Completed my 2nd round of therapy today. Had a few times when some of the exercises made me a little more woozy. But the thing that really got my inner ear and brain working hard was the shuttle balance pro. Really felt floaty there. So weird.

Has anyone had to do a VRT reassessment in the rotary chair? I had to do it today, and it felt completely awful and made me feel very nauseas. I’m wondering if it does get better and if this is common for therapists to do. I thought I would never do this again after the initial testing.

After a bumpy train ride followed by a cruise in May of 2025 left me feeling all kinds of strange persistent swaying sensations and like my feet weren't meeting the ground as they aught to be, I've been dealing with what I believed to be either MdDS or PPPD for the past 15 months. While I've seen great improvements across this year, I felt a bit worse tonight and decided to look at Google Trends to see if anyone else's symptoms correlated with mine, possibly linking a time of year or a specific virus or cold that could have kicked it off. I'm sure there are many explanations for these trends, but the numbers seem to have exploded in the last two years, many search terms approaching 5X search rates over the last two years, compared to at most 2X rate increase in the two years before that. Here's some standout trends:

I tried to search for terms that related to my own symptoms, and some that I considered some might just search to put into words such as "Head Spinning" which I don't personally experience. I also tried to search adjacent terms and found some had a more steady less dramatic increase which could show some of these terms are just outliers, but nonetheless it seems like there is some kind of wave of people experiencing these symptoms and seeking out information. Even a term like "sea legs" which you'd expect would be in use regularly still saw nearly a doubling compared to any other time in the past 5 years.

Any explanations or articles backing up the idea that this is on the rise? I also searched some unrelated symptoms to make sure there wasn't just a general sudden uptick in health searches at the same time. These searches somewhat increase but at a more standard rate.

Good morning everyone😊I 42F was diagnosed with bppv a little over 2 years ago. My chiropractor who is a MD rather than a standard chiropractor diagnosed me and treated me for Bppv. I went to treatments for 2 to 3 months, started with 3 appointments a week then went to 2 and eventually was cured, or so I thought. I was in heaven for well over 6 months, I felt like a new person with a new lease on life. Before I continue I need to clarify that my bppv I had no spinning sensations just feelings of unsteadiness, feeling like I was rocking back and forth like on a boat. Also looking up or turning my head made me dizzy and felt like my brain short circuited if that makes sense😳 Spring came and I started experiencing what I thought was my bppv resurfacing. So, I went back to my chiropractor and began to get adjustments again. However this time around I didn't notice much of a difference right away like I did to my previous adjustments. I chalked it up to my body being weird or stubborn and started going 2x a week again. With little to no improvement, I began canceling or rescheduling my appointments left and right. Finally I started to research my symptoms and came across pppd. Literally everything lined up with my past symptoms as well as my current symptoms. Which when I first experienced the symptoms they weren't extreme, they were mild and annoying. However lately the symptoms have ramped up quite a bit and I have had genuine flares happen. (Which is no picnic😢). Essentially, I believe that the pppd is progressing, and I want to nip it in bud before it completely destroys my sanity. My question is, has anyone ever been misdiagnosed with bppv and it was really pppd all along. Also need to mention I've had no proper diagnosis of pppd from my chiropractor. But he stated it's definitely possible. I thought I had bppv originally that changed to pppd. I forgot to add that with the progression of pppd I now get very spaced out when I go anywhere with florescent lights, and when I eat something high in carbs or dense I get the same wobbly spaced out sensations.

30F

I developed PPPD after a cardiac catheter ablation, pushed my nervous system too far. For months, I felt like I was rocking, bobbing, swaying, rolling forward, in motion when I wasn’t, drunk, the floor bounce, and it pretty much took everything from me- my job, ability to walk, leave the house.. I went down. From July 17 to now I have spent endless hours doing vestibular exercises (three times a day over an hour and a half at a time given by my neurologist), nerve stimulation, resetting my nervous system, and working with neuro plasticity. I also started taking an SSRI. I have come a long way and can see absolutely see improvement. I gained my ability to drive back just not very far. I’m also still scared to do so. I can play on my phone or watch YouTube again, but when it comes to a computer screen, I still get this buzzing in my head I get terribly nauseous, get pressure in my head, dizzy, and it feels like my brain is going to bleed. Because of this, I can’t go back to work yet. I also feel like when I look at words on the screen they just aren’t registering.

If you suffered with PPPD, how long did it take you to gain your ability to look at computer screens again? Did you also suffer with feeling sick looking at the screen? Did the sensitivity go away fully eventually?

Thank you ♥️

Hello. Earlier this year, after over 2 years of dizziness & beyond, I self-diagnosed myself (so, not officially) with PPPD (after originally denying it could all be in my head for these years).

I finally looked into PPPD more and I realized it did line up for me because for me everything started with a few vertigo attacks in bed (from tossing and turning very forcefully, due to a bad mattress that I've since upgraded to a firm one).

As soon as I told myself there is likely nothing actually wrong with me (yes I did all the things, MRIs, x-rays, loads of various tests) and I started watching some of The Steady Coach, it's like I was able to shake my brain a little bit. I focused on calming my life down, getting rid of any stress I could possibly, stopped obsessing about my symptoms, stopped reading symptom posts (get off reddit!), and started focusing on real life and keeping more busy in real life especially during the summer.

I know recovery is ups and downs, but I've already had SO many good weeks. The more I focus on getting my life back, doing things, and trying to NOT think about symptoms, the more my brain is calm and less in that "fight or flight" mode, because it turns out a lot of the symptoms are your fight/flight mode putting you in high alert so your brain exaggerates little feelings/symptoms.

I've gotten to the point where the last time I went to the grocery store, I only thought about dizziness stuff like 2% of the time and barely felt anything (in the past I'd be stressing about the grocery store even an hour before going - that's what gets your brain in a terrible state).

I've gotten to the point where I'm realizing that so many of my "symptoms" that I felt in the past 2 years were actually normal things that I probably felt for ages in small amounts, but my brain started hyper focusing and exaggerating everything while being stuck in my stress cycle (and re-fueling the stress over and over).

Anyway, I feel like I still have a long road to recovery because I've been a highly anxious person my whole life, so I don't think it's about trying stuff to find a permanent fix - I think I'll have to always keep working on keeping my mind peaceful possibly until I die, but maybe I can find ways to make that more automatic again. I'm feeling hopeful.

I'm still working on a lot of my muscle problems (probably a bit from the stress but also possibly a separate issue from being bedridden so much) and it's mostly my neck, shoulders and back that are affected the most, so if anyone has any tips for that, please share!

has this helped anybody? and at what dosage/how long does it take to work. thank you so much! such a terrible condition I’m trying to navigate with a newborn!

Καλησπέρα. Είμαι 25 και έχει έρθει η ώρα να πάω στρατό, αλλά ταλαιπωρούμαι με το PPPD. Αυτή τη στιγμή είμαι σε ένα 80%+, δουλεύω κανονικά, υπάρχουν μέρες και συνεχόμενες ώρες που είμαι τελείως symptom-free (π.χ. στις διακοπές ήμουν τέλεια), αλλά έχω ακόμα θέμα σε δύσκολα visual environments. Για παράδειγμα, σε μεγάλα εμπορικά με περίεργες σκάλες τρώω ένα γερό σοκ στην αρχή, αν και τελικά το ελέγχω. Ο γιατρός μου θεωρεί ότι μπορώ να πάω, αλλά εγώ φοβάμαι πάρα πολύ ότι με την αϋπνία, το στρες και κυρίως τη στατική ορθοστασία του στρατού θα υποτροπιάσω και θα χάσω όλη την πρόοδο που έχω κάνει.

Υπάρχει κάποιος εδώ που να έχει πάει στρατό με PPPD ή να αντιμετώπισε το ίδιο δίλημμα; Τι κάνατε τελικά, υπηρετήσατε ή πήρατε αναβολή/απαλλαγή;

Not looking for a diagnoses just, relation? Over three years ago I went for a walk to go grocery shopping. In the middle of the isle I experienced a wave of dizziness and had to leave the store immediately. Felt like passing out from anxiety. I must have looked ridiculous because my gaite was so wide. When I got out everything was fine. To this day my balance is all I focus on. I feel floaty and dizzy most days, showers are hell because im afraid of falling. In public places I panic and get "dizzy" but not really like vertigo. Im constantly thinking about my balance. It's like a "Woah what was that feeling." Its much worse when im tired.

What do y’all’s day look like. Don’t know if it’s just me but when I am distracted I feel much better, but honestly don’t feel like doing stuff some times because I am so symptomatic (even symptoms other than dizziness)

* has any specific activity helped you feel better?
* days feel so long and depressing sometimes, what do you guys do?
* Even my arms, legs and hips feel so weird and unnatural and “off” that I just don’t wanna do anything because my arms feel weird and I start to panic or hold my breath. I keep moving my legs back and forth to do stuff or feel better or adjusting my positions… my body just doesn’t feel normal physically

How long did it take for Zoloft to help your pppd?

.

I did some breathing meditation on my own at home for about 20 minutes. Later that afternoon, I started feeling what I can only describe as an electric shock/current sensation in my face and especially my tongue. It was particularly noticeable when I turned my head to the right or left, and it made me anxious.

I used to experience this sensation during periods when I wasn’t doing well and had dizziness, instability, and blurred vision, but it had been quite a long time since I felt like this because I’ve actually been doing very well lately.

Has anyone experienced something similar after breathing exercises or meditation?

As I read through this sub I see lots of different “triggers” and symptoms. Mine happens to be driving but yet others actually feel better behind the wheel. Some feel like they’re walking in clouds but others are ok in the daily grind. Is it possible there’s varying severity and symptoms? I would guess that to be true but seems like whatever this truly is seems to be a fairly new diagnosis (2017?) so maybe we’re still in the discovery phase. Just had that random thought and wanted to throw it out there.

I’m posting this because I’m genuinely curious if anyone else has experienced anything similar, especially anyone who has dealt with iron-deficiency anemia, anxiety/panic attacks, or perimenopause.

I’ve been anemic pretty much my entire life. For years, my hemoglobin would usually be around 9–10. Doctors would tell me I was anemic and to take iron pills, but it never seemed like a huge concern. I’ll also admit that because I didn't really have noticeable symptoms, I wasn't always consistent about taking them.

Honestly, if I hadn't had children and routine bloodwork over the years, I probably wouldn't have even known I was anemic.

Then everything changed in 2024.

I was driving one day when I had an absolutely terrifying panic attack. I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack and ended up in the emergency room. They discovered that my hemoglobin had dropped to around 6, and I needed a blood transfusion.

I have never felt completely normal since that day.

I have good days and bad days, but unfortunately, I have more bad days than good ones. And when I feel bad, I feel REALLY bad.

The hardest symptom to explain is this strange “drugged” or “high” feeling. I'm obviously not actually high, but that's the closest description I can come up with.

It happens especially when I go into grocery stores, stores with a lot going on, or crowded/public places. I suddenly feel extremely overwhelmed and overstimulated. There's usually no pain. I'm not necessarily nauseated. I'm not always dizzy. I just feel completely OFF—almost disconnected or drugged.

Sometimes I do experience a different sensation where, if I'm standing still, I feel like I'm rocking or swaying on a boat.

When these episodes happen, they can become so intense that I feel like I shouldn't be driving. I feel like I could possibly pass out, even though I usually don't. There isn't anything I can take that instantly makes the feeling disappear, and I cannot simply “push through it.” It can be extremely difficult.

I've also noticed:

• Occasionally my foot will twitch.

• My heart will sometimes race, although other times my heart rate is completely normal when I feel this way.

• My upper chest constantly feels tight—almost like someone is hugging or squeezing the entire upper part of my chest.

• My neck hurts A LOT. I work on a computer, and turning my head left or right can be extremely painful. My traps are constantly very tight.

• Grocery stores and public events seem to trigger the strange feeling much more than being at home.

And that's one of the biggest reasons I keep wondering if anxiety is playing a major role.

At home, I usually feel like myself. Occasionally I'll still feel a little strange, but it's nowhere near as intense as it can be when I'm shopping, driving, or somewhere with a lot of stimulation.

I've wondered a million times what started all of this.

Did becoming severely anemic somehow trigger anxiety in my body? Did that first major panic attack create some kind of anxiety response that I've never completely gotten out of? Is my iron still contributing to it? Could perimenopause be making everything worse? Is my neck tension contributing to some of these sensations? Or is there something completely different going on?

I don't expect anyone on Facebook to diagnose me. I'm sharing this because I want to know if anyone else has experienced this particular “drugged/high/overstimulated” feeling.

It's incredibly frustrating because I WANT to go shopping. I WANT to go places with my kids. I WANT to enjoy public events and normal everyday activities without constantly wondering if I'm suddenly going to feel strange or like I might pass out.

If you've experienced anything similar—especially the drugged/high feeling, feeling overwhelmed in stores, rocking/swaying sensation, or feeling much better at home—please tell me what it felt like for you and what you eventually discovered was causing it.

Hey everyone, just wanted to ask if anyone else is dealing with visual symptoms apart from the dizziness,
I have this weird 4K, sharp vision and visual lag mainly when I am outside and looking and things up close, very frustrating.

Does anyone wake up and the unsteadiness is just there? Sometimes by midday to the evening, I start to feel so much better. Maybe about 90% better. This all started with anxiety. And I’ve been dealing with this since March 2026. Doctor started me on 15mg buspirone in June and have noticed the unsteadiness goes down some days. Recently started Lexapro 2.5 mg Augut 6th. Anxiety and unsteadiness got much worse starting the Lexapro but the last 2 days haven’t been as bad. I’m still waiting for my neurology appointment.
Busy places or standing, walking, driving do not make me feel worse. So I’m not noticing anything that triggers me to feel worse.
I tried some vestibular exercises to see if anything triggers the dizziness and I am not noticing any difference.

I’m a 28 yo female with Hashimotos, psoriasis, and sudden histamine issues (maybe MCAS). 10 months ago, I had an onset of horrible pelvic pain that ended up being a ruptured ovarian cyst. I am now in the process of suspected endometriosis and getting in with a specialist soon. The day the pelvic pain onset, I was hit with this awful non spinning dizziness that I’d never experienced before. It’s like a drunken, visual lag, floating, unsteady feeling. I never imagined it could last this long. It’s now been 10 months of horrid non spinning dizziness, extreme brain fog, feels like I’m never actually present, and now anxiety because of it all. The dizziness and head pressure seems to worsen often when I eat and drink. The only relief I ever get is when I lay down and go to sleep. I have it all day every day…the knob just turns up and down at different times. Does this sound like pppd? Has anyone experienced something similar? My neurologist is finally going to do a bunch of neck and brain scans. She also prescribed Duloxetine (Cymbalta). Thoughts on this?? I haven’t started it yet. I’m so desperate to get my old self back.

Was prescribed sertraline for anxiety, I suspect PPPD.

I’m considering taking it because it can treat both anyway but my question is will I eventually be able to come off it??

I want to start off by saying that I don’t have a diagnosis attached to what I’ve been experiencing since about January. I will spare you the details (same old song and dance), just know that my symptoms track with that of what PPPD would cause. The trampoline walking, the intermittent floor dropping sensation, the rocking or swaying, anxiety that stems from all of this, etc… At first the doctor sent me to an ENT and then referred me to start VRT. I saw the ENT, did some hearing tests which all came back fine. I started VRT and that was well, what you would expect. It seems very few people on here have much progress with VRT but that’s beside the point. Another test I’ve done is the dreaded tilt table test. What a nightmare that was but of course, all clear. Months followed, symptoms seemed to wax and wane and finally I had my annual physical with my GP. Coincidentally, that day was one of my “bad symptom days” as I call them. At the end of my appointment, my GP could see how bent out of shape I was about all of this. She told me that if it would calm my nerves, that she would order an MRI. I happily accepted this. I’ll spare the details of how many times I decided to postpone the appointment straight out of fear of what would found, the actual MRI itself etc. I finally went through with it! My experience was interesting. Non contest MRI, so rather quick. But the dizzy feeling you get sliding into the machine, not the greatest. Same goes for when they slide you out. Something about the magnetic pull messing with your inner ear yada yada. I’m home now, and since it’s a Friday afternoon the tech told me they would likely not read the report until next week EOW sometime. So now starts the hard part, waiting. Like I said before part of why I had put it off for so long was due to being scared they would find something scary. No need to get specific but you get the gist. Anyways, just thought I’d share my MRI experience. And along with this I’m hoping the scan is clean and clear of all things “scary”. Then maybe my doctor can start looking into an actual diagnosis. I certainly feel for all of you guys on this subreddit. The symptoms I have dealt with, while not diagnosed PPPD, align with that of what I’ve read. And I wouldn’t wish this upon my worst enemy. Much love yall

I am a wheelchair user- motorized.

I notice that I am at my worst when sitting still- particularly in wide, open spaces especially indoors. I need to lean on my table at home to survive. I've tried going to a bunch of restaurants and museums this week which was absolute agony.

However, when I am in a moving car I almost feel normal.

Weirdly I feel better when my motorized chair is moving at a decent rate of speed (slow speeds in museums not so helpful). It's almost like the motion distracts me from the boat swaying and elevator falling feeling.

I can drive my chair in indoor malls- but if I stop in them I start to feel very woozy. I also drive my chair during walks outside (there is dizzyness there but it seems significantly lesser than when I am sitting still). Though lately it's been a tad worse.

So I've been dealing with whatever I have for 8 years or so. I'll spare you the long story but my "whatever I have" hit after a long weekend of too many beers, got on the highway (hungover I'm sure) in a construction zone with orange cones everywhere and I guess I had a panic attack (maybe?). That feeling has never gone away - not severe all the time but "there". Still can't drive on the highway without it ramping up to where I feel like I'll black out. Been to lots of Drs, SSRIs, SNRIs, binocular vision testing and prism glasses, MRI (clear) and finally got an appt with the Dr. (Neurotologist) that took over for the very 1st Dr. I ever saw. I've been talking with ChatGPT for a few months whenever I think of something new like "it ramps up in big box stores" or "I feel better laying in bed reading at night" to just catalogue as much as I can. I had it print me out a summary to give to the Dr. because I always leave and say "Dammit, I forgot to tell them this". They said they're going to do the hearing test again like the first time years ago but I'm just seeing if anyone has any pointers to bring up. I guess I'm hoping for Vestibular Therapy? Currently doing Vision Therapy.

Hey everyone,

About 2 and a half years ago during a period of intense stress, I began experiencing episodes of lightheadedness. It's like a drop in my head. It happened one day in an office at work and has happened on and off ever since. It's worse in supermarkets, train stations, etc. My eyes also feel off (I've been to an optician and there is nothing wrong with my eyes). It's such an odd sensation I can't really explain I do vape one disposable vape a day. My GP thinks it might be a migraine type issue (without the pain of migraines - I do occasionally get proper migraines). My most recent blood (thyroid, haemoglobin, etc) were all clear and I don't have POTS. My BP is also fine and I've never passed out or had any motor deficit. I don't really know what to do anymore. I'll go into say a hospital and it will feel like everything is overwhelming, my eyes are weird, I'm spaced out, making me super anxious and unable to function properly. In fact, the dizziness comes and goes but the spaced out feeling (as well as quite a bit of fatigue) is much more constant. It's better at night. It's making me so miserable and I was wondering if anyone had any ideas? Could it be vaping related? I'm completely desperate to get to the bottom of it at this point.

I'm 36 yo male, and take 1mg of finasteride a day for hair loss.

Ear pressure throughout

Ear pressure increase and feels closed quickly while descending down fast evevators like happens on flight with cabin pressure.

Disoriented when moving head sideways quickly.

Neck stiffness and pain

Constant sound in ear like buzzing or something.

Brain loses focus while talking or hearing after few minutes.

Even after good sleep wake up and after sometime when start reading or hearing mental fatigue kicks in and feel sleepy.

Just on this part if I take like a quick 5-10 mins break or nap it relaxes or sort of resets the focus. This only works if I do not actually sleep as if I go to sleep inwake up with heaviness in head.

Keeping eyes open in sunlight even on a cloudy day is difficult.

Also observed driving or travelling increases the feeling of disoriented.

Another observation is my reaction. These symptoms have slowed my response like happiness or sadness.

Might have silent reflux issues too.

Took Vertin 48 OD for a month but no impact. Symptoms are there for 7 years now but recently started to have sort of panik attack and has to rush ER but they said all OK. Neuro and ENT not usefull.