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Looking into a mirror MAY help spinning

Posted , 8 users are following.

Debbieb34
Debbieb34

During one of my spinning attacks, I realized if I stared into a mirror, it stopped the severity of my spinning.

For me, when I first get the spinning sensation, I take my Xanax (for anxiety), a sublingual nausea pill, (usually with the help of my husband), prop myself up in bed and literally stare into the mirror for hours until the attack subsides.

It worked for me, I hope it might help someone else who is suffering from md.

I have also turned the camera around on my phone when I was a passenger in a car. Now, I keep a handheld mirror under my bed and throw it into my suitcase when I travel.

Let me know if this little tip helps, good luck.

Debbie

 

3 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • jim87835
    jim87835 Debbieb34

    Posted

    This confirms my experience. It appears that the visual sense can overcome the dizziness sensation to a large extent as it seems to suppress the information going to the brain from the ear.

    I quite often feel slightly dizzy but have noted that when I do an activity that requires quite acute visual awareness that the dizziness disappears (skiing or riding a motorcycle). I cannot say that this would apply to severe attack since so far thank goodness these have been rare.

    Apparently there is evidence that other senses can take over from one that is deficient and while not necessarily replacing it can compensate for it at least ( some, albeit rare, cases were blind people can navigate using echo location).

  • JMJ
    JMJ Debbieb34

    Posted

    Hi Debbie,

    I'm so fascinated by this technique!!! I wonder what is really going on?  Are the messages from your eyes overriding the messages from your ears, telling you that things are spinning?  I love the simpIicity of it!!  Can't wait to hear how it works for others!!

    Thanks for sharing that tip!!

    Sincerely

    J-

    • Debbieb34
      Debbieb34 JMJ

      Posted

      J

      I think you are right, the eyes are sending a message to the brain that you are stable, I do hold the mirror very close to my face, that makes a difference also.

      Debbie

    • jim87835
      jim87835 Debbieb34

      Posted

      I did do a course of physical therapy which involved stepping on  a trampoline in a dark room moving lights up and down and sideways. Sounds weird but it did do some help. It was as you say as if the eyes were telling one to ignore the message coming from the ear. You might want to try something like that.
    • jim87835
      jim87835 Debbieb34

      Posted

      Incidentally I saw a programme on BBC, Horizon, I think it was .ntitled seeing is believing where indeed they related how one's senses can indeed be adaptable. It was really fascinating. I once had a very severe attack which meant I was hospitalised and suffered the sequel for weeks but found when walking that fixing ones eyes on a fixed point (static or moving) in the direction I was walking made an immense difference. So far I have to say that excercise and this technique have really worked for me or at least I think that it has.

  • mistibluey
    mistibluey Debbieb34

    Posted

    A friend who tried the mirror technique after reading Debbie’s post found it definitely reduced her symptoms, in quite a short time.

     

    I find it so interesting, and wonder how many other people have tried it and if ENT specialists are looking into it. I think  maybe, when the inner ear is sending faulty balance signals to the brain, that the brain sees the reflection and thinks “oh, ok, we are upright after all”  and calms down the vertigo.

     

  • Pupper
    Pupper Debbieb34

    Posted

    This seems very odd to me.  I can't imagine just staring at myself.   I'll try it next time my world starts spinning.   

  • bob58514
    bob58514 Debbieb34

    Posted

    Fasinating!  I've had a dozen minor attacks and two major ones, the first taking me to ER for the night. Terrifiing! The second major one I learned to sit quietly and gaze around the room from left to right, focusing on near then far objects. Along with anti nausea pills this eventually worked.but it took two hours.  During the attack, I could not stand without support. 

    I don't look forward to a next time, but will try the mirrior triick. My ENT doc said the bad ear causes confusion in the brain about what's up/down/balance and one must sort of retrain the brain by looking at near/far objects.

  • Mrs2004
    Mrs2004 Debbieb34

    Posted

    How strange. I can't look in a mirror when having a attack in fact it makes it worse and feel very sick.

    But then I can't stand straight either will dizzy.

  • mistibluey
    mistibluey Debbieb34

    Posted

    It's been a long while since anyone commented on this thread and I thought that if I made a post it would bring it to people's attention.

    I was hoping that Debbie's "mirror technique" might help some new members who had not read it before.

    Has anyone found it useful?

    • JMJ
      JMJ mistibluey

      Posted

      Thanks so much for e-opening this thread, Misti!   I meant to bring this up to someone in a thread this morning, but I completely forgot! So I just sent her the suggestion.  I hope it will help!!

      J-

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