Hello all, I visit this site almost daily and have so appreciated all of the information you wonderful people have been willing to share. I was wondering how some of you handle the anxiety that can be a part of this disease. I finally started seeing a Behavior specialist because the fear of having an vertigo attack while driving or out in public has almost crippled me. I do drive 3 miles to work but resist doing any more driving than that, will stop at the store on my way home and run in to get what I need. My life style has changed so much and some days I just spend an hour crying every morning, just not coping well and hoping the specialist will give me some techniques to deal with the anxiety, my MD did give me some Ativan but do not want to rely on medications all the time.
Hello Shill, I have atypical symptoms of MM. I had 10 vertigo episodes in five and a half years, with long remissions. No hearing loss and no ear fullness. Mild tinnitus between episodes, increasing in intensity during them. But in March this year I had two episodes in eight days. Then I got massive anxiety. In the same time, then I started to learn more about the disease and ways to deal with it. That's the time I found this forum and all the bad (about possible prospects) and good (about possible treatments) news. The bad news scared me, but the good news gave me some hope. The anxiety was terrible, I can feel with you. I was afraid not only to drive to job (7 km), but even to get out to the local grocery shop. Now, I can say that I deal with the anxiety well. It took one month to get better. What helped me, I think, are two things. First, I started taking antivirals according to dr Gacek's paper and experiences of the fellows here. Also I started to introduce elements of JOH's regimen one at a time. I am vertigo free ever since (does not mean much, as my remissions used to be as long as 15 months, but in the same time as short as 8 days in March; a good feeling anyway). Second, I visited a neuropsychiatrist (bad spelling, I know ) and started some medicines (Alventa (venlafaxine) 2 x 150mg in the morning plus Xalol (Xanax) 1 x 0.25mg in the morning). Since it is a very low dose of Xanax I believe Alventa is helping me. Do not stop fight. We all have at least two health frontlines, MM and anxiety. Many people also here have other issues. I think about the anxiety as a consequence of MM but also as a possible cause of vertigo episodes. So I try tackle the two independently. All the best
Again, I do not suggest you take anti-anxiolytics on your own. Visit a neuropsychiatrist if you have not already done so
The only thing that helped for me for the anxiety was Ativan. That was when I started having panic attacks all day long. I finally went to see a psychiatrist and he changed that to Klonipin and no more panic attacks and my anxiety levels are really high, like today. So yesterday I cleaned the house silly. And today, as I wait to leave to drive 85 miles each way to see Oto, I'm primping my hair, playing with outfits and coming here. I have a bunch of CDs loaded in the car and hopefully the music and the drive will calm me. I like to drive. However, I am NOT a patient person and I can't wait to leave! For you breathing techniques, soothing music and mind over matter are good places to start. IMO
Yours is such a great question, Shill. The anxiety is crippling. I seems to take away all of one's independence. When my MM first started, I was constantly making a "back up plan". What if? What if? What if? The never-ending refrain playing in my head. I spent many years taking klonopin just to get through life. Once the vertigo stopped (I had several ear surgeries), the crippling anxiety slowly went away, but was was replaced with what I imagine is PTSD. Now that I am bilateral, the anxiety is back with a vengeance. I agree with Serbian (Kako Ste, Sebian?) that medication can give you some relief. The anxiety will be there, but you can take the edge off. Becoming physically dependent on bezos is easy to do, so you're smart not to want to rely on the Ativan. But it can serve a purpose in the short run. Make sure that you seek out a cognitive behavior specialist. They will give you tools to help change your thought pattens. Also, read everything you can on mindfulness- bringing your thoughts to the moment. It's so easy to fall into the What if's.
My anxiety beast is back. All of the above is helpful and so familiar- always the backup plan and what if’s. Meds. Mindfulness. The worst time is upon wakening... especially if it’s not time to get up yet, and I don’t want to disturb my hubby. I try to meditate and pray. Lying in the dark these days... I feel my disequilibrium (or mal de debarquement?!) I’ve kind of forgotten how to have fun. I’m going to Hawaii in a few weeks, and instead of being excited like a normal person I’m terrified. Ok thanks for listening. I know the best thing for me is to just get going, get engaged in my day.
Yeah, I came to realize anxiety was more damaging to quality of life than the vertigo attacks, which would ease up after several hours. The anxiety was endless and paralyzing. Anne, I found from past experience that the airport, with its expanses of patterned carpeting and motion of people all around was a sure way to trigger nausea. My vestibular therapist encouraged me to request wheelchair service from the airline, and I'm so glad she did. Delta was great about it. I was able to keep my eyes closed and head down during the trek from ticketing to gate. After arriving in Mexico it was a slow-paced wonderful trip until day 8 or so, when I believe the sodium in the food got to me. I spent two days in my room, which I had chosen knowing confinement was a possibility. It had a little patio outside where I could hang out and still get the vacation vibe. Absolutely no regrets for going, and many special memories with my daughter. One takeaway, however, was that I would avoid traveling to places where I didn't speak the language so I could do better on avoiding sodium.
Haha Pupper yes you got it! Clare, thanks for suggesting the wheelchair. I might look into that, not just for the Menieres challenges, but part of my chronic fatigue syndrome (predating mm) is troubles standing for a long (or short!) time without getting lightheaded. So far, I just take a shawl or wrap, and am not shy about plunking myself down on the ground cross legged in the middle of slow moving lineups. While waiting to board, I’ll get as horizontal as I can on a bench or on my wrap on the carpet. And I’ll probably take some clonazepam and gravol preemptively. I just got home from a long acupuncture session and am feeling saner. Thanks again for your responses!
Feeling less anxious - the sun is out, I got some stuff done, hung out with my non-crazy-making friends, the wolf moon is done, meditation, who knows why really. Just accepting my life as it is today, trying not to take myself so seriously (kind of tough with this serious MM, but you know...) Anyway hoping all you anxious types are having a good day!