I think I can confidently say nearly everyone has lost their balance at least one time in their life. How many times have you accidentally tripped over something, got off of a carnival ride a little disoriented and had trouble walking, or maybe you missed the last step on the staircase and tried to keep yourself from falling down?
Losing balance can feel like losing control of your body. One definition of balance from Oxford Languages: “An even distribution of weight enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” If you have a sudden loss of balance you lose that ability to remain upright, and even if you don’t fall down completely, you feel the sense that you have no control over your body.
When people have a vestibular disorder they can have a loss of balance, and it can be scary and overwhelming. When I started my vestibular journey in 2005, I can still remember how I felt the first time I walked in public. I was so unsteady I had to hold onto my husband to stay upright. We were on the River Walk in San Antonio and he was worried I was going to fall into the water. I wondered if people thought I had been drinking too much.
Fast forward to 2024, and while I still experience balance issues, I now understand them and know how to care for myself. I also no longer worry what anyone thinks of me. I have learned it is okay to make myself and my health a priority.
Exercise and movement are also important for everyone, but not always easy. Walking my dog is my choice of exercise. There are some days I just can’t do it, but if I need a little extra assistance I take my cane or a walking stick with me and I wear a smartwatch so I can call for help in case of emergency. I have also realized I have to really pay attention while walking. I can easily trip or have a misstep if I am not careful.
I have always been one that looks at the positive side of things. I wish I was able to do things I used to without being dizzy and unbalanced, but I am really grateful I can still walk, most of the time unassisted. I now take time to rest and care for myself and have learned what works best for me. I cannot change the past but I can live the best I can in the present.
I became a volunteer for VeDA because this is such an important organization for people with vestibular disorders. VeDA is a non-profit and does not receive any government funding, but is funded primarily from individual contributions and membership dues. They not only provide support and education, but also connect people with healthcare providers and as well as other people that experience vestibular and balance disorders.
Balance Awareness Week is September 15-21, 2024, and is an event that everyone should be involved in. It is an opportunity to spread education and awareness about vestibular disorders, and also important fundraiser for VeDA. Many people do not even know what vestibular means, so they don’t know where to go for help when they get dizzy or feel unbalanced. They also need to learn about the different types of vestibular disorders.
I hope you will join us this year during Balance Awareness Week and help us make vestibular visible! And if you don’t already volunteer for VeDA, maybe you will consider one of the many opportunities available. I am always happy to talk to anyone about it! Volunteering helps me keep balance in my life.
-Darcy Bonjour, vestibular patient & VeDA Board Member