Psychogenic vertigo: what they are and how they manifest

Psychogenic vertigo is a challenge for both doctors and those who suffer from it.. Dizziness can be due to various causes, from cervical problems, vision problems and even hearing disorders. However, this condition also appears in times of greater anxiety, when faced with phobic stimuli or in patients with post-traumatic stress disorders.

This type of dizziness causes numerous sick leave.. The most complex thing, without a doubt, is that we can spend a lot of time trying to find a diagnosis or a treatment that allows us to have a higher quality of life, without achieving it. We tell ourselves that there must be some organic cause behind it and the fact of not knowing increases the worry even more.

Nevertheless, Once medical origins are ruled out, it is when we become aware that these dizziness are due to nerves, anxiety or a stressful situation. that is surpassing us. Fortunately, we are increasingly aware of these types of realities and we can use multiple approaches to solve it.

We analyze it.

Psychogenic vertigo: symptoms, causes and treatment

Almost 50% of people who go to the doctor for dizziness problems actually suffer from some psychological disorder, such as anxiety, phobias, depression, etc. Within the scientific literature it is assumed that it is It is common to confuse chronic vertigo with psychogenic vertigo (Staab and Ruckenstein, 2003).

That is, we may have patients who believe they suffer from chronic dizziness when, in reality, what they have suffered is a bad diagnosis. Keep in mind that a blood test, a physical examination or even an MRI will not reveal an anxiety disorder. Hence Psychogenic vertigo is one of the most complicated psychological conditions to identify.

Let’s see what its characteristics are.

Symptoms associated with psychogenic vertigo

Dizziness or psychogenic vertigo are defined, basically, as a feeling of loss of stability as a result of anxiety, depression, stress, or somatization disorder. The main symptoms are the following:

Dizziness can occur as soon as we get up or arise suddenly in specific situations, such as in open spaces or where there are many people.The world spins around usas if we were on a Ferris wheel. Sensation that we are going to faint.Cold sweatsudden headache. Lightheadedness, feeling of mental fog, difficult to think, react…

What are the causes?

We have already pointed out that these types of conditions have a psychological trigger. However, it is important to take one detail into account.

Studies such as those carried out at the Department of Neurology at the Johannes Gutenberg University indicate that there is a significant relationship between psychogenic vertigo and people who, in addition to suffering from anxiety, They suffer from vestibular deficits.

What does this mean? Vestibular problems are defined by small problems in the inner ear, which controls balance. That is, it is estimated that between the 25% and 50% of people who suffer from this type of dizziness, in addition to anxiety, would have a small hearing problem. Here, a good diagnosis of both conditions is essential. On the other hand, psychogenic vertigo appears with high frequency when experiencing a panic or anxiety attack. Phobic stimuli are also correlated with this symptom. People who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorders , they also often experience psychogenic vertigo.

The origin of these states is usually in hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.. The metabolic changes that they orchestrate in our body are intense and, generally, other symptoms are added to the dizziness, such as insomnia, digestive disorders, tachycardia, etc.

How is psychogenic vertigo treated?

Psychogenic dizziness can completely limit quality of life. You can leave the house feeling good and get to the subway or the bus and begin to feel how the world is spinning, how the emptiness arises in your stomach and the feeling of absolute daze. What should we do in these cases?

Let’s look at some keys.

The importance of a good diagnosis

Vertigo can have psychological triggers, but also organic ones. Sometimes, as we have already pointed out, there may be a vestibular problem. This makes it essential to receive an adjusted diagnosis that allows us to treat, on the one hand, the mental aspect, and on the other, the physiological aspect.

Psychogenic dizziness is not dangerous but we need therapy

Psychogenic vertigo is not the cause of a serious illness. However, they can greatly limit our quality of life if we do not manage them. In these cases, it is essential to receive psychological therapy to effectively manage the cause that motivates these symptoms.

Psychological treatment will always depend on the particular needs of each person. Someone who has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder for years is not the same as a person with a specific phobia. Nevertheless, In many cases, cognitive behavioral therapy will be of great help..

Relaxation technique: Schultz’s autogenic training

One of the most effective relaxation techniques is Schultz autogenic training.. It consists of achieving adequate balance and internal calm through self-hypnosis.

To do this, we must carry out training that follows a very specific order aimed at producing physiological changes such as muscle relaxation, modification of heart and respiratory rate, etc. The steps we should follow would be the following:

Exercise of heaviness.Exercise of heat.Exercise of pulsation.Exercise of breathing.Exercise of abdominal regulation.Exercise of the head.

To conclude, it is true thatDizziness can be due to multiple causes. However, let us never leave aside the psychological aspect, our emotions, in the form of fear or anxiety, can be behind these realities.

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