My Vertigo Journey
If you've ever rolled over in bed and suddenly felt like the entire room was spinning, you know how unsettling vertigo can be.
I've dealt with positional vertigo for years.
(here’s a funny video where I try to pretend it doesn’t affect me…but it does. HA!)
For me, certain movements or positions can trigger that unmistakable spinning sensation. And while vertigo isn't new to me, being in midlife has made me think differently about symptoms like this. Because one thing I've learned, both personally and through the work I do with women, is that when something feels "off," it's worth asking:
Is there more going on here?
Vertigo isn't a diagnosis by itself. It's a symptom.
And there are multiple reasons someone can experience it.
So if dizziness or vertigo suddenly becomes part of your midlife experience, let's talk about what could actually be happening.
First: What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo isn't simply feeling lightheaded. It's the sensation that you or the environment around you is moving or spinning when you're actually still.
One of the most common causes is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - or BPPV. BPPV happens when tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear, called otoconia, become displaced and move into one of the semicircular canals.
Then you move your head...
Roll over in bed.
Look upward.
Bend down.
Sit up quickly.
And suddenly - SPINNING.
Episodes are often brief, but they can be incredibly disorienting. And honestly - not fun.
That's the type of positional vertigo I've personally experienced for years.
But Why Are We Talking About Vertigo in Midlife?
Because midlife brings a lot of physiological changes at once. And researchers are increasingly interested in the relationship between menopause, estrogen changes and the vestibular system, which helps regulate balance and spatial orientation. That doesn't mean you’re bound to get vertigo. It's much more complicated than that.
Vertigo Isn't Always BPPV
This is really important. Just because you're in your 40s or 50s and the room starts spinning doesn't mean it's "your hormones." Vertigo can actually have multiple causes, including:
BPPV
Vestibular migraine
Ménière's disease
Inner-ear inflammation or infection
Medication effects
Neurological conditions
And some things women describe as "vertigo" aren't actually vertigo at all. Things like feeling faint, shaky, weak or woozy could potentially involve dehydration, blood pressure changes, anemia, blood sugar changes, medications or other medical issues. The key is paying attention to how the dizziness feels.
My Experience With Positional Vertigo
As mentioned, I've had positional vertigo for years, so I know exactly how disruptive it can feel. It randomly popped up one day right before my 38th birthday. It went away for a few months - then came back - and now i feel it daily. Most often when I lay down on the couch, lay down to go to sleep at night or look upwards.
It is WILD - as you can feel completely normal...
And then you turn your head the wrong way or change positions and suddenly your entire sense of orientation changes. It's also incredibly tempting when you've experienced something repeatedly to think:
"Oh, it's just my vertigo."
But I've learned not to automatically dismiss changes in my body simply because I've experienced something similar before. So let this be your reminder - if you’re someone who deals with vertigo (or any other symptom!)….
If the frequency changes...
If the intensity changes...
If new symptoms appear...
Or if something simply doesn't feel like your typical pattern...
That's information worth paying attention to from your body.
What Can You Do About Positional Vertigo?
If your symptoms are consistent with BPPV, one of the most effective treatments isn't a supplement at all. It's canalith repositioning maneuvers, such as the Epley Maneuver. These movements are designed to guide the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canal and back into an area of the inner ear where they won't trigger vertigo.
In my experience - a vestibular physical therapist, ENT, audiologist or other appropriately trained clinician can determine which ear and which canal are involved and perform the correct maneuver. This matters because not every case of positional vertigo should be treated with the exact same maneuver.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned in my own health journey is that symptoms aren't something we should automatically fear, but they're also not something we should continually dismiss.
Remember - midlife is a season where our physiology is changing. The more you know and the more in tune you get with your body - the more intentional nurturing you can dive into to ensure you have the support and resources you need.
I love this article from The Menopause Specialists and Oprah Daily who share more about what happens when our hormones shift and how vertigo can come into play as a symptom. Highly recommend taking a read!