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Anxiety and Depression With Dizziness

Why Are Anxiety and Depression Linked to Dizziness?

Dizziness can make you feel unsafe or out of control. You may worry about falling, driving, working, or having another dizzy episode. Long-lasting dizziness may also keep you from normal activities. This can lead to fear, sadness, or feeling alone.

Anxiety can also make dizziness feel worse. This may create a cycle. Dizziness causes worry, and worry causes more dizziness. Depression may affect your sleep, energy, and desire to stay active. These changes can make recovery harder.

A large research review found that about 3 out of 10 adults with vestibular disorders had anxiety. About 3 out of 10 also had depression. This does not mean that everyone with dizziness will have anxiety or depression.

What Is Happening in My Body?

Your brain, eyes, inner ears, muscles, and nerves work as a team to keep you balanced. The parts of your brain that help with balance also connect with areas that control fear, stress, and mood.

Your body has an alarm system. It is like a smoke alarm that turns on when your brain senses danger. This is called the fight-or-flight response.

When this alarm turns on:

  • Your heart may beat faster.
  • Your muscles may tighten.
  • Your breathing may become fast or shallow.
  • You may feel lightheaded or more unsteady.

These body changes are real and they can make the dizziness-anxiety cycle stronger.

Because of this, you may have:

  • A fast or pounding heartbeat
  • Fast or shallow breathing
  • Lightheadedness
  • Muscle tension
  • Tiredness
  • Poor sleep
  • Trouble focusing
  • Fear or constant worry
  • Sadness
  • Loss of interest in activities

It Is Important to Know

  • Your symptoms are real.
  • Anxiety does not mean your dizziness is “all in your head.”
  • Dizziness can have many causes. Possible causes include problems with the inner ear, brain, heart, blood pressure, vision, medicines, or other health conditions.
  • Anxiety may begin after dizziness starts. It may also make dizziness feel worse.
  • Depression may develop when dizziness limits your work, hobbies, exercise, or time with others.
  • Treating the cause of dizziness may improve your mood.
  • Anxiety or depression may also need their own treatment.
  • Tell your provider about both your physical and emotional symptoms.

The vestibular system is one possible cause of dizziness, but it is not the cause of every dizzy feeling.

How Are Anxiety, Depression, and Dizziness Treated?

Treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms. Your care team may include a doctor, vestibular therapist, counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Treatment may include:

  • Care for the health problem causing your dizziness
  • Vestibular rehabilitation, which is a special type of physical therapy for dizziness and balance
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy, also called CBT
  • Counseling or talk therapy
  • Medicine for anxiety, depression, or another health problem
  • Slow, gentle belly breathing to calm your body’s alarm response
  • Regular sleep, meals, fluids, and safe activity
  • Slowly returning to movement and normal activities
  • Sitting or lying down during a strong dizzy episode to lower your risk of falling

CBT helps you notice and change thoughts or actions that increase fear. Research supports therapy, medicine, or both for many people with anxiety or depression. Vestibular rehabilitation may also be combined with methods that help reduce fear of movement.

Do not stop or change a medicine without speaking with your provider.

What Can I Expect Over Time?

Will I Get Better?
Many people improve with the right care. Treating dizziness may lower fear and stress. Treating anxiety or depression may also make dizziness easier to manage. Some people need treatment for both the dizziness and their emotional health.

How Long Will It Take?
There is no single recovery time. Some causes of dizziness improve quickly after the correct treatment. Other problems may take weeks or months to manage. Recovery may take longer when symptoms have been present for a long time. Your care team can help you set safe and realistic goals.

Can I Live a Normal Life?
Many people return to work, exercise, family activities, and other parts of daily life. You may need to make some changes while you recover. Some people also need a long-term treatment plan.

When Should I Get Urgent Medical Help?

Call 911 or seek emergency care if dizziness happens with:

  • New weakness or numbness, especially on one side
  • Trouble speaking or understanding speech
  • New vision problems, including double vision
  • Sudden, severe trouble walking
  • Sudden loss of balance
  • Fainting
  • Chest pain
  • Trouble breathing
  • A sudden, severe headache
  • Confusion
  • A seizure
  • Vomiting that does not stop
  • A fall with a head injury

These symptoms may be signs of a serious medical problem, such as a stroke.

Get medical care right away if you have sudden hearing loss. Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency, especially when it happens with dizziness or ringing in the ear.

If you are thinking about suicide or hurting yourself, call 988 or text 988. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.

When Should I Contact My Provider?

Contact your provider soon if:

  • Your dizziness is new or keeps returning.
  • Your symptoms are getting worse.
  • Your dizziness causes falls.
  • Your symptoms keep you from normal activities.
  • You feel anxious, sad, hopeless, or unable to enjoy things most days.
  • You avoid movement or activities because of fear.
  • Your treatment is not helping.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

  • What may be causing my dizziness?
  • Could anxiety or depression be making my symptoms worse?
  • Do I need balance or inner-ear testing?
  • Would vestibular rehabilitation help me?
  • Would counseling, CBT, or medicine help me?
  • What can I safely do when I feel dizzy or anxious?

Asking your provider questions like these may help you learn more about your dizziness, anxiety, or depression. It can also prepare you for any future treatment.

Key Points to Remember

  • Dizziness, anxiety, and depression can affect one another.
  • Your symptoms are real and deserve care.
  • Anxiety should not be assumed to be the only cause of dizziness.
  • Anxiety and depression do not always go away when dizziness improves.
  • Treating both physical and emotional symptoms often gives the best results.
  • Slow breathing may calm your stress response, but it does not replace medical care.

Additional Resources