Hey Ohio,

Just wondering what you decided re: using meds for the anxiety you're getting? Also, can you describe what the anxiety is like for you? Is it always there or does it come and go as your symptoms fluctuate? Since having a cold two weeks back, I'm getting these periods off and on where I feel uneasy and cannot totally relax again. Get a "swimming" head and this slightly trembling feeling in my body....after a few hours it usually vanishes.

Thanks........Scott

Scott,
I have taken Lorazepam before and that has helped, but it's only an "as needed" medicine. Right now I'm on Paxil CR (12.5 mg), but only been on it about 10 days so I haven't noticed any benefit. The anxiety I get is always there in some form, but becomes more pronounced in situations where I feel I can't get out of immediately....like driving or in the shower. Whenever I feel a change in my body (could even be muscles relaxing) my mind is like "What was that!" and immediately I start to panic. I'm constantly afraid that this thing is going to become worse.

Hope that helps,
Tony

Hey Tony,

Your experience of this sounds different to mine although I was getting the panicky feelings back in January before I had taken an SSRI. It was open spaces in a shopping mall full of people that would push the alarm button for me and on a jet once in December, I got this huge claustrophobic feeling. Didn't like everyone crammed into the small space with no way out. But this thing gets everyone differently. I think you'll find all of this junk will diminish BIG TIME once the drug kicks in (4-6 weeks) and interrupts the cycle started by the inner ear upset. Let me know how it pans out for you in the next month...

Cheers......Scott

Scott,
Which SSRI are you on? I tried Zoloft, but that didn't agree with me. The Paxil makes me a bit nauseous. It seems they all do that, which is trying my nerves a bit right now as well. I hate being on any kind of medication, but I don't know any other way out of the downward spiral I've been on. I'll keep you posted for sure.

Tony,

I'm with you on that one! I hate being on a drug like this too (never thought I'd need one in my wildest dreams prior to lab striking) but I had no choice. By late December I had a one-way ticket on the hell express and there was no way to get off! I started on Zoloft too and it was not good. It *increased* the anxiety and agitation. Thought I was going to go totally nutso...walking around Sydney on another planet for about 4 days with that stuff. So on my request I said get me off this and give me something else. So now I'm on Cipramil (Celexa in the US) and it's pretty darn good. Some mild nausea in the early days but it didn't last. It immediately chilled me out....I actually slept for the first time without waking in total terror. I started on 10 mg (half dose) and edged up to 13 mg. I cut it with a a little scalpel....trying to get away with taking the absolute minimum of this stuff. I'm going to try lowering the dose again soon when the after-effects of this cold wear off. Another side-effect I get with it is muscle and joint pains occasionally plus a blunted sex drive. But I'd rather that than the craziness I experienced before any day.

Cheers...Scott :cool:

Hi Guys,

Just reading the boards today and saw with interest this post on anxiety as it relates to imbalance.

Within the first few months of experiencing my imbalance sensations and symptoms, I became rather fearful of EVERYTHING. It got to the point where I couldn't be left alone to do much of anything, and I needed to have a familiar face in sight almost at all times. Doing even "simple" things like showering, going shopping, driving to the corner to get gas....you name it - caused me great fear. Things like sitting on the toilet in a closed stall at work, or being in the dark....it was awful.

I completely understand how the littlest "normal" body movement (like muscles relaxing) or being in a smaller space (like a shower or work bathroom stall) can make you feel undone and very panicky. My fears there centered on my symptoms getting worse, or being stuck in a place where I could not get help or help myself if my symptoms got worse. It got to the point where just my scary "what if" thoughts alone would send me into a tail spin.

I was able to get past my fears with time, some changed behaviors on how I rationalized things, and some counseling to help put my reactions into perspective. I chose not to take any medication specifically for my anxiety, which was COMPLETELY out of control at one point.

You may want to try a little book called "Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes. It's small enough to go where you go, and it really helped me out in putting some scary thoughts into perspective.

The other thing that helped me was learning to accept the bodily sensations. that were scaring me so much, and to learn to trust my body again. Every movement caused me to panic because I was so used to feeling "off" all the time that I didn't trust my body to feel "right". Almost every step caused me distress, especially when there was lots of visual stimuli in things like shopping malls, movie theaters or even out to dinner. I was overcome by sound and visuals, so "every day" life really got to me.

Once I started to learn how to react more calmly to the symptoms and sensations that I had to deal with, it became easier to look at them a bit more objectively, and to challenge myself to work with them. That was enough for me to "test the waters" more by taking longer showers, and driving farther distances (for examples).

I still have moments of nervousness because my symptoms fluctuate, so a bad episode can still make me feel panicky. But I know that like anything else, these awful episodes pass and I am able to get out and about again. I probably will live with these symptoms on some level for the rest of my life, so I decided to make the most of it and learn from it what I can. It definitely has made me a stronger person.

Best wishes for a good day!

Wowwweee,
You are exactly right on with the feelings I am going through right now. I used to love a nice warm shower, now I run cold showers and get out as quick as possible. The warm water seems to make me a bit lightheaded and I feel like I may pass out...I'm sure I felt that way before and it was a relaxing feeling...now I don't know how to handle it. Like Scott, I've been on a one way ticket on the Hell express. I've tried to deal with the feelings for 9 months and even sought counseling, but it just got to a point where the only way out of the hole was to try medicine. I've only been on it a couple weeks and haven't noticed any difference at this point. Unfortunately it's just gotten to the point where I need a "helping hand" to get back on track.

Thanks for your post, I always appreciate all the insight into this anxiety thing that I can get. I know you have been a long time sufferer and I hope that you will still improve after all this time. Your symptoms started at my age, so I pray every day that I don't have to deal with this at 40. I hope every day is better for you.

Tony

Tony,

My heart really goes out to you. I am RIGHT THERE with you in that shower (well, that sounds suggestive). I understand 110% how you feel when you are in there.

For me, I think I was dealing with two issues: the imbalance sensations and symptoms, and the anxiety that was resulting from these weird, bizarre feelings. Since something like showering threw my whole sensory/balance system off, I could see why that would send me into panic. And I mean PANIC. Add to all of this the worry that something was dreadfully wrong with me....well, I became a shell of my old self in no time.

For the longest (l-o-n-g-e-s-t) time, I used to dread showers when I started dealing with this condition. And I like to take them every day! Initially, I started first just with the basics (quick wet and wash). But we ladies need to shave our legs and put conditioner on our long hair, so I needed a bit more than a quick run-through. I started out by showering only if someone else was downstairs in yelling distance, and even then, the door to the bathroom had to be open. I definitely "survived and tolerated" my showers rather than relaxed and enjoyed them.

Number one, just getting into the shower threw me off (visually going from one space to another), and having to stand in a confined spot made me panicky - plus I was always unsteady, so being unsteady in a smaller place scared me. Having the water on my body threw me off, as did looking out through the beveled glass, or having to see things in a closed space. Putting the ceiling fan on made me anxious while I was in the shower. If I touched the shower stall door and it moved, that made me more woozy. I couldn't get the soap off fast enough.

As for that fainty feeling in the shower - I had that in or out of the shower. It's difficult to know what's "real" or not, and what's anxiety or not sometimes, especially when you are feeling so out of control with symptoms and worries, I know.

Little by little I started to close the bathroom door a little more, but I had to leave the shower stall door open a few inches.

After some time, I became "familiar" again of everything about showering. Once my body and mind became "used" to showering despite feeling "off", it got easier for me. For me, it has been refamiliarizing myself with things I want or used to do, and then trusting my body to go ahead and do those things despite feeling "off". Practicing calm on some level (a few deep breaths and some reassuring self-talk) gets me far. Once I learned to trust myself again, things became easier and less fearful. Only people who understand the dynamics of being off balance will appreciate what I am trying to convey here! Ha.

I don't jump around in the shower all the time, but I enjoy lesiurely showers now. Just keep showering (practice).

I know how you are feeling. I hope that no-one on here has to deal with these symptoms as long as I have. But a person does what they have to, and deals with what they need to, and we all muddle through.

Big hug.

Wowwweee,
Your last post put a big smile on my face. I actually laughed out loud. People are going to start thinking I'm losing my mind :bouncing: Right now I just have to hope that I can get that old me back and enjoy life again. Thanks for the smiles. Big hug right back at ya.

Ohio - I get the shower and bath thing too - it is to do with your b pressure lowering with warmth - which makes anyone a tad lightheaded - and us - with problems - awfully so.... xxx

Just wanted to mention that the Claire Weeks books are also on tapes. I found listening to them rather relaxing. I would listen to them as I was driving as I was always fortunate enough to be able to drive. They are definitely a good investment.

all the best,
Kathy :D

Scant! I hope this finds you doing well!

What a great suggestion about Claire Weekes on tape. I had the majority of my anxiety attacks while driving, and I probably made an interesting driver to watch as I was trying to drive and practice deep breathing and read from my Claire Weekes book all at the same time. Some days I was too anxious to listen to the radio - but I never once thought about her books on tape.

I still carry my good ol' self-help book around, in my car's glove compartment. It's so tattered and torn and worn, and the spine is broken. But it was such a great tool for me, that I can't bear to part with it - it's that meaningful. I've told so many other people about this book. As well as my cardiologist, who was surprised at the changes in me when he saw me last. He remarked upon my calmer, less nervous attitude, and he wanted to know what I was doing, so he could pass it on to his other nervous patients. I told him all about the book, and he wrote all the information down so other patients might benefit.

Have a great day! xo