Dizziness is the unsettling feeling that you or the room around you is spinning, tilting, or moving when everything is actually standing still. You might feel dizzy after spinning in circles on a playground, riding a fast carnival ride, or standing up too quickly after lying down for a while.

When you're dizzy, it's hard to keep your balance. You might feel like you need to sit down or hold onto something steady. Some people describe it as feeling lightheaded or woozy. Your body's sense of balance, which comes partly from tiny organs in your inner ear, gets confused and sends mixed signals to your brain about whether you're moving or still.

Dizziness usually passes quickly once your body recalibrates itself. But it's a reminder of how much your brain depends on accurate information from your eyes, ears, and sense of touch to keep you oriented and upright. If you've ever stumbled getting off a merry-go-round or felt the world tilt after doing somersaults, you know exactly what dizziness feels like.