It may seem strange, but anxiety and balance problems are often related.  Severe anxiety, nervousness, or panic can actually affect the way a person walks and make it more difficult for him or her to maintain balance.

Additionally, as a person gets older or has increased problems with their physical abilities due to injury or other maladies, they can actually develop a fear of falling that affects how they walk.  This means that their anxiety and balance problems are caused by one another, not just simply related.  Being anxious about falling causes a person to stiffen up unnaturally, and this in turn affects their walking.  While it's good to be especially careful when walking along slippery areas or when you are having physical difficulties with your joints or legs, this unnatural gait can actually interfere with your balance overall. 

It Has a Name!

Psychogenic dizziness is the term that medical doctors use to describe when anxiety and balance problems are found together.  While there is still much research to be done on the topic, and doctors are not exactly sure why panic, phobia or anxiety causes a person to have problems with their balance and coordination, they do know that such a connection exists.

What Causes Anxiety and Balance Problems?

Unfortunately, doctors cannot yet exactly pinpoint why persons with anxiety or panic experience problems with their walking and gait.  It may have to do with the mind being terribly distracted with the panic or anxiety, and balance problems are then experienced because the brain is somewhat distracted from keeping the feet coordinated and working in harmony.

Think of when you're anxious or nervous about anything.  You're very distracted, aren't you?  Being distracted when you're driving is when you're more likely to have an accident, even though driving is one of the most basic skills people learn.  When you're distracted or upset, you're more likely to forget words and lose your place when reading or speaking.  These things may give a clue as to why anxiety and balance problems happen – the brain is just simply overwhelmed with the panic or fear, and the legs don’t get the attention they should.

It's overly simplistic to tell a person with anxiety to just relax, but it is important, especially when experiencing problems with walking and coordination.  Don't hesitate to speak to your doctor about this issue so that it can be addressed properly.