A LIFELONG BALANCING ACT

From the time we are brand new, to the time we are a rare vintage, everyone is in the process of practicing their sense of balance. Whether we are perfecting our balance, as a ballerina, or losing balance, as a vestibular patient, we all must rely upon the same mechanics to keep us steady. Our eyes, our ears and our sensory system work together to maintain equilibrium and coordinated movement.

Simply put, our eyes help us to visually orient to the environment, by what they perceive and by how the eye muscles actually move. The eyes tell the brain what’s going on and how we are viewing the situation. Secondly, our ears (aka: vestibular system) create equilibrium through the specific mechanisms of the semi-circular canals, the utricle and saccule. The ears account for linear, angular and gravitational movement perceived by the brain. Much of the symptomology, that dizzy people experience, is based upon a disruption in one of these key areas. Usually the disagreement between the ear and the eye data is what causes disorientation. Our sensory system, is the last component that influences our balance. Comprised of skin, fascia, muscles, bones, joints and nerves, these parts deliver important messages to the brain about where our body is in space and what it is doing. This is often called proprioception. Therefore, in order to have optimal balance, it is important to have a coordinated effort by all of these components, all of the time.

If we want to fix the problem, it’s vital to understand the mechanics. If you want to become well-balanced, then you will have to be the expert of your body. I’m not saying you need to be a doctor, or physical therapist, or a trainer, but you should be an excellent student of Y.O.U. By being an active part of your recovery, you will be able to bring relevant feedback to the professionals who are helping you.

When you understand the components to balance, and more importantly, when you understand how your system is broken, then you can find the best way to compensate for your inadequacies. Too often, people with this disability just stop all the activities that create uncomfortable symptoms. Just as often, they give up before they find real answers. Unfortunately, this only makes matters worse. The adage, “If you don’t use it; you lose it”, is truer for you, than for others. Like anyone with a disability, you will have to learn to use what is still working, until the other systems are fixed, or until you gain new skills to consistently compensate for those that no longer work.

As a dizzy person, I hope this is good news. Is it hard to believe? I can only imagine, that if your world is spinning, or you are holding onto your couch to stay upright, that moving at all sounds crazy. Never mind exercise, strength and fitness! If that is you, first of all, I’m so sorry. It . Just Sucks. I truly understand how hard it is. And! I appreciate that your experience is different from mine and difficult for reasons I do not understand. But! I hope you will stick with me in this conversation. Because, I believe with all my heart that change is possible. I know it can be hard to believe, and even scarier to try. But if you don’t try, you will never know what’s possible. Here’s the good news! You have done it once already; and you can do it again! Right?

The first time you did this, you were a baby. You learned to maintain balance as a child through trial and error; no one is born with the ability to balance themselves. Crazy, huh? Most people learned to walk upright & balanced within the first 12 months of life. (Heck, one of my kids did it in 9 months.) However, The-Younger-You had no anxiety about that process (the first time). Ignorance was bliss! The-Current-You is keenly aware, and often distressed by your imbalance. Afterall, you have lot farther to fall! However, the process is still the same. Trial and error. Figure out what works. Figure out what doesn’t work. The first time around, most of us switched to an auto-pilot system within the first few years. We didn’t need to think about standing, walking and turning; it was easy! Now, for some reason (that needs to be identified), it isn't easy anymore. If you have dizziness, vertigo or imbalance, your auto-piloting- system has a malfunctioned. And it requires some maintenance and supervision.

Most people don’t have to do this "balance work" until much later in life. But, make no mistake, everyone faces this challenge to some degree with age. It’s inevitable! Because the eyes, the ears and the nervous system breakdown as we get older, no matter what.

Does it help to know that you are not alone in this dilemma? Did you know that millions of people go through what you are experiencing? One poll reports that 90 million people will suffer with dizziness and vertigo at some point in their lifetime. I found this shared human experience a great comfort during my recovery. I hope it will encourage you. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Everyone is practicing their balance for their whole lives. It is a lifelong balancing act! I wish you the best as you practice yours. ~Keep Moving. Stay Well...And Learn to Trust Your Body Again!