Why ‘Feeling Better’ Isn’t Always the Same as ‘Being Better’
When you are struggling with dizziness, your goal is simple: you want the spinning or the off-balance feeling to stop. You want to be able to move through your day—doing laundry, driving, or walking—without fear.
While it is tempting to judge your progress by how you feel in the moment, there is a massive difference between teaching your brain to ‘ignore’ dizziness and actually ‘fixing’ the problem that causes it.
The Problem with ‘Getting Used to It’
Many traditional balance programs rely on a method that simply tries to get you used to the dizziness. They have you repeat a movement that makes you dizzy repeatedly until your brain stops reacting so strongly.
Think of it like having a pebble in your shoe. This old approach is like wearing a thicker sock, so you don’t feel the pebble as much. You ‘feel’ better, and you can walk further, but the pebble is still there.
This is a ‘short-term fix’.
If you stop wearing the thick sock, or if you start walking on uneven ground, the pain—‘(dizziness)’—comes right back.
The Laundry Dilemma: A Real-World Example
A very common complaint is: ‘I get dizzy every time I bend over to put away my laundry.’ If we use the old approach, a therapist might just have you bend over dozens of times until your brain gets tired of being dizzy. You might leave the clinic feeling better in the short term, but the underlying error is still sitting there like that pebble.
In our clinic, we use a sensory strategy to ‘fix the shoe’ rather than simply padding it. We look at why the laundry basket is a trigger:
We find exactly where that pebble is located.
We might ‘smooth it out’ by training your eyes to stay steady as you lean down.
We might ‘reduce its size’ by improving how your body senses its position.
We aim to ‘move it’ or ‘remove it entirely’ so that your brain receives a clean, clear signal when you bend over.
How We ‘Fix’ the Shoe
To fix the error, we focus on the three main systems that keep you steady:
‘Eye Stability:’ This maintains clear, steady vision when the head moves.
‘Body Stability:’ These are the sensors that keep you upright and prevent you from tipping over.
‘Head Stability:’: The system that keeps your head level and controlled as you move.
Why the ‘Long-Term Fix’ Matters
If we only teach you to ignore the dizziness, your recovery is fragile. When you get sick, tired, or stressed, dizziness often returns because the underlying issue was never resolved.
When we use a sensory strategy to ‘fix the error’, we build resilience. We aren’t just looking for a workaround; we are looking for a resolution. You deserve a brain that is accurately mapped to your movements, not one that is just trying to ignore a faulty signal.
‘If you are struggling with dizziness or balance issues, please consider reaching out to me in my new Chat Section. I can help you fix the error and get your life back.’
these treatments are life changing