Help for anxiety induced dizziness
In this week's podcast we're responding to the following question:
Hi guys. I've been enjoying the last few episodes that I've heard of your podcast. For 10 or so years, I've been suffering from an anxiety-based vestibular disorder. The symptoms are unsteadiness, balance problems and problems with speaking. Apart from the usual means of dealing with anxiety, are there any other things I should be looking at doing to combat these vestibular episodes? Thanks in advance.
From Vestibular Disorders Association:
“Vestibular disorders cause overwhelming dizziness, vertigo, and other symptoms that can’t be seen, and are difficult for others—sometimes, even close friends and family members—to understand.”
Notes from the show:
Oil massage
Oiling the ears - how to do it and why it helps
Sesame oil is recommended. The best sources are Pukka Herbs in the UK or Banyan Botanicals in the US, these trusted Ayurvedic suppliers provide high quality "ripened" sesame oil that is pre-cured for use for massage or ear drops.
Apply 5-10 drops of warm sesame oil to each ear daily. One easy way to do this is to lay down with your head to one side and drop warm oil into the ear facing upwards, leave it there for a few minutes while you relax and breath deeply, then clean the excess from the ear and repeat on the other side.
Also try massaging your feet with oil before sleep:
Start by rubbing a little oil between the palms of your hands then rub it over the top of your foot. Work your thumbs in the groove between the bones on the top of your foot to relieve tension in the chest, and then work up and down the instep of your foot to relax your back and ease accumulated tension in your spine.
Next pinch and squeeze your way down the outside of your foot from the base of your little toe to your heel area to relax tension in your shoulders and arms.
Now turn your attention to the soles of your feet, rubbing and working your way from your heels up to your toes. Pressing into the middle of the sole of your feet activates the kidney meridian and is very grounding and good for relieving anxiety.
Try EFT Tapping - aimed directly at the symptoms
For newer listeners: EFT Tapping or Emotional Freedom Techniques, is a combination of ancient Chinese Acupressure and Modern Psychology, now known as Energy Psychology.
It’s an easy to learn technique that involves "tapping" on the meridian points of the body while repeating statements that help us focus on an issue from which we are seeking relief.
Often the best place to start—and get the most relief—is to tap through the points while focusing on your symptoms.
Start by focusing your attention on the strongest symptom you are experiencing.
Now give your symptom a number on a 0-to-10 scale.
When you focus on the symptom you’re feeling right now, how intense does it feel at this moment? A 10 would be the most intense you can imagine; a 0 would mean you don’t feel any symptoms at all.
Next: Make a set-up statement
Even though I <describe your symptom>, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
For example, you might say, “Even though I have this overwhelming dizziness, I deeply and completely love and accept myself.”
Use the words you use when you think about it, what do you call your symptoms?
Now start tapping through the EFT sequence briefly stating your symptoms at each point. For example: tapping on the side of the eye point saying “overwhelming dizziness”
Keep going until you complete the sequence.
You can tap with either hand, on either side of the body, because the same meridian channels run down both sides of the body.
Now take a deep breath and check in with yourself. Did your symptoms ease a little? Review your number on the SUDs scale and see if it's gone down a point or two.
If you've had even a small shift, that's very significant. Keep tapping and taking full breaths at each point. If nothing has changed, keep tapping anyway and look out for any emotions you have around your condition.
Watch out for thoughts like: “I'm not sure this will work for me” all feelings of frustration, and tap for those too.
The key is to tap every day.
Even if you don't know what to say just set aside five minutes every day to tap through the EFT points while tuned into your symptoms and breathe.
For thorough step-by-step support in using EFT for Anxiety Relief, have a look at our course at AnxietySlayer.Teachable.com