I have anxiety attacks and dizzy spells. What are these symptoms of?

Question

I have been prescribed Xanax for the anxiety by my doctor but it hasn't helped. My anxiety attacks feel like I have a weight in my chest (can't catch my breath), I keep checking my pulse to make sure my heart is beating, I feel like my blood pressure is either really high or really low, and have a general feeling of impending doom. These attacks come and go several times every day. The dizzy spells are short lived and more sporadic. Any idea what this is? Thanks in advance for your help.

Answer 1

Anxiety and panic attacks are most often physiologically-based and involve an imbalance in bio-chemistry. The true cause of the imbalance is often rooted in a problem with blood-sugar levels, especially Hypoglycemia, aka, low blood sugar. (this is the opposite of Diabetes). It is directly related to what you eat and drink and is a dysfunction of the pancreas. If you eat a B.A.D. (Basic American Diet), you are a good candidate for this, as it is a hidden epidemic in America. Basically, your pancreas will secrete too much of the hormone, insulin, to try and control blood sugar levels that have climbed too high due to a poor diet (refined carbs, sugar, caffeine, etc.) The insulin latches on to the glucose in the bloodstream and begins removing it. Glucose is what the brain requires to function properly. When too much of it is removed, many symptoms can occur with anxiety/panic, even dizziness being among them. This process will also stress your adrenal glands (they produce 50 different hormones and sit on top of your kidneys), causing them to increase their production of adrenaline and cortisol, which, when over-produced, can create the anxiety and panic. This cycle greatly stresses the body.

You may desire to have your doctor place you on meds, temporarily, so that you can function. However, you are not suffering from this condition due to a deficiency of Xanax, Valium or any other drug, and while the meds can help relieve the problem temporarily, unless the underlying cause is determined, the problem may reappear and get worse at a later date.

Find a Complementary/Holistically-oriented MD to get a thorough work-up, especially on your endocrine system. There is a 6-hour Glucose Tolerance Test which will definitely show if you are hypoglycemic, but it can be quite stressful on the body. If you get an experienced and competent MD, they ought to be able to determine if you have this condition from your symptoms. Not to worry--this can be dealt with in a very effective manner, through diet, supplementation, herbs, exercise, etc.

In the meantime...

Try eating a very healthy diet, i.e. REAL FOOD-- good, lean protein (chicken, fish, turkey, lamb, buffalo, ostrich) plenty of low starch veggies (avoid potatoes, dried fruit, fruit juices and drinks, artificial sweetners,) include good amount of greens, some low glycemic fruits--1 or 2 pieces a day after a meal--kiwi, berries, grapefruit, AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE: ALL SUGAR, WHITE FLOUR PRODUCTS, CAFFEINE AND PROCESSED FOODS. Snack on sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, natural peanut butter. Eating small meals every 2-3 hours will help to stabilize your blood sugar.

Other modalities that can help: accupuncture, massage therapy (stress reduction), craniosacral therapy

True healing comes from within and takes a noble effort, perserverence, and sacrifice. It is well worth the effort!

Good Luck to you and Best of Health

Alternative Healthcare Practitioner

Answer 2

Exactly what you said.... Anxiety. This is caused by a chemical imbalance to the brain. It can be controlled with proper medications. Since you are under a Dr's care already he can answer this for you. And go into more detail. Let your Dr. know the Xanax is not helping you. There is more than just Xanax out there that will help. You might have to experiment with medication until you find the right medication to give you balance.

Answer 3

If the Xanax isn't working tell your doctor to change your medication. I had to be put on 3 diff. kinds until they found one that worked for depression. Make sure you are getting your meds from a psychiatrist and not just a primary care physician. Are you having dizzy spells or vertigo. Totally different. I have vertigo and my doctor said after 40 there is fluid that keeps your balance and some of it hardens and moves. There are exercises to prevent this. But each case is diff. ask your doctor maybe it's from your pills.

Answer 4

Sounds to me it's panic attacks. You have an anxiety disorder already, so, it stands to reason. I've been there, and it's not fun at all.

I found this message board that has been very helpful. People like us talk about how they cope. It really helps just to know there are millions of other people out there going through the same thing.

http://anxietyvictims.proboards18.com/index.cgi

Answer 5

How Do You Spell Anxiety

Answer 6

Yes, you answered your own question. You have panic attacks. Medication can only do so much. You have to get into to therapy/counseling. You need to find out WHAT you are panicking over so that you can fix it and not have these attacks again. Then you won't need any medication for it.

Answer 7

It sounds like Panic Disorder if the attacks are coming out of the blue. Is it happening while you are alone, or around others?

If it is happening while you are around others, it may be social anxiety disorder.

Answer 8

There are five major Anxiety Disorders and it is not unusual for people to experience symptoms of more than one Anxiety Disorder at the same time. e.g. a person with panic disorder may also have symptoms of social anxiety and/or some symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.

Panic Disorder is the fear of having a spontaneous panic attack. The intensity of the attack can be extremely severe and many people feel they are having a heart attack and/or are going to die or are going insane. It is not unusual for people to become fearful and chronically anxious about having another one.

Social Anxiety is the experience of fear, anxiety and/or panic in social situations where people think they may embarrass themselves or may make a fool of themselves in some way.

Acute Stress Disorder /Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the experience, or witness of, or confrontation with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death, or serious injury, or threat of physical injury of self or others. While people with PTSD can experience panic attacks, the major feature of PTSD is the reliving of the event/s through dreams and/or or nightmares or flashbacks.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the experience of obsessive, unwanted thoughts and/or compulsive behaviours that may include rituals which can markedly interfere with day to day living. This can include repetitive behaviours such as cleaning, checking, counting, repeating words silently, or hand washing, e.g. a person who has a fear of contamination (from germs) may wash their hands repeatedly.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder is persistence and excessive anxiety or worry which is experienced for six months or more about events or activities which may or may not happen.

Panic Attacks

People can experience panic attacks with any of the above disorders. Three different types of panic attacks are now recognised:

Spontaneous panic attacks (uncued panic attacks) This particular panic attack is associated to Panic Disorder. This attack comes without any warning, day or night, irrespective of what the person is doing. The spontaneous attack is not related to, and is not induced by any particular situation or place. Many people can be woken from sleep with this type of attack.

Specific panic attacks (cued panic attacks) These occur in relation to specific feared situations or places. For example social situations for people with Social Anxiety. Revisiting the scene or scenes reminiscent of the traumatic events in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or exposure to a particular anxiety producing situation in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder such as being exposed to germs.

Situational predisposed panic attacks People with Panic Disorder may experience this type of attack. Some people with Panic Disorder can be predisposed to having panic attacks in certain situations or places, although they are not frightened of the situation or place. For example someone may experience panic attacks while driving their car. Sometimes they will have them, other times they won't. They are predisposed to having attacks while driving, but the attacks are not a response to a fear of driving.

Symptoms of panic attacks can include palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath or smothering, feeling of choking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea or abdominal distress, dizziness or light-headedness, derealisation or depersonalisation, fear of losing control or going 'crazy', fear of dying, paresthesia, and chills or hot flushes'.... 'Attacks that have fewer than four symptoms are referred to as 'limited - symptom attacks.'

Answer 9

I have been getting chest arm pain and shortness of breath.

Answer 10

accually i think your just looking for attention. your afraid no one will like you. if you watch tv " don't " go out side and breath. stop worrying about nothing ,,,,make your own life