I'VE BROKEN THIS POST DOWN INTO THREE POSTS HERE, DUE TO SPACE CONSTRAINTS.

Hi Friends,

I’ve been reading through the posts here, and have seen a lot on dealing with anxiety brought on by disequilibrium conditions. I thought I’d write something here about what I’ve been doing and have done to maintain myself with my own experiences of panic and anxiety. Hope it helps someone.

If you read through these postings, you will find the majority of disequilibrium sufferers experience anxiety, panic AND depression on differing levels. It's very common with inner ear conditions to pick up anxiety-related issues. When your balance system is off, it's hard to be in control of yourself physically, and that can cause all kinds of fears, even for people who normally aren't panic prone.

Easier said than done, I know, but you really need to find a way to take some sort of control over your terror. It's much easier to cope with whatever comes your way when you are calm or at least able to look at things (like scary symptoms) objectively.

I say this with a lot of heart! My wooziness and related symptoms provoked MAJOR intense anxiety. I was at a point with my woozy symptoms that I just couldn't even be left alone. Not even to go downstairs in my house to take a shower. Everything came crashing down at one point for me, and my world became very small and very limited. It was a horrible time for me, and coming back to a level of normalcy that felt even remotely comfortable for me was one of the toughest personal challenges that I still work on.

The thing about anxiety is that you reach a point where it builds and builds and builds, and then you just plateau. Meaning, you reach a point where your anxiety doesn't get any worse, but it stays "right there" with you and you're stuck in it. It doesn't matter if your anxiety related symptoms and fearful thoughts diminish once you're at that point - the littlest scary thought or tiniest bodily symptom can throw you back into a whirlwind of paralyzing panic. So working through anxiety and panic is hard work and you have to work DAILY at overcoming it, because it can grasp you quickly and tightly. The anxiety can turn into “what if” fears, which can linger long after the actual panic attack.

The trick to pushing past these intense anxious feelings is just that - you need to push past. Sometimes without additional help or guidance, it's hard to learn to push past the fear.

If you are feeling out of control with your situation, I can completely relate to that, because as I’ve said, I’ve been there many times, too. First, realize that you are not alone. Second, I think putting together a plan to take care of yourself during this rough time is a good idea. This way, at least a part of you won’t feel so out of control. For me, I was able to do a few things, without medication, to regain trust in myself and my body so that I wasn't so fearful anymore.

PART TWO:

These are the steps that I took to feel more like my old self:

1. Cut out caffeine! It truly does have an effect on your nervous system.

2. Learn to breathe right – now this sounds STUPID, but it will be the quickest thing you can do to feel better, even if it’s only short term. Breathing correctly will help stop your panic symptoms and calm you down internally. My counselor showed me this at our first session, and it was because of this “trick” that I was able to drive myself to work again.

To Breathe:
- Sit or lie down (ha ha, I used to do this while I was driving because I have many panic attacks in the car).
- Put one hand on your stomach (upper abdomen).
- Put the other hand on your lower abdomen.
- Relax your body as much as possible (this will be hard if you’re right in the middle of a panic attack. It’s easier when you’re just very nervous and feel like you “gotta get out”).
- Pretend there’s a beach ball in your lower abdomen. Your goal is to fill it up slowly to the count of four.
- So, to the count of 4 (1-2-3-4) breathe in through your nose and extend your lower abdomen at the same time.
If your chest is rising, you are shallow breathing, and that won’t calm your body down internally.
- Now, exhale through your mouth to the count of 4 (1-2-3-4), slowly deflate that beach ball in your lower abdomen.
- If you feel lightheaded, that is normal (just what you want to hear when you’re panicking, right?). Just alter your breathing to a little faster or slower, until that feeling goes away. That is your body’s normal response to deep breathing.
- Basically, the hand on your lower abdomen should move; the hand on your stomach should not. This may take some practice – but it will work, even if you don’t believe it.

3. Make an appointment with your primary care doctor and be completely open and honest about what you’re going through. Once you can accept that there is nothing horribly medically wrong with you, DESPITE your dizziness, it will be easier for you to focus on dealing with your panic and anxiety. For me, this acceptance was a very hard part.

4. Spend a few dollars on a very simple but effective book called “Hope and Help for your Nerves” by Dr. Claire Weekes. As I mentioned, when I was first having panic attacks, I mostly stopped going to work and would lie around in bed all day waiting for the worst to happen. I constantly monitored my body functions and felt distraught most of the time. When I was beside myself with my panic symptoms, a neighbor helped me with an initial “plan of attack” (like I am suggesting here), and gave me her copy of the book I mentioned. I read it in one sitting and immediately felt better to the point where that week I set up counseling for myself. Eventually I bought my own copy of this book, and I carried it everywhere I went because it really calmed me down to read a passage when I was feeling anxious or out of control.

5. Have your doctor provide you with a referral with a counselor who specializes in panic disorders and anxiety. It felt good to be able to talk to someone freely about my fears and feelings – keeping them inside doesn’t make you feel any better.

I made a decision to get some counseling to help deal with my anxiety and to how to find better ways to cope with my disequilibrium condition.

6. Stop reading medical stuff (this includes testing). You should be able to talk to a doctor you feel comfortable with, and leave your medical diagnosis up to him or her. For people who are panic prone, who worry about medical issues, the more knowledge you have on that kind of topic can just be more stressful. You may think you’re helping yourself be more prepared “just in case”, but actually, you are only adding fuel to the fire. Been there, done that many times.

7. Take the time to listen your panic symptoms objectively. This is really hard to do when you’re right in the middle of a panic attack, I know. I had to stop being so afraid of the symptoms (accepting) before I was able to say, “Isn’t this interesting that my heart is racing just now”, instead of saying, “OHMYGAWDMYHEARTISRACINGRIGHTNOW”. But once I was able to nod to myself and acknowledge my symptoms, they didn’t seem so bad because after a while I realized that this was just the way my body was reacting to something, even if I didn’t know at the moment what it was it was reacting to. After a while, why it was reacting wasn’t so important as to how I was coping with the symptoms. After a while, I would just acknowledge my symptoms but not stop what I was doing as I would have in the past because I was so afraid of what was happening. I know also that I can give myself added panic symptoms by doing or saying something that makes me feel uncomfortable, so I’ve changed parts of myself to accommodate this – meaning I’m not so quick to jump on people, or get angry, or take things personally. It doesn’t mean I don’t get angry or I don’t criticize, but there’s less of a reason for it.

8. Remember, although it may not seem like it, in whatever stage of panic you are in, there is always a light at the end of that scary tunnel. And in your own time (no-one else’s), when you’re ready to move forward a little more, you will. People who tell you to “just get over it” are well meaning, but may not understand the depth of your experience. That’s ok. You will find many well intentioned people offering their advice. Deep down inside, you’ll find a way through panic that works for you. I always used to tell myself, “oh well, this is how it’s going to be right now, so I’ll find what enjoyment I am able to right now”. I felt sorry for myself because I was so outgoing and I remember how carefree I was before panic, AND wooziness.

9. Move your muscles! Exercise in any form really does make the body feel better (make sure you get your doctor's OK). For a time, I was even afraid of exercising because in some ways, exertion sensations can feel like panic symptoms, and they added to my disequilibrium symptoms. But exercise is a good way to calm your body down. If you are hyperventilating (for example), do jumping jacks! It sounds silly, but since these symptoms feel the same to your body, substitute one reason for having those symptoms, for another. Instead of pacing in worry, speed walk around the yard. Exercise releases natural chemicals in the body that aide in relaxation. It's hard to want to exercise in the middle of an anxiety or worry attack, but it truly does help. That's not to say that you always have to be in constant motion - the idea is to focus on your symptoms in a different way, not tire yourself out.

I had to work up to this, because my imbalance symptoms sometimes like to be in the lime light, and get in the way of me trying to be active. Some days, even walking is hard for me!

10. Keep a journal! It's amazing how much people hold things inside. Although a journal is not like confiding something to a real person who can give you feedback, psychological "airing it out" relieves stress and tension. It's like venting without voice! Journaling can be done anywhere, and allows you to alleviate immediate stress. This way, instead of playing over and over again a bad moment at work (for example), you can take a break and jot down your upset or worry to "get it off your chest". This will help you over time to not obsess about a thought or experience as much, and you will begin to rely more on yourself for problem solving and self-calm, than on others. I carry my journal with me, and it looks just like a dozen other notepads that anyone can have for any reason. I am able to look back at my entries and see the progress I have made (going from a daily, worry-wart writer to writing when I was in panic mode, to writing about good things).

11. Maybe I should list this first! Next to counseling, prayer has been for me the most effective way to calm myself. I usually repeat The Lord's Prayer, which is something I find comforting from my childhood, and that has the power to calm me now, almost immediately.

12. Get sleep, or at least rest. You may want to see about taking a mild sleeping aide. Sleep is restorative and rejuvenating, and lack of sleep will add to anxiety symptoms. For me, lack of sleep also will add to my disequilibrium symptoms. If you are not up to trying a sleeping aide, try (with your doctor’s permission) a teaspoon or two of liquid Benedryl. It’s an antihistamine, but is also used as a mild sedator for many things, to include aiding with sleeplessness. If I have trouble sleeping on occasion, I will take some antihistamine.

13. Make sure you eat well. Anxiety makes people either not hungry, or ravenous. If you are up, pacing and not sleeping – chances are right now you’re not eating or not eating healthy. Stick with dependable comfort food like baked potato, chicken soup, hot tea, peanut butter & jelly, applesauce….you need to eat! Not eating can give you bodily sensations that will make you feel panicky. It’s a natural reaction to the body not getting enough food. I’m not saying eat all the time – but maintain a diet even if you don’t feel like eating. Stay away from the “easy, quick” foods like Fast Food, candy, ice cream – these are just “fillers” for your tummy, and your body won’t benefit from ingesting it.

Not eating properly can also cause low blood sugar symptoms, which can feel sort of like dizziness. So, eat a little something at least three times a day.

14. Keep hydrated. Your body begins to feel the effects of dehydration long before you feel thirsty. Even slight dehydration can cause bodily symptoms that mimic panic and wooziness. That doesn’t mean you need to drink all the time, but a few tall glasses of something like water, Gatorade, or unsweetened ice tea is a good idea.

PART THREE:

Don’t be too rough on yourself right now. Accept your situation for what it is. You are a person who is experiencing panic and anxiety. It doesn’t make you sick or crazy, and it doesn’t make you unworthy or bad. For me, I was so anxious to “be cured” that I really wasn’t paying attention to all the things that would make me feel better. At first, I was too anxious and overwhelmed to do much of anything except put energy and effort into worrying over my situation. I am a very body-conscious person, so my main fears centered around “what if” panic. “What if I have a brain tumor”…”What if I have cancer”…”What if I have a panic attack alone and I need help”….it took me a while to relax about those kinds of thoughts.

Also, with panic, for me, came depression. I was limited because of my fears and feelings, and feeling hopeless and helpless. It really seemed to be spiraling out of control. Bouncing back from panic wasn’t easy for me; but over some time I was able to listen to my body’s symptoms without thinking the worst because I was able to take them for what they were – just panic. Once I accepted my panic symptoms, I was more able to focus on teaching myself some better ways to think about things and better ways to cope with my fearful thoughts. But, it really is a matter of baby steps – a little patience at a time will truly get you far. I think experiencing panic has made me a better and stronger person. I know my body well now so I’m not so afraid of it. I am more sympathetic and sensitive to other peoples’ fears and worries (because I am The Queen of Worrying). I know it is important for me to take care of myself by being kind and patient to myself, by knowing the things that lead me to feel more nervous, by talking things out more, but seeking help when I need to ask for it, and by helping others because I can.

Medication is a great idea when dealing with panic too. I am terrified of taking new medications (my phobic issue), so I didn’t try any medications for a few years. Once I felt I was past the worst of my panic (meaning I stopped having full blown panic attacks every day and I was feeling less scared about things) then I did try some medications. I currently do not take anything, but I have friends who swear by it.

Don’t be ashamed of what you’re experiencing. For the longest time I didn’t tell anyone my panic “secret”. I was embarrassed for a number of reasons. But along the way, I realized that panic is a part of me, and I wanted those people close to me to know how hard a time I was having. And honestly, it was getting too stressful to always either make up excuses why I wasn’t going out or why I was acting a certain way when I was panicky. This didn’t mean that I shouted it from the roof! - Panic is a personal experience, so who you tell and when is up to you, but it felt better knowing that some people knew where I was in life at that time, and believe it or not, once I started chatting about it, I found out that other people were going through the same thing. Plus, when you reach out, you don’t feel so alone – I felt alone with panic for a long time because it seemed that everyone around me was “normal” except for me.

Panic attacks and anxiety can go hand in hand, or someone could have the anxiety (worried thoughts) without the actual full-blown panic attacks. Unfortunately I have experienced both.

At first I was too panicked and worrisome to even read something this long! But I promise you that there is a big wonderful light at the end of the tunnel – but you have to give yourself some honest time to get things in perspective. You may not believe me – and I understand that completely.

You will be fine even if you don’t think so right now. That’s ok. Give yourself some time to believe that you are ok even with panicky or worrisome feelings. I don’t consider myself cured by any means – I probably will always have the fear demon to deal with more than most people I know; but coming to terms with the kind of person I am has made things better for me when dealing with my issues. My panic waxes and wanes, so I do have my share of occasional setbacks, but I’m no longer the person who lies in bed all day and doesn’t go shopping! Everyone has their own issues; and some people can breeze past their fears and anxieties with little impact on their lives – I happen to not be one of those people, but that’s okay. One step at a time, even if it’s a tiny one. “It doesn’t matter the size of my steps, as long as I’m faced in the right direction”.

Remember, your anxiety is appropriate for the current imbalance symptoms that you are experiencing. It’s how you decide to react to your anxiety level and your current symptoms that are going to make a difference.

Wishing everyone a nice day.

I had one doctor tell me that the BPPV actually sent weird signal to the brain which caused anxiety and we had no control over it. Do you think this is true or is it just us on a spiral upward to severe anxiety.

Right now I am in a severe anxiety episode. It has been growing for months and I am so agitated I cant sit down, pace and walk all day and am insane.

James

James - I have actually just read an article (cant remember where it was now) about vestibular problems do infact send odd signals that cause anxiety as in the vestibular system is involved in regulating fear/anxiety....so infact it is not just the reaction to the dizziness that creates the anxiety it seems - but also a chemical change like u say. Interesting...xxx

Wow

Have you been to the Tapir anxiety site. If you do look at the support section and join with your name. Many of us are over there and we will recognize you.

Do a search on Tapir and it will come up

James

Thanks Wowwweee for putting in writing so much that I've thought - it's really nice not to feel alone with all this. :angel:

Hi all,

James: I have never heard of the Tapir Anxiety Site. For me, at first I was overwhelmed with my anxiety and couldn't read enough information on this condition. Then, when I finally starting to take productive working steps to push through my anxiety, I made a decision to stick with one game plan and to rely on myself to push past the worst anxiety symptoms. For me, this meant backing off of searching for things like discussion boards for a while. I did this because once I tried a few different things to help me learn to alleviate my anxiety symptoms, and I found a few things that worked very well for me, I didn't want anything to interfere with this, and sometimes for me, reading about others' anxieties were inducing my symptoms. I found that I was getting better at supporting myself (I had to learn to rely more and trust more internally), so I needed to not rely so much on others for reassurance. If this makes sense!

One thing about panic prone people (like myself), is that we don't put enough trust or faith in ourselves that we have everything we need internally to push past panic. For a very long time I relied on others to get me through or calm me down. Once I learned how to calm myself down, I needed to focus on that because it is so easy to slip back and rely more on someone else.

So, I don't have many on-line resources for anxiety, because I am comfortable enough and I KNOW that I HAVE to rely on myself for this one area in my life. That's not to say that I don't have my moments where I need outside or additional support, because I do! But I always "look within" first now and look at my options before anything else.

I'm so sorry you feel so out of control (I believe you used the word, insane). Yep, haven't we all been there. Isn't it amazing how well the human body functions - to the point of even making us believe that we are dying or going crazy or just can't do it by ourselves? From an objective standpoint, it's mind over matter in most cases of anxiety - who would think that something that sounds so simple would be so dang difficult. As I said before, overcoming anxiety has been one of the hardest things for me to do – and frankly I think that once a person experiences anxiety to that degree, you always are aware of it on some level, even if you stop having full blown panic attacks.

You are “new” to me on these boards, so I am not familiar with your situation. What kind of dizziness do you have? Did you have anxiety before you had the dizziness?

I think I have been a high level anxiety person from an early age, however, the intensity level severely escalated for me once I started having disequilibrium.

Between being limited by my woozy sensations AND the anxiety that came with it, I just got fed up. One day I made a decision to get some counseling for the anxiety so I could at least help to get ONE thing under control. I saw a counselor who specialized in anxiety disorders. I found it helpful for the tools that I learned (deep breathing and “practicing calm”) but after I learned that much, I felt that counseling was only agitating me anxiety-wise, so I opted to end after a while. Once I understand the dynamics of anxiety, and my own reactions that fed into it, I was more able to cope.

I began to look at my anxiety as more of a personal challenge for growth and an opportunity to learn about ME. What makes me tick, what makes me angry, what makes me nervous, etc. I took a good look at myself – and began to accept my limitations (whatever they were) without making excuses. I began to challenge myself to push past my fears, taking baby steps and breaking things down. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to conquer all my anxious feelings all at once, but I made small goals – like, today from work I will drive the long way home. It sounds silly, but for someone who has high anxiety and fears driving, even an extra five minutes in the car can seem like a lifetime.

Along with that, my limitations due to anxiety now solely center on the level of my wooziness. I push myself to do things that are uncomfortable or scary for me BECAUSE of the way the inside of my head feels. Like driving, night driving, staying home along….my fears now surround “what happens if”…I get dizzier? I pass out? I spin and can’t tell anyone? I can’t get to my cell phone fast enough? Those kinds of fears.

A few years ago I put myself in counseling again because my Dad was diagnosed with bladder cancer (he will be fine) and my Mom suffered a nervous breakdown (she still has her own battles as a result of this). I felt like the bottom of my world collapsed. My family is everything to me, and now my family was having problems and my support network (family) was not as available to me. All that raised my anxiety (although not the previous level), plus I was dealing with my wooziness, so I knew that I needed some grounding. I sought a psychologist, and was able to gain some new perspective on looking at things objectively. This included being able to look at my symptoms of wooziness in a different way. I changed the way I reacted to having them. This made a world of difference in how I began coping differently with the sensations. It DID NOT make my symptoms go away, but I was able to stop reacting so strongly to the very thing that was causing me such high anxiety all the time.

I try to do mostly everything now. For a long time I just sat home. Sometimes it was due to anxiety only, and sometimes it was due to my wooziness. Obviously, I wouldn’t go on an amusement park ride (I miss those) – but if someone asks me to do something, now I will say yes, even if I am nervous about it.

I just got fed up with my anxiety and wooziness, and I guess I got a little mad “at” it. Improving myself and working on my issues where I could gave me some sort of control – and that felt good.

Do I still get unnerved by my wooziness? YOU BETCHA. Like today at lunch during work I was playing ping-pong, and for a few moments I had to stop because my head would go off. But I finished the game (lost, dang!). Normally a few years ago that would have made me stop everything and obsess and worry about that sensation for way too long. I think anytime a person experiences something that is not “right” (like disequilibrium), that person has every right to flip out. But for me, getting that upset just wasn’t working for me. It worked me up more, and caused me to have sometimes almost paralyzing anxiety. And it took me longer to calm down and rationalize what was happening.

And some days I do have those times when I want to scream and throw things and rant about the unfairness of it all. And some days I do give in and feel badly for myself and cry, or feel scared and panic. But not ever to the level that I used to. I just can’t allow myself to go down that road again. For me, I think it’s healthy to acknowledge what I’ve lost and how I’ve changed due to this wooziness that haunts me almost daily. In a way, I have had to grieve over the way I used to be, versus the way I am now, in terms of what I cannot do any more. I think that’s normal for anyone who experiences a life changing impact.

I don’t LIKE living with this woozy condition. I’ve had it for ten years, I am not sure if it will ever go away. But I have so much to be grateful and thankful for. Having wooziness and experiencing anxiety as I have had, has made me a much better person. It does sound strange and maybe a bit kooky, but it’s the truth. I still love life.

If there is any way that I can support you James, in your own quest to feel more peaceful, please let me know. I understand where you are.

Liz: You are definitely not alone. For a while I felt very alone, until I shared a bit of myself with others, and discovered that so many people quietly have anxiety issues too. As for the wooziness, we just have to read these posts to know that there are so many woozy/dizzy sufferers out there. It’s a bit of a relief, and also a bit sad to know that there are so many people who feel crappy and scared for the exact same reason.

Big Hug.

Woweeeeee,

What a great post! I have been dealing with the nerves for most of my life and I have learned much of what you mentioned through experience. I hope that people that have the anxiety brought on by this alone can bebefit from your info. Also, I have been on paxil in the past, and I must say, it is great. However, the withdrawl is pure hell. Please read my post and see if you have any advise on the subject. thanks
carrie ( dizzy girl)

Hi Dizzygirl,

I guess there is NO mistaking why you're on these boards with a user name like that! I hope this finds you feeling okay today.

I'm glad you enjoyed reading my post. I know what it means to deal with "nerves" for a long time. Imprisonment without the brick walls.

What other post are you referring to - Paxil withdrawl? I didn't see anything under your user name for that. Sorry if I misread that and should have been looking for something else.

I trialed a medication a while back called Amitriptyline. It's an older medication that was predominantly used to treat depression. However it was prescribed to me by an neuro-opthalmalogist who diagnosed my wooziness as Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV). I went on it and within 3 days my symptoms completed disappeared. It was WONDERFUL. But within a few months I began to experience some side effects that were unpleasant for me and provoked anxiety because of the side effects, so I stopped taking it. But the Ami DID also lessen my anxiety - however I am not sure if my anxiety lessened on it's own because my woozy symptoms subsided. Vicious circle sometimes!

Have you tried reading the book I mentioned called "Hope and Help For Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes? It was very comforting for me, and it's what got me through some very rough anxiety moments. My own copy is now tattered and torn from over use - I wouldn't have it any other way. I used to bookmark the pages that were the most reassuring to me during times of panic, so I could open to them quickly when I needed to. I credit that book with doing as much for me as counseling did.

Wishing you a lovely afternoon.

"And some days I do have those times when I want to scream and throw things and rant about the unfairness of it all. And some days I do give in and feel badly for myself and cry, or feel scared and panic. But not ever to the level that I used to. I just can’t allow myself to go down that road again. For me, I think it’s healthy to acknowledge what I’ve lost and how I’ve changed due to this wooziness that haunts me almost daily. In a way, I have had to grieve over the way I used to be, versus the way I am now, in terms of what I cannot do any more. I think that’s normal for anyone who experiences a life changing impact.

I don’t LIKE living with this woozy condition. I’ve had it for ten years, I am not sure if it will ever go away. But I have so much to be grateful and thankful for. Having wooziness and experiencing anxiety as I have had, has made me a much better person. It does sound strange and maybe a bit kooky, but it’s the truth. I still love life."


Your post almost bought me to tears as so much rang true for me...

I too have changed as a person through all this...v much like how you have wowwweeeee.

I also sometimes grieve for the way I was, daily infact, but at the moment I cant deal with the thought of living like this forever, so I guess im not at the grieving bit yet...I hope I never get to it but I fear I may well!

No Emsybobs, positive thinking! Am trying out my positive stuff as in "I will get better" as have heard the negataive thing can cause compensation not to happen!!!

Thanks Wowwweeee.

xxx

'Bobs,

Isn't amazing how people who have never even met can be so bonded over a life experience? YOUR reply to my post made me teary. No-one really knows how deep it goes until you've walked the same path - as we do.

I have often been told by my wise old dear Dad that "the first 100 years are the hardest". Oh how true that is, for everyone. I don't think it matters what the battles are. I'm sure a person who has inoperable cancer would jump at the chance to "only be dizzy". And I know that during my experiences with this condition, sometimes I stop and think, well, if I had to have "this" or "this", which would be it, and sometimes, you know what 'Bobs? I choose to stick with THIS. There are so many worse things that could fall upon us. I remember to always be thankful, and remind myself of that.

Remember, you ARE entitled to rant and rave and wish for better days or even wish for the end at times. Can't say that I blame you. But I bet if you take a step back, and look at yourself through this hardship, you will also see personal growth and I bet you have different reasons for persevering and keeping what's important close to your heart.

As for jinxing yourself - don't think that way, although I think today's society has programmed us like that! I doubt you will decompensate for thinking a certain way - although persevering in a positive light always helps us push past the worst, better.

Sending you sunshine.

Bless you...

Youi are right, we could have much worse. I sometimes v selfishly find myself thinking if I had something worse that something could be done about that would be better than a lingering illness which noone understands and noone thinks is serious or troublesome enough to take note of... But you are v right, on my depressed days, I think 'Im alive' this is all that matters, be thankful.

Indeed positive thinking can only help, it also keeps me out of my depression which I can slip back into if I think this will never go...

Absolutely re. the bond with similar people who are on the same path...as Ive mentioned on here a lot healthboards helps me immensely as does my friendship with Ilia.

Thank you for your well written and consoling advice to all of us - you deserve a medal for thaving this so long and are, quite frankly, an inspiration to us all...

xxx

Wow:
Thanks for taking so much time and effort into the anxiety issue. I felt so bad for those who really feel like they are at their ultimate breaking point.
I hope this helps them. I suffered tremendously from anxiety and it wasn't until the last 4 or 5 months that I feel I am basically in control of this. However over the last couple of weeks I had a problem with my monthly cycle, something I never experienced before and it really scared me. Went to the ER and found out just getting to the point of my life when things may go out of the norm. Needless to say over the past 3 mornings I have been jolted awake by anxiousness. Fortunately once I am awake it diminishes, but it just goes to show you, like you said anything can trigger it. This was explained in the book you mentioned to read so I understood what was going on. I also know that when I am anxious or nervous my disequilibrium symptoms can really intensify and they subside substantially once I calm down. Even an argument with my husband can trigger this.
How true it is also that reading to much into something can set you off into a panic. So anyway, once again I thankyou for writing such an informative piece and hope this gives some reassurance to the newly diagnosed dizzies.

All the best,
Kathy :D

Wowee....excellent post on anxiety - thanks for that. I think I'll make a bigger effort to use these techniques you describe when things feel like they're "revving up" again.

James....just wanted to add that even though the inner ear disturbance fuels the anxiety to a large extent that you have the power to reduce the effect anyway, just as Wow has written here. I have seen it happen in myself in earlier days where I felt really nauseated with anxiety, would have a positive conversation with someone on the phone about how it would all go away and, just like that, the symptoms would melt away. But it can sure be hard to get a handle on it. It reminds me of being on a horse-drawn carriage and the horses just won't stop galloping.

Scott :cool:

Total side note, but I thought of it when one of the things Wowweeeee listed was eating well. I am on a diet, trying to lose the 20 lbs I gained since this all started. My worst time of day is in the morning, and mid-afternoon when I am hungry. There is some correlation between the symptoms and the lack of food in the stomach. I think it's more than just low blood sugar like normal people experience. I have intensified disequillibrium until I sit down and eat something. Even if it's just a little low cal Pria bar, something in there just calms things down a bit. For what it's worth...
Julianne

Julianne....had to add a quick comment to what you just said. For me it's the same thing. If I feel crummy, the first thing I do is eat something nutritious and within about 30 minutes will almost always feel better (much less anxiety or low feelings). I know it's not a blood sugar thing (ie. hypoglycemia) but perhaps the nutrient rush helps the brain to sort things out.

Scott

I'm with you Scott, that's exactly how it is. It's like the brain is exhausted and hungry or something. And that little bit of food can get things back in balance a little (pardon the pun).
Julianne

Scott: intersting about your anxiety and the positive conversation thing - wouldnt it be great to have a convo with someone about our dizziness and for the dizziness to suddenly 'melt away'??!!!!

Yep get the eating thing too...I also find that having a hot bath intensifies the dizzies, what I think is...what would make the normal person feel a little lightheaded and faint, makes vestibular patients feel this but 100 times worse...

xxx

Wow, thanks so much for that most imformative post(s), I think that will help a great many people here! Ilia xx