What Causes Severe Dizziness, Stress And Anxiety?

Posted on Mon, 17 Aug 2015

Question: Hello. I started having brain zaps since tuesday night. My psychiatrist says is due to stress and anxiety. I am on zoloft 50 mg and buspar 10 mg. twice a day. She said to increase the buspar to 3 times a day for a couple of days. She said it should go away. Everytime i stand up and walk or move my eyes i feel the room spinning. I feel dizzy and now i feel whoosh sound when i turn my head.

I also had a pins and needle sensation on my left ear. An er dr saw it last month and said it was fine. He said to follow up with an ent. I did. He looked and said it was dry so he gave me drops. I used it all and still continue with the pins and needle sensation. It comes and goes.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
stress and anxiety can cause your symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

I understand your concerns.

You are having brain zaps. You take zoloft and buspar.

Since when are you having these brain zaps?
Is there any recent change if medication before you developed brain zaps?
A change in drug/dose of any psychotropic drug can cause brain zaps.

Stress and anxiety can also cause brain zaps.
In my opinion, a dose increment of Zoloft would be a better choice than buspar. Zoloft has excellent antianxiety effects.

You are Feeling dizzy, spinning and whooshing sounds in ear. The common probable cause for this could be change in blood pressure or altered blood sugar levels.
Kidly check these parameters.

Did you tell your ENT about this spinning and whoosh sounds in ear? It can be vertigo as well.

Stress and anxiety can also cause pins and needle sensations in body.

Try to avoid sleeping on your left side.
Do you have pain in cervical region (neck)?

Stress and anxiety are diagnosis of exclusion when other common medical causes are ruled out.

I would also advise you to keep your self well hydrated. Drink lots of water.
Practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing and meditation. This will help you as well.

Kindly discuss these issues with your doctor.

Feel free to ask further.
Take care.
Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Shubham Mehta (13 hours later)

Hello Dr. Mehta,

Thank you for your answer. The brain zaps started on wed night. I still feel dizzy when i walk or move my eyes. The whooshing feeling is not coming out of my ear. Is more like a sensation of my brain moving. Its hard to describe. Like electricity running on my brain. My neck was in lots of pain. When i felt the brain zaps i could feel it through my spine. The tension on my neck and shoulders was bad. I went i had a massage done. I felt better after the massage but the dizzyness continues. Its difficult to drive as well because i get dizzy when i move my eyes. I stopped driving. I am scared to cause an accident. I am taking 2 buspar a day since the 3 a day did not help. I am not having any sensation in my ear right now but i did last sunday and it went away.

Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
dose increment of zoloft needed.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for late response.

I feel that the sensations of brain moving are most likely due to stress. This might also be leading to dizziness.

As mentioned earlier, I would suggest a dose increment of zoloft. This would be a better and safer choice.

Also, please continue with your massage.
You can take ibuprofen for pain relief.
Sometimes, pain in neck can also cause dizziness.

Kindky discuss this with your doctor.
Hope this helps.
Take care.
Thanks.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar