I'm wondering if anyone else here has been diagnosed with a vestibular disorder like Meniere's Disease, BPPV, labyrinthitis, vestibular neuronitis...?

I had severe BPPV for over 3 years. I developed panic attacks and agoraphobia after the 1st year. I was in the very small percentage of patients whose BPPV doesn't respond to traditional physiotherapeutic treatment (Epley and Semont Maneuvers). I got better with time and the use of anti-nauseants, along with cutting down on salt, taking a Niacin supplement and practising yoga. I wasn't able to start recovering from agoraphobia until my BPPV was under control. If I still had the constant symptoms of BPPV (extreme dizziness, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, lack of balance), I believe I would still be agoraphobic.

When I was starting to recover, my ENT specialist recommended a book to me by Dr. Harold Levinson called "Phobia Free." Dr. Levinson has some interesting, controversial hypotheses about the connection between inner ear disorders and phobias. The book was helpful to me. It applied to my particular case although many experts dispute Dr. Levinson's claim that 90% of people with phobias have some sort of inner ear disfunction. He contends that treating a patient's inner disfunction can result in an eradication of their phobias.

I believe I would not have become agoraphobic if I had not had BPPV. I know that I developed psychological components to my agoraphobia and I had to work on those and retrain my mind and rebuild my confidence with a Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, a psychiatrist and meds... and I still work on it everyday. It wasn't as easy as Dr. Levinson makes it sound in his book, but treatment of my inner ear problem was essential to my recovery from agoraphobia. I still have days when my inner ear acts up (stuffed up sinuses are usually the cause). The resultant nausea and dizziness send my anxiety levels soaring. So, my anti-nauseants and Flonase are always on hand just in case.

Here's a link about the book. Maybe someone else will find it helpful:
CLICK HERE