I find I feel so off balance all the time and want to be leaning up against something to steady myself,especially in grocery stores or uncomfortable positions.

I experienced it many times while I had my panic attacks. It is one of the standard body symptoms of anxious people. I strongly believe the chemical imbalance that is caused by stress is the reason behind feeling imbalanced.

The first part is if you havn't already, consult a neurologist just to make sure that all is fine (just do it once ). Then I suggest making sure you get enough sleep (at the very least 8.5 hours per each 24 hours), if you can add "a bit" of extra red meat to your diet (to increase the density of blood), ignore the symptom and the thoughts that come with it. It will go away.

I understand the balance issues, I have them too and it is awful. Have you been tested by an ENT?
How long have you been dealing with this?

I get the off balance feelings even when I am alone or not in an uncomfortable situation.

Honestly I think it can come from many things.........for me it seems to stem from low iron, tension, fear, maybe vision, breathing inncorrectly and perhaps an inner ear issue.

It is a very difficult way to live. I have much more avoidance behavior because of it. Going to lunch with a girlfriend or making plans with people has become a big problem : (

Hope you are feeling better.

Coco : )

A few other things I wanted to add to see if you can relate.

If I am speaking to someone and they wave their hands around with expression it makes me feel off balance. Also sometimes when I am sitting down and I see the trees blowing outside it makes me feel off balance as well. To me this feels like more then just anxiety........

I just don't know any more : (
Looking for answers and relief.

Coco : )

I AGREE. IT MAY BE MORE THAN ANXIETY. SEE A NEUROLOGIT. I HAVE NO BALANCE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD 3 BRAIN SURGERIES AND MY BALANCE WAS AFFECTED. DON'T WANT TO SCARE YOU SO GO SEE A NEUROLOGIST SO YOU CAN RULE OTHER THINGS OUT.

It sounds like it's something else, but it's not. I've had it bad for many years. It is the worst symptom. It makes anxiety so much worse.

I learned not to stress out over it, now Im not bothered too much about it unless something stressful happens. I've seen 3 nuerologists and all three times, everything was fine. They kept telling me that it is just anxiety, sometimes the call it stress.

Thanks : )

I have seen a few nurologists and had 2 MRI's
but that was before the dizziness started. I went to the nurologists because I was having DP/DR and I had no idea what it was.

The lst MRI was in 2004 or 2005. Do you think I need to have another one? I have spoken to my psychiatrist about it as well as a few tests with my ENT. I did have minor ear stuff going on.

Why did you have brain surgeries? I hope things are better now!

Coco : )

I suffered from vertigo 2 years ago, and was helped greatly by doing some balance excercises prescribed by a specialist at the Balance Institute here in Vegas. He said balance only gets better if you "challenge" it.
I now have anxiety and new balance issues from a neck injury, so I am going to go through the same excerise program. I highly recommend anyone with balance issues to try to find some source for getting turned on to this approach.
They seem to primarily be standing with one foot in front of the other and moving the head from side to side or up and down...sometimes with eyes closed. But correct instruction is needed.

LONG STORY. I HAD SEVERE PAIN ON LEFT SIDE OF FACE IN 1999. IN DEC. I HAD SURGERY CAUSE MEDS DIDN'T HELP FOR TRIGEMINAL NEUROLGIS. THATS WHEN THE TRIGEMINAL NERVE IN YOUR FACE GET TANGLED WITH AN ARTERY IN THE BRAIN. I WENT BACK TO WORK AS A P.E. TEACHER AND COACH. AUG. 2005 I HAD ANOTHER BRAIN SURGERY. I WAS ALLERGIC TO THE TEFLON THEY USED IN THE 99 SURGERY. LOST USE OF MY RIGHT SIDE. COULD WALK WITH A QUAD CANE EVEN AFTER THEY SAID I WOULD NEVER WALK AGAIN. IN OCT. 2006 THE 2 CYSTS THEY FOUND IN THE 05 SURGERY THEY SAID WOULD NEVER FILL UP WITH FLUID AGAIN. THEY DID AND I WAS SICK AND THROWING UP. THIS SURGERY LEFT ME WITH NO BALANCE AND IN A WHEEL CHAIR.

Thank you Jack for your reply. I think I am familiar with those exercises, they involve a stationary point on the wall and your eyes go from right to left to center etc... I will look into it more.

Deb, your story is so very sad and tragic.
I am sorry for your suffering and I hope that you continue to heal!!!! : )

Coco : )

This is all very resourceful. My best wishes to Deb.
My stress' effects sometimes were causing balance issues. I did MRI's and cartoid, etc... per Doc. He had no clue I was stressed and just did the standard things docs do. When the vitals and the above tests showed normal, he just sent me home laughing. I noticed that the less stress I experienced, the less balance issue I experience.

yes Lima there have been times i felt like i was drunk. good thing I was home alone. Felt like I was staggering across the floor . and at times my feet would get sore it ww very slow going. some of was from the meds, no longer take, amd will not, some of it was jjust from anxiety. Get into the char roomand talk with others. I have and have found a fcew who have the same thing going. I have had every test undr the sun done. It is jsut anxiety and you have t o work through it. taek care

What type of meds were you on sgt monette?
I am on 1.5mg (I know small amount) of lexapro.
I am in week three now and wondering if it is making my dizziness/balance worse.
I have always been so afraid of meds yet now willing to try them if they can help. Many people say that lexapro saved their life.

Coco : )

Yes, I just saw a neurologist because I keep falling and losing my balance..I had an MRI of my brain and everything was fine.. I was told that people with severe anxiety fall alot and have balance issues. It can also be attributed to meds.

i sometimes get very dizzy when i have anxiety. it's scares me alot but i know it's either anxiety or that i need to eat something. if i have low blood sugar, once i eat something i feel better. if i am just very nervous, i do breathing exercises, and go on doing the task i was doing. after a while the dizziness goes away.