does anyone get the off balance feeling, like you cant walk without feeling like your losing your equilibrium,, this has been going on for days,,,,

It's just anxiety. I get it almost daily. It won't hurt you, just makes you feel a little weird which makes you think something is wrong and then brings on more anxiety and makes the dizziness worse. It's a vicious cycle.

I can relate to what you are saying. Mine has been going on for about a couple of months. Of course I worry constantly and I know that makes it worse. Not only do I worry about it constantly, I talk about it and how I feel constantly to my husband. I don't get dizzy like things are spinning around, it's just like you said, you feel off balanced. I can't even turn my head without this feeling. Even walking or sitting or anything, it's always there. Now of course my anxiety is spinning out of control. Everytime I think I am moving forward it seems I take steps back. I do try not to think about it and I keep telling myself that it's just anxiety, but how can you not think about something that has so much to do with everything. I can't even read some of my books I bought, because my eyes seems so messed up. My eyes seem like they have a fog over them or something so it's very difficult to function. I am sorry to go on like this and I am sorry that you are having these feelings. Please do not feel like you are the only one going through this. Trust me I am there and I hope it gets better soon. I hate to go to the doctor because I'm sure they will say stress and anxiety. I just want it to stop. Hang in there and just keep reminding yourself of all the horrible things anxiety can do and all the horrible physical symptoms it can create. Trust me, I have had them all. I still have the numbness in my arms, etc. And the first thing I want to think is that I am having a stroke or brain tumor or whatever. My mind is spinning out of control. So I know it is my anxiety. Hang in there. We will get better. I am starting lesson 11 tomorrow and I know I will get better. I just wish that it would hurry and get here.

Carol

hi justin and carol,, thank you for your support.. we all need it.. this off balance is driving me nuts,, cant even go to work,, and I need my paycheck!! my dr is not sympathetic at all.. I think he thinks Im annoying,, I have been complaining of this off bal for almost a year now,, I did go through a few very stressful years and got sick in feb with epstein barr and bronchitis,, then the anxiety and depression!! what a year its been! I can relate to so many of you and your complaints, I had this about 22 years ago,, so trying to remember back to the symptoms.. ick dont really rmember the off bal thing,,, but probably had it... it there a way to email individual?? kinda of new to this
helcha

I read your post, and I would of sworn I wrote it myself. 2 weeks ago I went to sit down on my porch steps and got that off balance dizzy feeling, it only lasted a minute I said to myself no I am not going to let this get to me. Then you get caught up in it, I dwell on it omg why did that happen I must have a tumor, or something. Well I got over it and was doing well for the last week, and bam I was walking out to the car to take my kids to the Doctors and it happened again. Today I am a mess. I really begin to think that something is seriously wrong. I bug my husband all the time too. He goes Debbi you do it to yourself. How do I do that I go. Now I am like I should go get and mri, but I am at the Docs constantly. I am afraid he gonna lock me up, and throw away the key. Anyway you are not alone, and I wish we could Email but I am new at this to, and I have no clue. I hope you feel better, because it is just this darn anxiety. Debbi

I have suffered from this since about 1992. Every day of my life. Still.

Has anyone ever told you what the cause is? Anxiety or Stress

Actually, I finally labeled that based on the research I did on my own. My last psychiatrist prescribed my Zoloft to help with my anxiety/panic, which she did say I obviously showed signs of, however she never specifically said the equilibrium problem was part of it.

When I was on the Zoloft, I didn't have the panic attacks, but my equilibrium problems have never gone away. Ever.

I have had this problem off and on. I know the feeling. I don't like it but I don't fear it any longer. I wait for the feeling to pass and it does. It's hard to not be shook up by it. My off balanced feeling comes out of the blue, I can be out at home, it doesn't matter. I have had this symptom for a long time and I know there is no danger. I used to think there was something horribly wrong with me. But I now know that it may be uncomfortable but it can't hurt me. I accept that this is nerves and I feel much better. There are two good books out there by Claire Weekes. They cost between $6.00-$7.00. Very easy to understand and read. Take care

I feel the same way all the time

I have had this too. I even went to the ER back in January and could bearly walk without holding onto the walls of the hospital!!
Long story short, I ended up in Physical therapy because they found a C-5, C-6 disc protrustion. BUT that was NOT causing the imbalance!! It was muscle tension in my neck!! Once the physical therapist worked with my muscles in my neck and shoulders I got better.

Now, if I feel the tension building in my neck and shoulders I try to relax and also massage my neck.

I EVEN went to an ENT specialist over this and they found nothing!!

The only other thing I have dealt with that kind of effects the off balance feeling is I get fluid buildup in my euchcisian (sorry about the spelling??) tube from sinus drainage, etc. and that can throw me off too.

Take care, Tammy

yes that feeling of unbalance is a symptom of anxiety and I'll explain to you how it works.

In order for any part of the body to work it needs blood. Normally the majority of the blood is going towards the organs but when we have a stress response then the flow is focused more on the muscles so we can fight or run away. When organs are deprived of blood they do not work as well.

Less blood to the brain = dizziness, spacyness, decreased memory and cognitive functioning

Less blood to the inner ear (place where equilibrium is established) = lightheaded and feelings that we're off balance


Mike

Very informative!!

I notice that I do tense my neck all of the time. And I do feel better when I relax my neck muscles.

Thank you.

Alot of the patients I've seen had tense neck muscles and it can lead to many diffrent problems...headaches, range of motion problems, irritability and it even plays a part in Tennis elbow and carpal tunnel.

Mike