Balance Awareness Week is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Until I lost balance my balance, I took my vestibular system for granted. I had heard about people falling as a result of balance disorders and having difficulty functioning, but I never thought that it would happen to me. I had little knowledge of the inner ear and was not aware that dizziness was a disability .
Then, when I was 36 weeks pregnant, my life literally turned upside down in an instant. I went from having complete balance to losing it in a matter of seconds. This led to developing a chronic disorder that has persisted for years. Fortunately, for many months, I have been in remission, until something smalls throws me off balance (e.g., allergies, weather, stress, diet, etc.).
Vestibular disorders are often misunderstood, by the medical community, by family members, by the workplace, and by communities in general. Many people think that they are fictitious or something you can ignore. However, vertigo and balance disorders are a result of many issues, some being from brain injury, others from inner ear damage. Since we do not always know the cause, more research is needed.
There is a large community who are suffering with vestibular disorders and I want to support people in any way that I can. When I was first diagnosed I felt very helpless and lonely. But I contacted VeDA and they were there to help! Unfortunately, vestibular disorders can lead to other chronic conditions, such as cancer (that happened in my case), heart disease, anxiety, depression, and suicide, and can impact pregnancy, parenting, and planning for another child. I believe that with awareness we can help fund vestibular research, educate more people, and treat it like other more well-known illnesses. The next time somebody bumps into you in a supermarket, remember that it might not be because they are rude. They might actually be suffering from a balance disorder.
My hope is to make people feel a little less alone and to do my part to raise understanding and support for people struggling with unexplained dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. I know people who are suffering with vestibular disorders. They are searching for answers for how to help themselves. I am grateful to this community. I know that a lot of people suffer in silence as I did and I would like to make sure that they know that they have a sounding board.
Thank you to the “vestie” community. I have my life back because of so many people who have supported me here.
By Jennifer Crespo, vestibular patient & VeDA Ambassador