Actually the Vestibular Disorder itself in some cases is enough to do it. I'm not making it up either. I know it because it is my disability. Not many doctors however deal with this problem. Vestibular Disorders can cause a secondary disabling condition called General Anxiety Disorder. This was discovered by a research Neurologist/psychiatrist in the late 1970's. But here is a link that goes into what I am saying. Note the source is not from mental health but rather a V.E.D.A. related site. COGNITIVE ASPECTS OF VESTIBULAR DISORDERS
There are quite a few of us out here with Vestibular or sensory processing disorder induced General Anxiety Disorder. It is a Neurological condition and unlike many cases of Panic Disorder or General Anxiety Disorder is not caused by traumatic or phobic origins.
Please read my post a bit more. I have what is called Stimulus-sensitive myoclonus is triggered by a variety of external events, including noise, movement, and light. Surprise may increase the sensitivity of the patient. Source: Myoclonus Fact Sheet In my case sensory flooding {overload} brings on these type of seizures. It is more or less worse case scenario sensory induced General Anxiety Disorder. Many people have it to a much lesser degree but do not realize it. I'll give you a common example.
A person walks into a Walmart lets say 8:00pm the person is relaxed looking for a few items he is remembering in his head. Some blank CD's, light bulbs, pencils, and a can of soup. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? You start walking toward electronics dept. You look on the shelf and try to pick out a brand maybe talk to someone with you when the in store PA screams I need a member of management. Now what was it I was doing oh yea CD's let's see there's Memerox , Sony, and{I need a member of management" in a louder than needed volume. Let's see jewel cases or "I need a member of management" OK under your breath shut up!
You're getting kinda agitated at this point and wanting to end the shopping and get out. Got the CD's now what was it I came in here for? " I need a member of management" light bulbs, & pencils, something else "Electronics line one" Ok where's the pencils? See what I'm saying the brain has done dropped one item from memory and agitation is growing.
By the time this persons gets a pencil getting out of the store is becoming more of a priority. They are becoming quite agitated but I doubt the realize why. They get to the check out with three of four items. The lines are long, kids are screaming, and they say enough of it and walk out. Some don't even make it that far. Coming back a midnight they likely can complete the task.
Most people can handle it. Many Vestibular patients can't and many don't realize why. It is sensory bombardment. They can shop but the store announcements are competing with their concentration. This leads to agitation. The person starts avoiding the offending store or any store but still doesn't understand why. I've noticed Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, and many grocery stores are like this.
The Panic attack in these cases comes from sensory processing overload. It can happen on the interstate driving or it can happen at home watch TV. It takes some detective work to learn your triggers.
Many Vestibular patients also have problems with understanding conversation. You can pass an audio test fine. But sitting down at a table with relatives you hear all and can understand none. It can actually seem like partial deafness as you will be asking the person to repeat things many times. The sensory system is trying to process all the conversations though.
Ironically I am loosing my hear. That's the bad part. The good part is I have fewer attacks. I also have 5000-8000 cycle Tinnitus so bad I can not hear between those ranges in most cases. It is multi frequency.
I'll go even deeper into this and show you a real good one. You know what ADD and ADHD is right? Or is it actually? Ever hear of C.A.P.D. It stands for Central Auditory Processing Disorders. I have that and I also have the visual portion as well.
I was misdiagnosed 40 years ago with ADD ADHD. You can look it up and you'll see why it is easily mistaken for ADD ADHD.
For anyone reading this who thinks it may relate to them I very highly recommend a book called "Phobia Free" by Harold Levinson MD. The book changed how I dealt with this and explained what happened. I had real bad sinus allergies as a kid.l Sinus allergies, Chronic Ear Infections etc can damage the Vestibular System.
The man was literally ridiculed by the mental health profession. But Vestibular Researchers are validating much of what he says in that book. It is based on some discoveries he made in the mid 1970's treating patients with Anxiety Disorders.
Treatment for this must be approached from the Vestibular aspect. Many shrinks use a SSRI or other antidepressant treatment protocol for G.A.D. In patients with sensory damage this can lead to an adverse reaction to them called Serotonin Syndrome. It has to be treated with Benzo class tranquilizers. I have seen a couple of people have that reaction one was my wife and I was almost there myself. It can be fatal. It's like giving the patient LSD. The patient shows up at an ER and Dr Clueless doesn't do a PDR look up of Trazodone and Zoloft. He says the patient is pyschotic up the SSRI's and transfer to a mental care facility that is just as clueless. All because the patient has a Vestibular Disorder and was given the wrong meds.
I've had this to a disabling degree since 1994. Some of it is what I have found out through research like the links and some is speaking from personal experience. I use Vestibular sites in most of my research. Every person with a disability has to understand their limits and act responsibly within them.
I managed to pass two military enlistment exams as well. The doctors failed to check both my eyes at once. I also passed a D.O.T. physical in 1984 and drove an 18 wheeler. But the longer the brain has to deal with the compensating the more likely you are to have what happened to me. All it takes to be the straw that breaks the camels back is a life altering event or stress. It can be a positive event such as a much wanted promotion or stress over loosing your job etc.
Well, I learned something new today. Thanks for educating me on this issue.
I hope that all is well with you.