Vestibular Disorder - Earthquake Hull 10th June 2018

I blogged in February 2018 about earthquakes causing people (including me) who have vestibular disorders finding their 'off balance' and 'dizzy' symptoms hike.

Well, last night I let my dog out about 11pm (Masham, North Yorkshire) and thought I heard thunder in the distance. My dog barked when he heard it and I felt off balance. This morning I read the BBC news to discover there had been a 3.9 earthquake at 11.15pm in Hull, not too far from me as the crow flies.

For the last couple of days I've been really off balance and assumed it was because I had been to the Jane McDonald concert two days ago as it takes me a few days to get over the travel and the flashing lights, not to mention the loud audio. Then yesterday morning I had to wear my peaked hat and shades when I went outdoors because I felt off balance and nauseous. I think it's been the approaching earthquake. I'd love to know if you have had the same symptoms before, or when, there's been an earthquake?

                                   

Vestibular Disorder - Earthquake 18th February 2018

I have written a couple of blogs regarding Vestibular Disorders 2016 and MdDS (Mal de Debarquement Syndrome) 2015 because I suffer from these debilitating disorders.

Yesterday, 17 February 2018, there was an earthquake 4.2 magnitude in Swansea, Wales, UK. Then there were aftershocks.

I have to say last week, prior to the earthquake, my symptoms hiked terribly and I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Last night they seemed to settle down.

Now, I have to ask the question...do imminent earthquake vibrations cause balance/vestibular disorders symptoms to worsen?

Vibration is a cause of symptoms worsening whether it be traffic passing you while standing on the pavement or while holding a hairdryer. Surely there must be some vibration when an earthquake is imminent? After all, when a Volcano is about to erupt we get a warning.

I researched and found an article (my friend Polly Moyer and I had discussed previously) written by John M. Flionna, in the Los Angles Times  about an Ear Nose and Throat specialist at Tokyo Medical Centre who suffered MdDS symptoms following the 2011 earthquake in Japan. This specialist says he is now sensitive to even small vibrations and is now both physician and patient.

And then we have Solar Flares added to the mix. There was a Solar Flare (small one) which can affect radio signals, giving us weaker power grid fluctuations, on the 16th February 2018. Apparently a Solar Flare can also cause worsening symptoms for people with vestibular disorders, and Mental Health disorders, according to scientists.

Another interesting article I found was about Lizzy Arnold (Olympic Gold Medal Winner Skeleton 2014 and 2018) who has suffered from a vestibular disorder for several years and was only diagnosed in 2017. I feel her pain. I too suffered for years before being diagnosed. Wish I could see the same experts who helped her. She is a credit to all people who suffer from this condition. Huge congratulations to her.
I might take up Skeleton 🛷 racing to see if it helps my disorder.

                               

                                   

                                                      

                                                                  

Anxiety - Panic Attacks - Never Mind The What If? Enjoy The What Is!

Copyright © Ellen Dean

Have you ever wondered what may have caused your anxiety/panic attacks? I did. I couldn't understand the reasoning behind them. I am one of those people who has to have answers and then I can try to heal myself. I asked my GP for CBT because I felt as though I was doomed. But, I didn't actually receive CBT like I thought I did, and that's why it didn't work. What I actually received, I've just recently found out, was therapy from a psychological wellbeing practitioner. No disrespect to the practitioners, but the one I had call me on the telephone had no idea how to deal with a person with a vestibular disorder, the anxiety/panic attacks. She actually told me to 'put your coat on and go for a walk.' Believe me, when the room is spinning and you feel like you are going to faint, that's the last thing you want to do.

I now know that I have been suffering from Migraine Associated Vertigo (MAV) without the headache. Yes, I know it sounds bizarre because when you think migraine you automatically think headache. However, I did suffer from migraines when I was younger, and the headache was horrendous, but a few years ago I thought they had gone. They hadn't. 

That is when I succumbed to vestibular migraine which, in fact, is quite a normal occurrence, if only I'd known at the time. 

Below are the symptoms taken from the Vestibular Disorders website. They are exactly the same symptoms I suffered that brought on my anxiety and panic attacks.

'The clinical presentation of vestibular symptoms that often correlate with migraine includes - but is not limited to - dizziness; motion intolerance with respect to head, eyes, and/or body; spontaneous vertigo attacks (often accompanied by nausea and vomiting); diminished eye focus with photosensitivity; sound sensitivity and tinnitus; balance loss and ataxia; cervicalgia (neck pain) with associated muscle spasms in the upper cervical spine musculature; confusion with altered cognition; spatial disorientation; and anxiety/panic.'

I researched into what could have caused the vestibular migraine in the first place. I found some interesting information regarding the symptoms caused by having a shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and was surprised to find there is a connection.

In this book I talk about my experience and how I have been able to help heal myself of debilitating panic attacks.  

Ellen Dean
Patron of Anxious Minds UK

Anxiety - Panic Attacks - Sternocleidomastoid Muscle

In this video I talk about how shortening of the sternocleidomastoid muscle could perhaps be responsible for our anxiety/panic attacks. How it can cause disequilibrium and migraine.

Sternocleidomastoid muscle
Sternocleidomastoid Trigger Points
Fibrodaze
Self-treat the sternomastoid muscle with help from a physiotherapist