Causes of Chronic Dizziness

When you first experience dizziness, it can be extremely disorienting and scary. Many people find that their dizziness starts as a one-time episode and then becomes chronic. Some individuals even experience dizziness 24/7 for months or even years.

Chronic Vestibular Disorders

When dizziness becomes chronic, it is mostly tied to a vestibular disorder. Certain disorders are grouped into the chronic illness category, which means that there is currently no cure and they will have to be managed for life. That does not mean that you will experience chronic dizziness for the rest of your life, but symptoms are always possible. These vestibular disorders are considered chronic:

1. Vestibular Migraine: A chronic migraine disorder that present as dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, and other symptoms. It can be experienced with or without a headache.
2. Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD): A chronic condition where dizziness becomes constant or triggered by visual environments, stress, or movement after an initial vestibular event. This is NEVER a solitary diagnosis.
3. Meniere’s Disease: A chronic condition where dizziness becomes constant or triggered by visual environments, stress, or movement after an initial vestibular event.

Although other vestibular disorders like BPPV and Vestibular Neuritis are not considered chronic illnesses, they can lead to chronic symptoms like recurring BPPV or trigger another vestibular disorder.

How Dizziness Becomes Chronic

As previously stated, these disorders are considered chronic illnesses, but people may not experience symptoms at all, and some people experience chronic dizziness. Several factors contribute if dizziness becomes chronic.

1. Treatment: If vestibular disorders are diagnosed in their early stages and treated correctly, it is less likely for symptoms to become chronic. This is done through medication, lifestyle adjustments, and mindset work. If left undiagnosed and untreated for long periods of time, symptoms are more likely to spike and become more frequent.
2. Brain Recalibration: When symptoms first occur, the brain is uncertain how to handle them. The brain’s job is to keep us safe and upright, and dizziness causes it to lose control. The new sensations can take while to get used to and get under control, as well as return to baseline. This is where treatment like vestibular rehabilitation therapy can be helpful.
3. Anxiety, Fear, and Avoidance: Dizziness is scary! Our brain’s job is to keep us safe, and when hit with dizziness, we can feel unsafe in our bodies at all times. This leads to the dizzy-anxious cycle, which actually causes more dizziness. Anxiety can cause dizziness and make dizziness worse, which makes us dizzier and can lead to hypervigilance and chronic dizziness. When we feel anxious and dizzy all the time, we tend to avoid movement and other tasks, which slows recovery.

Non-Vestibular Contributors

Sometimes, chronic dizziness can be caused by other factors that aren’t vestibular disorders.

• Neck tension or cervical spine issues (cervicogenic dizziness)
• Anxiety or chronic stress, which can heighten the body’s sensitivity to motion
• Medication side effects or changes in blood pressure
• Autonomic dysfunction, such as POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)

Hope and Healing

Chronic dizziness doesn’t have to control your life. With the right diagnosis, targeted exercise, and a supportive community, improvement is absolutely possible.

At Vestibular Group Fit, we combine education, fitness, and empowerment to help you move — safely, intentionally, and confidently, and get your chronic symptoms to stop.

Ready to Take the Next Step Towards Healing?

If you’re looking for a supportive, expert-led space to help you regain confidence, reduce symptoms, and rebuild your life after a vestibular diagnosis, join us in Vestibular Group Fit.

This unique coaching program combines movement, education, nervous system retraining, and community — all designed specifically for people living with vestibular disorders. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been struggling for years, you are not alone and you can feel better.

👉Click here to join Vestibular Group Fit and starting your healing journey today.