes you feel more and more faint. It is such a tiring and scary cycle.
When does anxiety actually cause fainting?
Though anxiety-caused faintness is common, fainting is less often something that happens, but it still can. Some people with severe anxiety do actually pass out, especially if they have specific triggers such as seeing blood or needles. This is called “vasovagal syncope” (also called neurocardiogenic or reflex syncope). However, it is not dangerous but looks scary.
Additionally, your brain can make actual changes in your body during periods of anxiety and worry. These changes are called psychosomatic symptoms, and they include:
- Tingling in your hands or feet
- Heart beating fast or skipping beats
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Sudden hot or cold feelings
- Headaches or stomach pain
What actions can one take when experiencing the feeling of faintness?
Upon feeling faint, one should take the following actions:
Do NOT take big inhales:
Instead of inhaling more air into your lungs, focus on inhaling (keeping air volume equal to that before inhalation) more “slowly” and “deeply”.
Plunge into your stomach:
Place one hand on your chest and the other hand on your stomach; Omit breathing from your chest, focusing all breath intake through your “stomach”, with as little volume as possible coming from your chest.
Hold the air for a short period of time:
After inhaling, hold the breath in your lungs for “approximately 3 to 4 seconds”, before exhaling air gently and slowly.
Sit where it is safe to be:
This action will reduce the stress on the body and provide strength for you and safety against any potential injury to yourself!
What not to do:
- Do not panic about the faint feeling, as this only worsens anxiety
- Don’t engage in very deep, great inhaling into your lungs
- Don’t breathe out faster than you can get the air in
If it happens often, don’t ignore it. Seek professional help for your anxiety.
A fact about anxiety treatment
Here’s something important to understand: anxiety can be treated, but it’s not something that just disappears forever. Think of it like managing any other health condition (e.g., diabetes, thyroid, PCOD, blood pressure), in which you need to learn tools and strategies to handle it better.
Most people with anxiety know what might help them. The problem is that when you’re in the middle of feeling anxious and faint, it’s very hard to remember or use those tools. This is normal and doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Through working with mental health professionals, you get clarity about your mental health. They help with:
- Understand your situation about what your body does when in a fight or flight mode
- Be with you in the moments you are frightened of, and will be a source of comfort to you
- Help you understand what might be causing you to be anxious
- Provide coping tools that you get to practice when you are calm, making them easier to use when you are anxious.
- For long-term well-being goals, help with diagnosing the condition thoroughly, taking into account factors such as any nutritional deficiency, undiagnosed health problems, family history, any trauma, etc.
- Provide a customized treatment plan based on your assessment.
Online help has grown in popularity because many people have found that they get the help they need virtually. Also, it’s difficult to go outside, let alone while feeling faint, lightheaded, or dizzy. An online psychiatric care platform like GABA Telepsychiatry offers the closest version of a traditional psychiatrist appointment in an online setting. Whether you are looking for the general treatment of anxiety or are searching for a specialist, such as an OCD psychiatrist, a virtual psychiatrist appointment is the best way to easily reach expert help.
Remember that seeking help does not show your weakness or brokenness. This is a proactive way to take care of yourself under professional guidance.