Whenever I read about someone who meditates or does yoga or tai chi I think that must be a great way to relieve stress and tension. But for some reason I never get around to trying any of it. I don’t know why but I just don’t. With all the stress that is involved with Meniere’s disease it would certainly be worthwhile. One reason that I have been thinking about it lately is a comment that I received that talked about the benefits of meditation and meniere’s disease.
Here is the comment…
I have started meditation classes about a year and a half ago. After a while it has certainly helped me to be less effected by problems or stress.
It helps because you learn to look at what happens from a distance and understand why you feel the way you feel. At first I was amazed at the amount of unnecessary pressure that you get from people around you and from yourself (!). Things usually feel less intense now.
Also I feel I am usually not panicking anymore during attacks. It is just something that happens.
During meditation I can feel it when I am less stable, sometimes days before I have an actual attack. I think I have been able to prevent some of the attacks that way, by finding time to rest or avoid stressful situations when I felt to be unstable.
Even if it doesn't help you with your meniere, it is certainly a good method in reducing stress levels. It won't harm, so give it a try :-).
That is really interesting that while they are meditating they can feel that a Meniere’s attack is coming up soon. It sounds like a great idea to reduce stress. If anyone else has had any success with meditation let me know
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Sunday, January 23, 2011
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I have had the disease for a bit over 4 years -and have been a meditator for more than 20. Meditation has helped me in two ways. First and foremost during a severe attack I have learned to step out from my symptoms and just go into a calm state relaxed -this helps me deal with the symptoms until the meds make me sleep. Secondly -I believe that I have also been able to disect the precursers to an attack. For me there is about a 5 minute warning where my vertigo takes on a different tennor (like walking into a room where the pressure is a bit higher) this helps me with the drops -SOMETIMES -As for days warning -I'm not there yet.
I am especially glad that I have a long relationship with meditation because
the stress of this disease is tough for me -meditation hasn't gotten me any calmer about going on disability -(the step I am just beginning now) This has been such a chore -I am on my third ENT Dr. in 4 years and once again he wants me to go through more PT and counseling. Any advise on how or what to do to make this any easier?
I'll try to describe how it feels what I interpret as a warning.
I prefer to meditate in a sitting position with my eyes closed, and do two sessions for about 25 min each. The warning I get about being unstable during meditation, is that after a while I have a sense of falling. It is really very short, and I never actually fall, but I feel it mostly because all my muscles tense for a split second. I think this is because my body is for that moment out of balance.
It happens quite often, but normally not more than approx 5 times during a session. Sometimes it keeps on going and that is what I think warns me. In those cases I start canceling appointments for a few days...
I started meditation about a year ago, using the Relaxation Response book:
http://www.relaxationresponse.org
It's a straightforward and practical guide that explains it in medical terms (although it's mainly about blood pressure). This was recommended to me by another Meniere's sufferer.
I do it for fifteen minutes every morning and whilst I still feel I am a beginner it does gradually give you different ways to see things, which is always going to be helpful. I also use the time to focus on relaxing and stretching my neck muscles as they become stiff overnight.
To start with it's difficult to get used to the sitting and being comfortable letting the time pass, but you get used to that. It's all part of the learning of it.
@Openheart;
That is interesting about having a 5 minute warning before an attack, I think I know what you mean because there are times when I feel like an attack is going to happen.
As for disability I am having the same problems right now. I had to also go through a few doctors before finding the right one. Hang in there and keep trying, things will get better.
Thanks for the comment and stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.
David
@anonymous
I guess when you are in the middle of a meditation session your body will reach a high level of sensitivity to such things as potential Meniere’s attacks. Meditation sounds like it would be a great tool for Meniere’s patients.
Thanks for the comment
David
@Jeff,
Thanks for the link I will have to check it out.
David
@Openheart,
(Assuming the second comment is yours also.) This makes sense to me in the context of how I understand Meniere's and relaxation. I think we Meniere's sufferers spend a lot of time unconsciously keeping our senses together, reconciling our balance signals with our vision mainly. You can only hold it together for so long, and then an attack comes; in my experience the longer or harder it has been, the bigger the attack is.
Correspondingly, if you can be more relaxed about the disease and life in general, it seems for some of us that attacks may come more frequently but much less severely, and in the end possibly with not much impact at all if you are able to just let the anomalous sensations pass.
I think maybe what happens with the meditation is that the relaxed state it brings means you let go of your senses for a moment, and thereby feel where they really are. Sometimes that's only a little way apart, sometimes it's further. I used to have a similar thing if I just closed my eyes for a while. Personally I feel that this letting go and accepting sensations is the start of being able to deal with them as they really are rather than trying to keep a lid on it all.
A very long comment and all just my own opinions, but interested to hear any views for or against!
@ Jeff
It sounds pretty credible to me! And would explain a lot too. Thanks for sharing.
I went through my third spell of vertigo yesterday, went to the Dr. today where he did the balance tests, hearing tests, etc and was diagnosed with meniere's disease. I am in shock and trying to process it. Does anyone have any words of HOPE for me?
Hi,
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis of meniere's disease. While it can difficult at times there certainly is hope and a lot of support online.
Learning as much as possible about meniere's is one way to help you get through all this.
good luck and stay in touch
David
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