| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dizzy dave |
Posted - 01/24/2005 : 08:03:57
Hello all.
Somehow even though I do not know one of you personally, I feel like I know all you intimately. I just spent the last 3 weeks renovating and remodeling my business (painting, dry-wall demolition and construction, carpet removal and installation, etc) all the while feeling like I was under water. You know, you turn your head to the left but the environment around you just doesn't want to come with you on time! You tilt you head too far up and it feels like your brain slid a couple inches backwards in your skull. And then of course, there are the spins. Sometimes they are quick and shocking and at other times relentless and outright violent.
I have learned, unfortunately, to live with dizziness for the past 20 years. It started up when I was the ripe age of 13. Well, last Wednesday I came home and felt like giving up. How in the hell am I supposed to run a business, be a supportive and loving husband and father and, at the same time, take care of me? I found myself spontaneously weeping throughout the course of the night. My wife is wonderful and tries to comfort me, but I know that she can't fully understand. I explain to her that it feels sorta like you feel after you drink too much and before the vomiting starts, but without the being drunk part. That would do the job, but she doesn't drink and has never even been drunk! This is why I am so grateful to have found this forum.
I think the only way to beat this thing is to communicate with those who share the same experience. I have read Dr. Saurno's books, I have spoken to him as well and he recommended that I start therapy (which I have). Before reading the book, I went through years of medical testing and dieting with no results. I am sure that dizziness is due to early, repressed childhood experiences. I didn't see it myself, but an old friend of mine who is becoming a world recognized psychologist did point out to me that Freud claimed to have cured patients with dizziness through hypnotism, psychotherapy and medication and that the cause for such symptoms is due largely in part to a repressed early childhood traumatic event. (Sheesh!) While all my other TMS symptoms have more or less vanished, my dizziness persists.
It's difficult to talk here about my parents and how they raised me. But I am interested in talking to anyone who feels like by doing so they can come closer to putting an end to the spins. At this point of my life, I simply cannot afford to let my dizziness take over. I always think about how we only have one life to live and how it pains me think that so many days, weeks and months have been wasted on being dizzy.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact me.
Dave
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Laura |
Posted - 02/05/2005 : 20:33:10
Thanks, Hilary, for your post. It sure is frustrating, I know. I've been doing pretty well until today. Our family went to a bar mitzvah and we had to be there at 9:30 this morning. It was a lot of rushing around to get all four of us ready to leave the house at 9:00 a.m. I was driving (I like driving so I offered) and somebody tried to cut me off and I almost flipped out in the car. My husband said "Whoa! Relax, man, you seem like you've had about three cups of coffee." I was pretty amped up and had zero coffee, only a bowl of oatmeal. I'm really wound up tight this week with all that's been going on. My stomach feels like someone poured acid down it and the cramping and pain won't let up.
So, we get to this bar mitzvah and we're a half hour late and next thing I know, I'm dizzy. I'm standing there feeling really dizzy and anxious all at once. I whispered in my husband's ear and told him I was feeling dizzy and he said "That's no surprise. You seemed really stressed in the car." I really saw a correlation to my anxiety level and the dizzy feeling today, more than ever.
Now, I'm home and trying to relax. My stomach still hurts like heck but I'm not feeling the dizzy sensation.
I feel for you, Hilary. Ten years is a long time to feel like this. I'm going on three years and I'm so darn sick of it I'd sever my limb if it would make it go away!
I hope everyone has a nice weekend. Take time out to watch the super bowl game and relax. It will be a nice distraction from the dizzies. Nothing like those commercials to get your mind off how bad you're feeling.
Laura
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| Hilary |
Posted - 02/05/2005 : 06:43:12
Laura and Dave, I just wanted to add a couple of things to my post:
1) I want you to know that I don't dismiss this problem lightly, and I know exactly how depressing and frustrating it is to be dizzy. There are days when I am so full of rage simply at the fact that I'm been continuously dizzy for over 10 years. It doesn't make sense to me, and I resent it horribly. I feel utterly furious that I've had to put up with this **** for such a long time.
By the way, does that count as focusing on the anger, or the symptom?
2) Relaxation of the face, head, jaw, neck and shoulder areas really helps. I believe that dizzy people carry vast amounts of tension in these areas. When I'm particularly dizzy, I relax, focussing bit by bit on... the top of my head and my scalp....my forehead, especially the "worried" bit between my eyebrows....my ears...my cheeks....my jaw....the back of my head....the back of my neck...down to my shoulders. As I relax each muscle group, I breathe really deeply from my stomach, and visualize each area really relaxing. I'm usually quite amazed at how tense all these muscles are!
Hilary |
| Laura |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 11:09:43
Hi, Dave-
I'm responding to your questionnaire, which I think is a wonderful idea. So, here goes:
What TMS symptoms do you have? Dizziness, stomach distress (pain, cramps, bloating), intermittent back pain, TMJ symptoms, headaches, burning tongue and mouth disorders, and recurrent eye problems including redness, itching, and burning.
How important is it for you to be a good person? Do you think that you care about being a "good" person more than more people? It is very important to be seen as a good person. I'm sure I do care more about being a good person than most people. Many of the people I know don't give a hoot.
What level of generalized guilt do you feel? I feel guilt about everything. I feel responsible for everyone and every situation and if it doesn't go well, I feel guilt. I feel guilt for not getting involved in my daughter's mess up school situation, even though I know by doing so she will be angry at me. I feel guilt that my house isn't completely organized to my husband's liking. Guilt, guilt, guilt. I live with constant guilt!
Do you feel like you are a bad person? Sometimes. But mostly I think I'm a good person who is misunderstood.
Do you feel like you "in tune" with your emotions and others? Most definitely, to a fault.
Are you afraid or concerned with death? No, not really. It's not something I give much thought.
How intelligent would you "rate" yourself? I think I'm pretty intelligent. I surely don't think I'm stupid. I read, I'm informed, and I think I'm an intelligent person. Hard to believe when you consider I was called "dummy" and "stupid" for so many years as a kid!
Do you have any phobias? If so what are they? Oh, yeah, I sure do. I'm claustrophic, big time. Can't stand being in elevators, don't do many of the rides at amusement parks, etc. Also phobic of taking medication or being "put under" or drugged, or having to undergo medical procedures. Have been dental phobic but I'm overcoming that by facing it and just doing it. My first real panic attack happened when I was sick and had too much coffee, cold medication, etc., and ended up in E.R. thinking I was having a heart attack. Scary!
(Were you or) Do you have any suspicions of being raped, molested, or traumatized by an adult during your early youth? Oh, yes. I was molested by some weird guy in the neighborhood who I had to sit in court and testify against when I was 8. I was also molested by a family member, which I did not fully remember until around the birth of my first child. I also have this feeling I was molested by someone else in my family but can't quite say that I was or wasn't. Just a feeling, no actual memory.
Were (are) you a good student in school (elementary, high, college, etc.)? No, not really. I had no self-confidence and I was not much of a scholar. One time I tried to get on the honor roll and got all A's and one B. One time, that's it, just to prove it to myself that I actually had a brain. I dropped out of college when I moved to California, so that I could start a job as a medical transcriptionist and earn some money to help support my husband (then fiance) and myself.
In your own words, what quality do you feel separates you from other people? Awareness/Intuitiveness. I think most people just get through their day and don't think about things too much but I am aware of every little thing and I am pretty intuitive about people and myself.
Do (did) you have a good relationship with your parents? If not, are you able to overtly express anger or even hatred towards your parents? No, I did not have a good relationship. I grew up in a home where the motto was "Children should be seen and not heard." Now, as an adult, I still feel like I'm a scared, little kid when I need to talk to them about anything that is bothering me. And they rarely ever "get it." when I have to spend time with them, I just "get through it" and tolerate them. It's really hard now because my children see how awful they are.
Do you remember your dreams? If so, do you have disturbing or troubling dreams, nightmares or night terrors? How frequently? Yes, I do remember my dreams. I wake from them and go over them in my mind. I have troubling dreams or nightmares, sometimes in spurts. Like, this last week has been really difficult from an emotional standpoint and I've noticed I have been having a lot of troubling dreams and one or two nightmares. Many of my dreams center around my daughters being young (obviously my fear that they are growing up and I'm losing them).
Do you feel like you have "purpose" in life and would you consider yourself content or happy? I feel like I do have purpose in life, especially as the mother of two needy adolescent girls. I'd like to find another purpose for myself, in the role of helping others outside my home. I truly enjoy helping people. I would like to find some way of helping others and having a purpose in life before my kids are both out of the house and I'm sitting here staring at the walls going "What do I do now?" I don't know if I'd consider myself content as I'm very restless and I'm a worrier. I don't feel a sense of inner peace at all. My body is filled with worry, fears, and turmoil. I'm not unhappy but I wouldn't say I'm particularly happy right now. I think happiness comes with that sense of inner peace and tranquility that I haven't had in a long time.
Well, I hope this helps. I suppose you will take all of our responses and try to come up with a common link. I may give you a call as I am curious to see where this leads. Thanks for all that you are doing.
Laura
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| dizzy dave |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 08:41:03
I was curious about how the dizzies and other TMS sufferers would answer the following questions. The questions are presented here in the order that they came to me. Maybe this will get us somewhere, maybe it won’t. I am really just going with a hunch here.
Answer questions on a scale of 1-10 (when applicable).
What TMS symptom(s) do you have?
How important is it for you to be a good person? Do you think that you care about being a “good” person more than most people?
What level of “generalized” guilt do you feel? (I mean not for any specific event or character trait)
Do you feel like you are a bad person?
Do you feel like you are “in-tune” with your emotions and others?
Are you afraid or concerned with death?
How intelligent would you “rate” yourself?
Do you have any phobias? If so, what are they?
(Were you or) Do you have any suspicions of being raped, molested or traumatized by an adult during your early youth?
Were (are) you a good student in school (elementary, high, college, etc.)?
In your own words, what quality do you feel separates you from most other people?
Do (did) you have a good relationship with your parents? If not, are you able to overtly express anger or even hatred towards your parents?
Do you remember your dreams? If so, do you have disturbing or troubling dreams, nightmares or night terrors? How frequently?
Do you feel like you have “purpose” in life and would you consider yourself content or happy?
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| dizzy dave |
Posted - 02/03/2005 : 08:35:35
quote:
Originally posted by Ginag
Hi All,
I've been MIA for a couple of days with our mutual friend, Dizziness. The good thing is -- I know exactly what triggered it. The bad thing is -- knowing about the rage isn't enough to prevent the dizziness from reoccurring. So Dave, I know exactly where you're coming from. It's really quite frustrating to truly acknowledge and believe the validity of what Dr. Sarno says, and yet not be able to banish the dizzies once and for all. Like others in our forum, I would also rather have another form of TMS instead of the dizzies. And like you, Dave, I wonder what Dr. Sarno's success level is with people who suffer with dizziness. When I first started suffering and didn't know about Dr. Sarno, I had joined the Vestibular Disorder Associaion. There is a multitude of people out there who suffer like us, have been to tons of doctors without success, and are experiencing various levels of diability. They are all desparate for a cure. However, they all differ from us in that they all believe it is a physical problem. A lot of them just seem to get progressively worse with time. The fear is paralyzing. So although I still suffer, at least believing in Dr. Sarno has removed the fear for me which, in turn, has improved my condition. For now, it seems like I am at a standstill but I keep plugging away and hope for future success.
Gina
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| Laura |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 20:57:37
Thank you, Carol. You are the one person on this whole freakin website that has actually used the Sarno method and cured the dizzies. In Andrew Weil's book, Spontaneous Healing, he talks about people like yourself. It is important to hear stories like yours to keep reminding ourselves that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks and I personally look forward to hearing more of your words of wisdom as they are posted here. Enjoy your show!
Laura
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| Ginag |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 18:30:47
Hi All,
I've been MIA for a couple of days with our mutual friend, Dizziness. The good thing is -- I know exactly what triggered it. The bad thing is -- knowing about the rage isn't enough to prevent the dizziness from reoccurring. So Dave, I know exactly where you're coming from. It's really quite frustrating to truly acknowledge and believe the validity of what Dr. Sarno says, and yet not be able to banish the dizzies once and for all. Like others in our forum, I would also rather have another form of TMS instead of the dizzies. And like you, Dave, I wonder what Dr. Sarno's success level is with people who suffer with dizziness. When I first started suffering and didn't know about Dr. Sarno, I had joined the Vestibular Disorder Associaion. There is a multitude of people out there who suffer like us, have been to tons of doctors without success, and are experiencing various levels of diability. They are all desparate for a cure. However, they all differ from us in that they all believe it is a physical problem. A lot of them just seem to get progressively worse with time. The fear is paralyzing. So although I still suffer, at least believing in Dr. Sarno has removed the fear for me which, in turn, has improved my condition. For now, it seems like I am at a standstill but I keep plugging away and hope for future success.
Gina |
| Carol |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 18:07:34
I need to stress that, for me, the key to beating the dizzies was my belief that it was not caused by anything physical. Once I was VERY certain of that the symptoms just gradually faded away. It was not quick, and it was not easy, but it was very definate. I had never heard of Sarno at that point, and had not yet experienced my first back pain. (note that I am both a former dizzy and a current back pain TMSer)
What I basically did was to focus my attention on what I could do instead of what I couldn't. For the first few months of my dizzies I could not walk without holding onto a wall or a cane. In order to walk a straight line I had to focus very determinedly on something ahead of me and at eye level. Looking at the ground made it much worse. I also had to concentrate on keeping my head still and as level as possible. I spent a lot of time lying down. I also spent a lot of time practicing walking walking in a safe place (my living room), without holding onto anything. At first all I could do was a couple steps, but it got better as I persisted.
I wasn't able to walk on uneven ground, or look at moving water, without provoking a spinning attack. I was dizzy to some extent most of the time, but the spinning was sporadic thank goodness. If it was all the time I wouldn't have been able to function. I am trying hard to remember just what I did, and will post more as I remember more.
I knew that the original attack was triggered by a conflict with my boss, so I thought a lot about our relationship and what I could do to improve it without compromising my principles. Somehow I was doing the right thing without realizing it. I had the dizzies off and on for four years, but all the time it was gradually losing it's hold on me. By the end I was dismissing it just as I did when I experienced it recently.
I really think that the key, in addition to doing "the work", is to defeat the fear and be absolutely certain that there is NOTHING WRONG with your brain and that you will defeat this!!!!!!!
BTW, since I started posting about the dizzies my back pain has been gradually decreasing. I think I have finally taken my own advice and internalized that there is nothing wrong with my back, just as I knew that there was nothing wrong with my brain. They are both perfectly normal and healthy.
Bye for now. I have to go watch Lost, my favorite TV show.
Carol |
| Laura |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 13:12:36
Hilary,
I enjoyed reading your post. I agree with everything you said. I was promised "magical cures" by two different chiropractors. The one guy told me my hips were out of alignment and that as soon as we could get them to stay in place and not go back "out" then my vertigo would go away. That was the biggest crock of crap I've ever heard. The problem for me was, a friend of mine who I respect very much assured me he was a good guy and wouldn't steer me wrong. I trusted my friend and not my own instinct. After about six months and no changes, I stopped going. He truly was a "quackopractor"!!!!
I think that dizziness is such a scary thing that when you are going through chronic dizziness, on a daily basis, you reach a point where you become so desperate you will look anywhere for a cure. When I found the doctor in Colorado, I was seriously thinking about finding a way to get there and finding a way to come up with the cash so I could go and be "cured." I never did. Instead, I saw Dr. David Schechter, began journaling, listened to the CD's, and found this website. I have improved tremendously and I never stepped foot in Dr. Kaufman's office.
I do understand what you're saying about Dr. Sarno and doing the work yourself versus going to say a chiropractor or physical therapist, etc. But, at the same time, I have heard about a lot of people who have been cured (maybe placebo, I don't know) through methods like the one Elise spoke of. And, like I said, sometimes we get so desperate we are willing to try anything. If I'm understanding what Elise is saying, it sounds like her chiro works to bring forth the repressed emotions. I've never dealt with a chiropractor who did that so I find it intriguing. Who am I to say if it works or not, since I've never tried it.
Also, you are so right about getting on the plane. I know I just need to do it already, but that will have to take place with baby steps. I'm going to try a short trip first, and it's going to be to somewhere that I would actually like to go. My husband would just love to take our family to Maui so who knows.
Dave -
I know it appears that most of the people on here just talk about our TMS and the fact that we are dizzy and there aren't a lot of success stories. I agree. However, Carol was able to cure herself so fortunately we have her success story to think about. I also think some of us have made great progress. I, for one, am much better off since I've been "doing the work" than I was say a year ago. The one thing we do all have in common is dealing with our repressed anger, I sure agree with that. Your theory about the level of repressed anger is something I, too, have thought about as well. I mean, do we just have mountains and mountains of repressed anger and rage that is so severe it literally "makes our heads spin." I wish we all knew the answer, that's for sure.
Thanks for your post. I enjoy reading everybody's ideas and getting everyone's input.
Laura
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| dizzy dave |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 11:43:17
Hilary,
I couldn't agree with you more. The most important thing is for us is to learn to deal with repressed anger. I know I have a problem getting in touch with my anger. Some months ago I was being tail-gaited be another driver. He was riding my bumper for maybe a quarter mile or so. It pissed me off. So I slowed down to a stop about 100 feet short of the upcoming traffic light with this guy right on me. Anticipating a confrontation, I put my car in park and flung my car door open to find this guy approaching me. I was more than angry. I really wanted him to start with me so I could tear into him. I am 6'1" and weigh 210lbs. I shouted at this guy in such a crazy and frightening voice that he backed down immediately. I was shaking and couldn't even hold my voice steady. I got back into my car and sped off, all the while feeling like someone pumped me with enough adrenaline to lift a house off it's foundation. Well, this "little" episode really bothered me. I hardly get angry at all, yet this was an explosion. The next time at therapy I told the event as it happened to my therapist in a rather intellectual way. He asked me to act out, to the best of my ability, what happened. He wanted me to show him the rage that I expressed. I simply couldn't. I sat there for maybe 5 minutes totally quite wondering why I couldn't do this relatively simple act.
I am writing about this because I know that this anger and rage is at the source of my dizziness. However, I am still dizzy. But Sarno makes it abundantly clear that knowledge is the cure. He doesn't say that one must "work out" his or her issues to be cured. Just the knowing of the source is enough...well, most of the time. I am not sure, but my hunch is that people who suffer from TMS dizziness may have a different kind of problem then, let's say, someone who suffers from chronic back pain. Of course, in both people there is an underlying, redirection of attention away from "bad" or "unwanted" feelings, but the nature or "level" of those feelings may be qualitatively different. This is what I am wondering about. I may simply be way off. Because if Dr. Sarno successfully treated people with dizziness as he did with back pain, for instance, then I would be wrong (or at least to some extent). All I see here on the boards, is a huge number of people with dizziness who at the same time recognize TMS.
Dave
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| Hilary |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 10:33:43
I'm reading all these posts with a lot of interest.
It's hard to explain how I feel after reading them. I'll try to explain as best I can, and I hope I don't offend anyone.
On the one hand, it is really, really good to connect with others about a very difficult symptom. I agree with everyone here that it's hard as hell to stop thinking about something which feels as if it's occuring in the very thing you think with - i.e. the brain! It's a nasty symptom, for sure.
On the other hand, I think we must resist the temptation to label ourselves by our symptoms, because we MUST stay focused on taking our attention off our symptoms - as difficult as that is. I have a feeling we could talk for hours about similarities we share or don't share, what our mothers did or didn't do, abuse we faced or didn't face - and at the end of it all, where would we be? It might make for a fascinating conversation - I for one will happily talk about myself all night - but I'm not sure how much further it would advance us all along the road to healing.
We share a difficult and distracting symptom, no doubt. But we're also all very different, from different homes and backgrounds, and it's up to each one of us to work on our rage individually (with support from each other, of course). The more we allow these symptoms to upset us, the longer they'll persisit.
Elise, what you say about your chiropractor's viewpoint is interesting. But I for one don't buy it or find it terribly helpful - I'd argue, in fact, that it's quite unhelpful. Here's the thing: I've decided to buy into Sarno 100%, to do the anger work every day and to balance that with positive visualization stuff and, when I can, meditation. And granted, I've not had good experience with chiropractors so perhaps I'm a bit biased, but Sarno specifically says if you have TMS, you MUST stop all other forms of treatment. So the question comes down to: either you (we) think you have TMS or you don't. And if you think you (we) have TMS then I'd suggest that there is a strong argument for quitting the chiropractor. The trouble is that the chiro talking about "de-programming the mind" (whatever that means in chiro terms), and the fact that it's very difficult to do so, actually programs our minds to think that a) this is going to take a very long time and b) we need someone to "do some work on us" again that will make us better. This is NOT what we need (although it might be exactly what the chiropractor needs!) In fact, I see very little difference between this and a TMS sufferer with back pain bsically agreeing with Sarno's theory, but continuing to visit a physical therapist.
I've tried chiropractic treatment for dizziness. After about four treatments, I decided the guy was full of ****. Yeah, he assured me that he treated people for dizziness all the time, and with a little manipulation I'd be feeling right as rain in no time. Um, I don't think so, dude. I learned, yet again, that there are ALWAYS people out there who promise that they have the magical cure. What I love about Sarno - what makes him so different to the many conventional and alternative healers I've seen over the years - is that he genuinely EMPOWERS patients. We "cure" ourselves.
ETA - Laura, I know this sounds obvious, but seriously, get on a plane soon. I've travelled all over the world with dizziness, and I can promise you that your symptoms have nothing to do with flying! They may be triggered by the anxiety of flying and the fact that your first attack was after a trip, but still - it could be time to start thinking about laying this particular ghost to rest. |
| elise8 |
Posted - 02/02/2005 : 06:06:10
Thanks Laura for the nice comments. Actually my chiro is in Arizona. His name is Dr. Phillips. He uses the Morton system of health which treats the whole body not just symptoms. I think it is the Morton system. I have a flyer somewhere. When I find it I will post the correct system and how to find a chiro that uses this system.
You can find out more about EFT (emotional freedom techique) at Dr.Mercola's web site and also at www.emofree.com My chiro really believes in using this method to help deprogram the mind..
See ya,
Elise
Elise8 |
| Laura |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 20:51:36
Does anyone know if Sarno speaks publically, say at like a seminar or convention or whatever you would call it. I would just love to see if he did and arrange to get a whole bunch of us on the TMS forum to meet up in one location for a weekend of Dr. Sarno. How cool would that be? I would love to see all of my fellow forum members face to face and listening to the good doctor in person might just be the thing we all need. Just curious. I know he does public speaking but maybe that is primarily in New York. Any chance he'd come to L.A.? (I'm still scared to get on a plane...)
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| Laura |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 12:36:41
Elise,
Everything your chiro is saying makes complete sense to me. It would explain a lot of things. This "programming" is so deeply imbedded into our psyches, that we probably could all use some help "deprogramming." I think you hit the nail on the head, I really do. By the way, what is the name of your chiropractor? There was a guy in Colorado I was going to see about a year ago. I'm trying to remember but I found him on-line (entering dizziness and chiropractic) and I think his last name was Kaufman. Anyway, I spoke with him briefly over the telephone and he helps people with dizziness/vertigo all the time. I just wondered if it was the same guy.
I agree about the "dizzy free" convention. Much more positive. I have always felt that there are so many people out there suffering and wouldn't it be wonderful to come up with a way to help them all. When I used to spend a lot of time looking up causes for my dizziness, I used to sit at my computer weeping all day long while reading the sad, sad stories of people who once had active lives and are now reduced to walking with canes or who have no quality of life. I think there is so much more to this than people realize and it isn't until you suffer from it that you realize it needs to be cured. I think between all of us, the cure is within reach. Carol has already proven that!
Thank you for your post, Elise, and it is great to hear from you. I think your input from your chiropractor is important and could be quite helpful.
Laura
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| elise8 |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 09:38:35
You know it would be interesting to find out what the common thread is with all of us dizzies. Maybe we are just that type of "goodist" person that Sarno talks about and we just happened to have a very traumatic first dizzy spell and now it has become part of our subconsciuos. My chiropractor said that dizziness is one of the hardest things to get rid of but it can be done with enough de-programming. He said that out very first dizzy episode was so frightening that it has stayed in our subconscious. And whatever else was recorded at that time is also there with it and acts like a trigger. We may not have been aware of the other things going on at that time but they are in our subconsciuous. Many are feelings of fear associated with other things. I can't explain this very well but when he explained it to me it made sense. This pattern of being so upset by this first dizzy episode was due in part to many other things that happened in our early childhood and set the pattern for this fear. So any traumatic event that happened in childhood, be it emotional or physical set the stage for our sensitivities. Then due to maybe a physical problem like stuffy ears or congested head or allergies,etc., or stress, etc. we suffered that first horrible dizzy event, and now it has caused a pattern to emerge and each time we have another dizzy event the pattern becomes more engrained in us and is associated with other subconscious triggers present at the time and it just goes on and on... So we have to break this cycle somehow and that is what he is working on with me. He says it helps to accept that it is caused by the subconscious mind but that to get rid of something as frightening as dizziness sometimes it takes some real deprogramming and much practice. It is like trying to break a realy bad nasty habit that keeps getting triggered over and over by our subconscious mind.... TMS techniques do help but sometimes it takes more than that, I guess.
I have noticed that I am better since going to him. I see him again in a little while -- gotta go for now.. I like the idea of a dizzy convention, or better yet, how about a dizzy free convention..sounds more positive.
Elise
Elise8 |
| Laura |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 09:13:21
Dave,
Everything you said is so true. I have other TMS maladies as well and none compare for me to the dizziness. I think that's why it never seems to leave. It's holding on for dear life because it certainly does do a number on us. When my husband says to try and "forget about it" and "think about other things" I try to explain that this is not possible sometimes. If your world is spinning and you feel like you are all out of balance, how do you put this out of your mind? (He doesn't say this to me anymore - I think he knows better).
Lately, my stomach problems are flaring up big time and yesterday my back was really aching. Although those problems bother me, the dizziness always is the one that seems to actually "depress" me because it seems like it's never going to leave permanently.
This past weekend I was walking with my husband. He was talking about going back east to our nephew's (his brother's son) bar mitzvah. I told him I'm not going - no way. He said he's going to tell his brother that I won't be getting on a plane. Two seconds later, we're walking and I feel dizzy. Then, I think to myself "What was I just thinking about" and - Bingo! I realize it was the fact that I don't want to get on a plane and take any chances. (The trip to Maryland about five years ago was my first episode with the rocking/imbalance/dizzy thing.) I also think part of me is using this as an excuse because I hate staying with my brother-in-law (his house is filthy and I'm a neat freak!) and I just flat out don't want to go.
Thanks for giving us your number. I will jot it down and may give you a call. I have often thought how nice it would be for all of us to talk, like you say, perhaps a convention of us dizzy sufferers. How great would it be if Dr. Sarno could be at that meeting. Well, one can dream, right?
Glad to hear from you again. Take care and we'll talk soon.
Laura
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| dizzy dave |
Posted - 02/01/2005 : 08:25:17
Hello everyone.
I haven't had the time to write over the past few days.
Elise, you seem to have very similar symptoms as me-the swooshing of the brain-feeling thing...very horrible. I have had some relief lately. I am not 100% dizzy-free, but I have most of my balance working fine. Unless, of course, I try to look for a missing shoe under my bed or something. I can live with that for now.
Anyways...I think it was a good idea to write down some descriptions of how we are feeling physically when the symptoms occur. However, we really need to discuss our personalities and our emotions. I was wondering if there would be a more practical way of accomplishing this. I have a business and usually do not have the time afforded to me to write nearly as much as I would like to. In fact, I am currently sitting at my computer at work and it's now 9:36 am and I should be doing other things. There should be a TMS dizzy convention. Or there should be another way for this group to do something about this problem. It is great to know that there are others like me who share my experiences, but I would much rather know what is the common thread that runs through all of us. You see, not all of us have had a crummy, cold fish for a mother. That would be something to look at, of course, but there is definitely more to it. I just know it! Millions of people have crummy parents, but are not dizzy. Tons of people are anxious and have "issues", but are not dizzy. Many people, like myself, have accepted the TMS diagnosis and have successfully rid themselves from certain TMS related problems, but the imbalance and dizziness lingers on, it seems, way beyond the others. I would like to know why. Has Dr. Sarno found that patients of his who had dizziness found relief after reading his books or going to his lectures? The edges of the pages that discuss dizziness in his book have become worn out and smudged from my many visits to remind myself of why I become dizzy. Unfortunately, though, he barely speaks of dizziness in his book. Anyone who has "Meniers Disease" or whatever other bogus diagnosis they have, knows that this is an extremely difficult condition to live with. All TMS related maladies are horrible and I don't want to downplay any of them. It's just that I have had a bunch, but the dizziness interferes with life on an internal and external level. Last spring I seriously sprained my ankle playing basketball. My foot turned blue and all the hair in the damaged area plain out died. It took me nearly 6 months to just start to walk without a limp. I had noticed that my dizziness more or less disappeared while I was healing (interesting, isn't it?). While I was crutching around town I told my wife that I would easily choose this over being dizzy.
If anyone wants to talk, give me a call on my cell: 516-655-7657. Maybe we can figure out a way to "map" the particular person of TMS dizziness. Unfortunately, business calls. Gotta run. Bye.
Dave
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| Laura |
Posted - 01/31/2005 : 11:12:10
Hi, everyone!
Elise, I too am happy to hear from you again. It sounds like you are really making strides towards a dizzy free life. I commend you for all your hard work. The EFT sounds similar to some work I did with a doctor years ago. He called it "keying" and he wrote a book called "Keying; The Power of Positive Feelings," which was based on the work of Bandler and Grinder and the whole Pavlovian approach. I, too, get the fullness in the ears from time to time, as did my father when he suffered from the dizzies (he hasn't been dizzy for about 18 years). Keep posting because we love to hear from you.
Carol, as always it was great hearing from you. You are my mentor and you give encouragement and hope to us all. Thank you for your input on this forum. You're the best! It's almost like you are the leader of this group and if we listen to what you have done and take your advice, we can all get to where we need to be. I truly believe that since you have been "to hell and back" already, and you see there actually is a light at the end of the tunnel, then the rest of us can never lose hope. There is no excuse for giving up.
I hope all the rest of my dizzy friends are doing well today. Hi to Gina, Hilary, and Dave.
Laura
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| Carol |
Posted - 01/31/2005 : 10:02:29
Elise, it is so good to hear from you on the board again. I had wondered where you had gone. I missed your posts on the other dizziness thread. I guess I have to go back to it and catch up.
I'm sorry that you are still having the dizziness problem, but it sounds like you are making some progress. Keep up what you are doing, and keep dissing that diagnosis. They gave me the same diagnosis before they decided that it was benign positional vertigo instead. I guess I am lucky, because that is a much better diagnosis to have so I lost my fear. I also realized when I researched the condition that I didn't fit. I could not reproduce the effect that the Dr. got during my examination when he turned my head in a particular way. I had a severe spin when he did it, but I could never reproduce it on my own. It just came at random times. At that point I became skeptical of the diagnosis and decided that it was related to some severe stress that I had been experiencing when it started. That was the beginning of beating it. I am absolutely sure that as long as any of us, with any TMS symptoms or equivalents, believes that there is a physical cause, we can't beat it.
My own recovery was sporadic. I would go for several weeks with no symptoms, no matter what I did, then out of the blue they would start again. By then I was over my fear, and the attacks became fewer and farther between. Eventually they just stopped completely, until I had a couple during the reading and posting on these dizzy threads.
I am hoping so much that all you dizzies will beat this. I was also amazed at how common it is when I started talking to people. There are many of us out there, just as there are many of us with back pain, etc. That alone should be a clue that it is related to the emotions. The cases of true Menieres, if they exist, are pretty rare. BTW, I also had the fullness in the ear sensation. I still get that on occasion, usually associated with a brief ringing in the ear. I take note of it and dismiss it from my mind as not important. The next time I notice my ear it is gone.
Best of luck to all of you. I wouldn't trade my back pain for the dizziness if someone gave me the option!
Carol |
| elise8 |
Posted - 01/30/2005 : 15:36:15
I have posted a couple times on the original dizzy thread. I have had dizziness for about 3 years, a little over a year ago I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease. I do not have the ear fullness too much any more although it does at times come on for just a second or too when I exercise too much, sit in a hot sauna or when I get congested or at high elevations. I get these strange head sensations especially at night. I call then brain malfunctions when I try to explain them to my husband. It is so hard to explain. I lay flat and my head feels like it is heavy or that my brain is wooshing around. Then just when I am about to fall asleep or get relaxed I will hear explosions in my head and with each explosion or gunshot sound I will feel a sense of motion. Sometimes I get very nauseated as it really feels like I am moving inside. Not really a spinning but like my head is sharply jolted around. I do at times get spinning sometimes at night but it is mostly this internal head thing. It absolutely drives me nuts! I sometimes have to sleep sitting up.
Also when I am working too long in my job at the computer typing a difficult report or I am tired I will get brain surges of dizzienss like I have an energy force that just passes through my brain and caused me to feel motion or almost like I may pass out but nothing goes black. It is strange. Every day I experience some type of dizziness although it is so much better than last year when i was dissabled. I am currently going to a chiro who practices some mind body techniques. He is not your every day chirpractor. He uses B.E.S.T technique among other techniques. He has you imagine traumatic events from childhood or controlling people in your early life. Then he does some muscle accupressure and adjusting with some device. Amazingly this has helped. He works alot around my atlas and cervical neck area. I have had about 5 visits so far. It is almost like a chiropractic and therapy session at the same time. He believes that old "programs" in the mind cause all physical symptoms that become chronic like back pain, dizziness, etc. We develop habits of certain symptoms. It is in our subconscious mind not our conscious mind. Of course he advocates good diet too but the main thing he tries to do is to help reprogram the mind, to get rid of these symptoms associated wth past traumatic events, emotional, physical, whatever. He uses a techique called EFT also. It seems to really go along with what Sarno teaches.
I have also been using a technique that helps me. I imagine the most wonderful scene in my mind, something that makes me joyous. For me it is sitting up at my big picture window in our half built cabin in the mountains, only in my vision the cabin is finally complete. I am retired, have no worries and am drinking a cup of tea reading a book while viewing the magnificant view out the large windows. Whenever I get this picture I concentrate of actually FEELING the sensations that go along with the visual and it elicits profound joy. While in this feeling of joy, I say positive affrimations to myself, like - My body is free of dizziness and I am happy and healthy, I love life, etc. Anyway by doing this I am trying to re-write my story from one of a dizzy person to a happy, dizzy free person. It seems to distract me and the joyous feeling I get with the image seems to negate the dizzy, negative feeling. I learned this technique in a book called - "Excuse me, your life is waiting". Can't remember the author but very good and powerful book about controlling your energy. The key is to really feel the sensation of joy, love, happiness and the state your wants or desires during this feeling. You have to keep the feeling for at least 16 seconds in order for the positive energy to be released or to become part of your subconscious mind..
Sorry to ramble on, just wanted to add to this dizzy string.
I am trying very hard to "overcome" the diagnosis they gave me of Meniere's disease as there is just so much negative about this and how it can never be cured, etc. It is hard to overcome a doctor giving you a label. I have since stopped going to regular MDs unless of course I was in a car wreck or something and needed emergent medical care, otherwise, I feel they will just keep digging until they find SOMETHING... and then you are stuck with a label that is so hard to overcome...
Take care all you dizzy folk. You are not alone. But I am determined, like Carol to beat this thing and I believe each day will be a little better..I am also getting out my Sarno books again and plan on purchasing some new tapes suggested on this site. By the way, one more thing. I guess I am the minority here, but I had a very loving mother. I adored her and were best friends. She died in 1996 during surgery and it seems that is when all my worst health problems started. I feel I need to work on unresolveed grief maybe, but how many tears can you cry. Or maybe it is anger that she was taken away from me..
Elise..
Elise8 |
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