Dizzies during panics

[decca]

I don't understand why we get the dizzies during anxiety or panic attacks.
If it's part of the fight or flee adrenaline rush how does it help ?
I'm pretty sure I couldn't do either if I was feeling dizzy at the time.
I asked my therapist and he said it was something to do with the way we evolved allowing more light into our eyes so we could concentrate our vision on our enamy.Doesn't really explain it for me I'm afraid .
Any ideas ?
Decca.

[Leahfackrell]

i am unsure if you read the general symptoms that are listed on this website but i read them all and i find that when i feel a panic attack coming on or if maybe i am having a symptom that i havent felt before or i dont understand i constantly read the symptom list and what it all means. if you havent read it then on the left side of this page under problems/issues there is a link that says symptoms.. i printed mine out and it helps a lot, i copied the part about getting dizzy for you and i hope it helps :)

Dizziness or light-headedness


What you feel:
You feel suddenly light-headed, woozy or dizzy. This is sometimes accompanied by a feeling that you might faint or pass out. It also may feel as though you are walking on a boat, or that the floor seems to move up and down and it's hard to balance. You may also have difficulty placing your feet because your perception of the ground or floor may be wrong. In some cases it may seem that even though you are standing on a firm floor, the floor may be vibrating or moving.

This is a very common feeling that most sufferers get. It’s usually as a result of hyperventilation but also of intense fear and the adrenalin hit.

Feeling faint is very worrying and very frightening. You feel as though you are going to pass out or the whole world seems to be spinning and you cannot focus on anything. Your vision is blurred and this causes more Panic as you are now ‘sure’ that you will pass out or collapse.

Even when you convince yourself that you will not faint, the feeling of un-steadiness or dizziness remains. This feeling can go on for minutes or hours and there seems to be no end to it.
What causes this:

This symptom has a few variations. Some people may experience a sudden head rush feeling, which goes almost as quickly as it comes. As long as the individual doesn’t react with more fear, the symptom will come and go and will vary in frequency from a number of times per day, to a few times a month.

Another variation includes a constant state of unbalance, spinning, wooziness, fogginess and so on. Often it is accompanied by a feeling that you may pass out (some people do, however, that’s not common).

This symptom has a few causes. It could be from a blood sugar imbalance, hyperventilation (not getting enough oxygen) or an inner ear or ear pressure condition.
This is a common symptom and sometimes an individual can experience both forms, and at different times.

There are tests available that can accurately identify a blood sugar imbalance, however, most often this isn’t the main cause. Typically, those with anxiety disorder have their blood sugar levels within the safe range when tested. However, long periods without eating may aggravate the condition because blood sugar levels may drop too low because of not eating. It’s important to eat regular wholesome and natural food so that the fluctuations in blood sugar remain in the normal range.

If you are experiencing this symptom, having medical tests may be beneficial - certainly, to rule out any other cause.

If your symptom is a result of hyperventilation, deliberately deep slow breathing will reduce and even eliminate this symptom. While deep relaxation will help to diminish and eliminate most symptoms, I found that this symptom is one that hangs on the longest, and is the least responsive to immediate counter action. However, regular exercise provided me with results though not immediate.

Try to steady your breathing and sit quietly somewhere so that you can concentrate on it. The more you Panic and worry, the worse you will feel.

Try to occupy and distract your mind with something so you don’t focus on the dizziness and if necessary sit down for a while to help get your balance back.

As with all symptoms, when the nervous system gets sufficient rest, this symptom will diminish and eventually subside.

[decca]

Thanks -
Yea I read that , Its not the symptoms or coping with it thats the problem,
I'ts just that I cant understand why we get it as part of an anxiety or panic attack.
As I said before it can't be part of the fight or flee syndrome because surely you couldn't do either while you're dizzy.
Adrenaline pumps the heart faster which circulates more blood and oxygen into the muscles and hightens the awareness of the looming danger,it also makes us sweat so that our skin becomes slippery which makes it harder for our foe to grip, in turn your whole body is more capable of either fighting your foe or running from it .
But if you're dizzy you wouldn't be able to either fight or run,
D'ya see what I mean ?
Decca.