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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
 Posted - 10/14/2004 : 20:55:20
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Hey, everyone,
I've been doing so well with my TMS induced dizziness problem. Yesterday I noticed that I didn't feel dizzy all day. I've had several other days like this, ever since I really starting applying Sarno's concepts to my life. The problem is, prior to figuring out that my problem was TMS, I diagnosed myself with a syndrome called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome. This is because three physicians couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. Since my dizzy, lightheaded, off balance, floaty feeling started twice after trips, I decided that must be my problem. There is no cure for MDDS; you just wait and when it decides to leave it does. Then, when you take another plane trip or cruise/boat trip or train ride, it can recur only worse. The first time I got it the feeling lasted three months, but I had also been told that I had labrynthitis and "it will be gone within three weeks." (I am highly suggestible!) The next time was in May of 2002 and now, two and a half years later, it's finally dissipating, since reading Sarno's book and working with Dr. Schechter, and all my self-work.
The problem is, today I heard from a friend I met on the MDDS website. She had the dizzy thing for ten months. Then, right as her divorce was finalized she decided she was going to take an airplane trip anyway and just go on with her life. She took Valium on the plane and for the first day there, and also on the way home. Her problem is gone. (Personally, I think that it was the finalizing of the divorce but that's just me). She wrote me today and asked "How are you?" She wanted to know if I'm still dizzy. She just got back from a trip to Maui and is feeling wonderful. The thing is, she told me all she does when she travels is take a Valium on the plane there and on the way back. While there, she goes on boats, goes scuba diving, and does all the things they advise against if you have so called Mal de Debarquement Syndrome. It made me start wondering, maybe I should try to go on a trip and self-medicate with Valium, even though I'm deathly phobic of taking any type of mood altering medication. Now, of course, the rational part of my brain says that I have TMS and this would be counterproductive. But another part of me thinks that if she can do it maybe I should too. My husband is always pressuring me that our family needs to get on a plane and just go somewhere. In the back of my mind, I'm always fearful that I'll get worse. I guess maybe for all my talking I still haven't fully accepted the TMS or I would just get on a plane.
Any thoughts? I'm really wondering what to do here.
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Burton
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2004 : 13:45:17
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Laura,
I don't have personal experience with MDS but it sounds to me like a TMS equivalent. My sister, in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, developed a mysterious dizziness. I told her it was "stress" to simplify the TMS explanation and urged her not to take it too seriously.
As for the valium thing, Sarno wrote in MBP that TMS pain often lessens or disappears when people drink because the depressant and somatic qualities of alcohol act as a kind of emotional release mechanism. If valium, or another depressant helps a condition, then it would indicate that the condition is psychogenic in origin. Red wine always made me feel very good even when I had serious TMS upper back/neck pain.
I can't tell you what you should do in regards to your husband's urging you to fly. But maybe you should try it, maybe facing the fear of flying would be the best thing you could do.
After I was in a car accident, the apparent cause of my TMS pain, I lived in dread of being in another one - thinking I would be hurt further and possibly debilitated to the point of invalid-ness. Right before I discovered Sarno, I was in a second accident. On the way home from the massage therapist I got in another "rear ender." It was the best thing that could've happened to me because I was fine! No "whiplash" no nothing. My worst fear came to pass and I was okay. Since then, I've overcome several other TMS related fears: sleeping on strange hotel pillows, going on rollercoasters, taking long, long flights.
I wish you well, no matter what you decide...
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 10/16/2004 : 19:14:50
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Laura,
GET ON THE PLANE AND GO!  |
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Laura
USA
655 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2004 : 12:13:15
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| Thanks, guys, for the encouraging words. Thank you Burton for your input with regards to the Valium too. I guess I just need you guys to remind me that I'm on the right track. I just need to get on a plane and go somewhere, even if it's only an hour away. |
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Difficulty breaking old habits
