Wednesday - June 24th, 2026
Apple News
×

What can we help you find?

Open Menu

1249: When Anxiety Feels Physical: Dizziness, Brain Fog, And Feeling Unsteady

  1. 1249: When Anxiety Feels Physical: Dizziness, Brain Fog, And Feeling Unsteady Gina Ryan 21:05

In today’s episode, Gina discusses some of the more disturbing physical symptoms that anxiety can present us with. These symptoms can strike us at any time and often lead us to think there is something medically wrong with us. A range of these symptoms are explored: what causes them and what can be done to quiet them when we realize that anxiety is the cause. Listen in for great tips on how to reduce and eliminate some of anxiety’s worst bodily sensations and symptoms!

Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.

If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here:  http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.

Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/

Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com

Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program

1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching

If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:

Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?

Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.

-Christopher Germer

Chapters

0:26 Anxiety Dizziness Explained

3:25 Breathing and Carbon Dioxide

6:49 Body Tension and Triggers

8:41 Calming the Nervous System

10:06 Movement and Meditation

12:10 Healing Happens Gradually

14:08 Watch Caffeine and Stimulants

17:25 Change the Inner Script

18:36 Hope and Recovery

Summary

In this episode, we look at the dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance feeling that can happen when anxiety is high. We describe how these sensations can appear during everyday situations, how they can quickly trigger fear, and how that fear can intensify the symptoms.

We explain some possible physical causes of anxiety-related dizziness, especially changes in breathing. When we breathe faster and more shallowly, carbon dioxide levels can drop, which may lead to lightheadedness, tingling, feeling unreal, chest tightness, unsteadiness, vision changes, or brain fog.

We also discuss other contributors, including muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, jaw, and scalp, as well as blood sugar swings, dehydration, Sleep deprivation, overstimulation, and caffeine or other stimulants. We note that these sensations are real, but they are often linked to a dysregulated nervous system rather than a medical emergency.

We then share practical ways to help the body feel steadier: gentle diaphragmatic breathing, movement such as walking or stretching, meditation or quiet nervous system rest, reducing overall nervous system load, and paying attention to triggers like caffeine and lack of sleep. We also emphasize using non-catastrophic self-talk during symptoms.

We close by encouraging patience and self-compassion, noting that recovery often happens gradually as the nervous system learns safety again.

#AnxietyDizziness #Lightheadedness #AnxietySymptoms #PanicAttackRelief #AnxietyLoop #FightOrFlight #PhysicalAnxiety #Derealization #OvercomingPanic #AnxietyIsReal #AnxietySupport #NervousSystemRegulation #VagusNerve #SomaticHealing #CalmYourNervousSystem #NervousSystemHealing #BodyMindConnection #BreathworkForAnxiety #DiaphragmaticBreathing #SomaticAwareness #AnxietyRecovery #HolisticHealing #StressReduction #CaffeineFree #BloodSugarBalance #MindfulMovement #SleepDeprivation #DigitalDetox #Overstimulation #CalmTheMind #MindfulSelfTalk #SelfCompassion #MindfulnessPractice #AnxietyCoaching #MentalHealthMatters #InnerPeace #HealingIsLinear #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #YouAreNotAlone

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gina Ryan is the producer and host of the top 50 Mental Health shows on Apple Podcast -The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. Gina is a Nutritionist and coach who, in 1993, opened New Health Natural Products in NY and also struggled with stress, anxiety, and panic for over 20 years.

Before the internet, she was able to climb out of her fear and panic to peace, calm, and well-being by finding what did and did not work. She now teaches thousands of others how to do the same in a fraction of the time.

After moving to Maui in 2005, Gina spent 12 years as a nutritionist/consultant for the Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Center and, the only Residential ED Facility in Hawai'i. She shared her compassion, along with her knowledge and wisdom of the mind-body-spirit connection, helping clients clear their food-related anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions.

Gina is dedicated full-time to anxiety-clearing, coaching, writing, and teaching clients worldwide. She considers her work her calling and lives a mindful and compassionate life.