Vertigo or Dizziness

Dave Clarke, MD

“Vertigo is a symptom that causes a person to feel like they or their surroundings are moving, even when they are not. It is often described as a spinning or swaying sensation and can make it difficult to balance. Vertigo can last from a few seconds to days and can be constant or sporadic.

Dizziness is a broader term that includes a general feeling of being off-balance, unsteady, lightheaded, feeling faint, or having difficulty with movement or walking.

Common diagnoses applied to people with these symptoms can include:

  • Vestibular Migraine which consists of episodes of vertigo and other vestibular symptoms associated with migraine features such as headache, nausea, or visual disturbances.

  • Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic disorder characterized by non-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness that persists for three months or more.

  • Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare disorder characterized by a persistent sensation of motion, typically described as rocking, swaying, or bobbing. Often begins after disembarking from a boat, plane, or other transportation.

Vertigo and dizziness can be caused by organ disease or structural damage. When they are not, it is likely that the brain plays a role in generating or contributing to the symptoms.”

  • Why would the brain do this? Nearly always, one or more types of stress is involved even if this is not fully recognized at first.

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  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

    Experiences that would make you sad or angry if they happened to a child for whom you care.

  • Stressful Personality Traits

    Such as focusing too much on the needs of others, excessive self-criticism, perfectionism, lack of assertiveness, and many others.

  • Unrecognized Negative Emotions

    Such as anger, fear, shame, grief, or guilt.

  • Triggers

    Including people, situations, or events that remind you of stressful situations.

  • Current Life Stresses

    Such as work, parenting, pressure from loved ones, or major life changes.

  • Mental Health Challenges

    Such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress.

The good news is that all these sources of stress can be successfully diagnosed and treated.

To explore whether this applies to you, take the self-diagnostic quiz below. It consists of 12 simple 'Yes or No' questions. The more 'Yes' answers you provide, the more likely it is that the resources on this website can help.