I know we are struggling on some level with dealing with our disequlibrium issues. And with this, comes anxiety - which can be just as limiting as our physical symptoms.

With that said, I would like to propose a sort of "challenge" on here for this Board:

:D

One way to get over anxiety thoughts, fears, and feellings is to "do the thing you fear the most". Easier said than done, believe me, I know.

So I invite this Board to challenge themselves by starting to do something that they fear - whether it's fear stemming from a disequlibrium problem or something else. Fear is fear - it doesn't matter why you have it or how you got it.

For example, if you're prone to anxiety while driving, so you're not, then I challenge you to at least get in your car and drive up and down the drive way once. There was a time when I couldn't even drive around the block. In part due to my symptoms, and in part due to the accompanying fear.

How you decide to progress is up to you. There are NO measures to self-improvement, so you can't compare yourself to anyone else as far as healing. Everyone does everything in their own time.

For me, when people meant well by pushing me or remarking that I should just "do it now", it did more harm than good sometimes because I was not ready to "do it now" and I only beat myself up because I felt I was failing at doing something "normal" or "easy". Encouragement is always a good thing! But I needed to encourage MYSELF and trust in myself. Trusting in yourself that you ARE okay is so important. You have ALL you need right INSIDE of you to make it. You do.

Anxiety can be overcome when a person is ready and committed to working on it every single day. And it's hard work.

So, I how about making this a summer "goal" for everyone, and keep this post alive by everyone contributing (even if it's daily) their diary of accomplishments and struggles?!

Even baby steps will get you there, as long as you keep moving. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and to know what small or big personal goal you have decided to set for yourself.

If anyone is interested, you can read about my struggles with anxiety under the Stress Board, under my old user name (Wowwweee) called My Panic Experience.

Big hug! xo

Wow:
Because of your post I had a really bizarre dream. I laugh now because thankfully it was all a dream...

I had gotten this ticket to go to Paris at a really cheap price so who was I to turn down such a deal. The only thing was I was going alone....something I had never done but wowwweee said to do something to challenge yourself.
See....this was your doing because you put that little seed in my head. :D
Needless to say as my trip was getting closer I find out that my plane ride will be 10 hours long. So now I start freaking because...what will that do to my balance problem and if I'm screwed up and in Paris by myself what could possibly happen. I ended up calling the airport to see if I could reschedule my trip, perhaps not such a long plane ride and I would be trying to see if anybody could go with me. I think a short time after I woke up and was very relieved.

I do think your suggestion is a great one and I am constantly trying new things. Tying up peddal boats where I work was really giving me a rocking boat sensation for hours even if I was only on the dock for 10 minutes. But now after about one month of this....it is finally locking in and it isn't quite so noticeble. I think we need to think of things that we don't normally do, especially those of us who are getting better because it may surprise you one day that something has triggered your brain into saying...what the heck is that. Found that out with the dock.

all the best,
Kathy

Scant,

I HATE those kinds of dreams, and now I am the reason you had one.....I'll take anything for punishment as long as it's not more disequlibrium! Ha ha.

Seriously, I think almost any living thing can adjust to almost anything with time and perseverence, which is why I guess so many of us are still doing what we need to do despite the way our heads feel.

However, I would be hard pressed to get myself to spend 10 hours in a plane any time. 5 Hours to Las Vegas was enough for me. ;)

Big Hug!

Wow-

I just wanted to post to say thank you for your story that you shared last year on the Stress board. I just read it and it so sounds like me. You don't realize how your story touched me. All my crap started when I developed a topical staph infection. Not knowing what staph was, I researched it on the internet and found out some scarey stuff. I thought I was going to die. I had two panic attacks as a result. I had my dr do blood cultures to make sure the staph was not in my bloodstream after he told me that it was not and that I was healing fine and did not feel I needed them. The bloodwork was fine and I did not have staph in my bloodstream. Then, a month later I developed Eustachian Tube Dysfunction with the symptoms of tinnitus and lightheadedness. This brought on more anxiety as I thought I had Meniere's or vestibular dysfunction by some of the symptoms I was having and I was diagnosing myself by the internet. I had an ENG and the ENT told me that what little issue I did have with the ENG was due to the pressure build up in my left ear. Once again, I could not take that as the truth and could not believe him. Sometimes, I still feel like I have more something more majorly wrong and they don't want to help me (I guess that is part of the anxiety) and that all the dr.'s just blame my symptoms on anxiety. I'm afraid now when I do come down with something serious that they won't take it as that and say "it is just your anxiety." That is something a patient does not want to hear. I have had other stuff go on that has stemmed from the depression/GAD that I experience today and hope that I will get through it. But I just wanted to say thank you so much for sharing your story as I have had the same experiences. You are an inspiration in getting through all of this. Thanks again.

You are right, I went out last night with a friend and I felt really anxious and dizzy and uncomfortable but I got through it. Today I am exhausted but I did it. It's weird this anxiety thing only started being a big deal for me in the last 3 months. So yes I'm gonna try driving again, a little bit at a time and try and regain my life back. Good post!

Hi Beckaboo (what a cute user name),

I’m really glad that you were able to relate to my experiences with anxiety and panic on some level. I’m sorry that you are going through the same things. It’s so difficult, I know. But isn’t it reassuring to know that you aren’t alone? And you now know that I was able to get over the anxiety hump and deal with my fears and scary thoughts with some time, and patience and commitment on my part.

I wouldn’t spend too much energy on the worrying aspect of how you’re feeling (easier said than done, I know!) – but instead, focus on talking to your doctor about your fears of he/she missing something or chalking things up to anxiety only, AND maybe looking into some way to learn to alleviate some of your anxiety. I am a big fan of learning coping skills to deal with “life”, but I know that counseling is not for everyone.

I think that once you are able to trust in your doctor, and learn to get a better handle on how you are reacting and thinking about things, you will feel better even if you continue to have some lightheadedness symptoms.

Once a person has anxiety, I think they will always feel intimidated by it on some level. Fear can be a very limiting thing. The same thing goes for being very sick or having to deal with physical symptoms that don’t feel “normal”. So, a person who has experienced panic attacks or a limiting illness/condition will always be on the “look out” for the same thing in their future, and that just makes healing from it even harder.

It’s important that you challenge yourself every day in some way about your fears. It’s important to know your “panic points” and to do something about them. Like, no more internet reading for you! I had to give that up “cold turkey”. But trusting myself that I was healthy despite my symptoms, and trusting my doctor, took more time.

You have it in you to turn around some of the ways you think and react, which I feel is more than half the battle when it comes to dealing with anxiety issues.

PS – I had staph infection twice; the first time I was very sick from it. It’s a scary thing to have, I know.

Hi Littleone,

GOOD FOR YOU for sticking with your plans despite your anxiety! It can be hard to do that, I know!

Hugs to all! xo