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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
I need some help with a small, not huge, (not going let it get huge) problem. I have been getting really dizzy in therapy lately. Actually therapy isn't the only place, but I fight it harder there. I want to stay in the room and talk to my therapist. If I let myself float away, just space out, I'm not dizzy. If I fight it, it gets awful. I usually tell him: "room is spinning." He always offers to stop and let me bring myself back down.
We worked on this today, and decided that I'm holding my breath unconsciously, due to fear or anxiety, so this is most likely what is making me dizzy. (I might also be holding my breath as I hold in emotions and/or tears.) We tried working together on a relaxation exercise, with him narrating "slow, deep breaths, focus on air in, air out" but I only lasted 1 minute before I made him stop. It was too scary, too filled with old threats. He asked a couple of questions and I just burst into tears, telling him I feel so stupid that I can't do this! After all, who is safer to not be guarded with?
I really want to stop being dizzy in sessions. Any suggestions? Silently focusing is threatening for me too, btw.
Posted by gardenergirl on November 15, 2004, at 22:46:37
In reply to Need help for dizziness, posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
Hi daisy,
I had another thought about this. Have you been to the doc? Could you have an ear infection or vertigo for some reason? Antivert is a med that can help. It's an antihistamine. My husband took it briefly after getting some vertigo from a mild head injury.Good luck,
gg
Posted by saw on November 16, 2004, at 3:20:58
In reply to Need help for dizziness, posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
It was very intriguing for me to read this. I have always experienced dizziness during the little therapy that I have had and resist therapy now because I find all the therapist wants to do is make me relax which in turn makes me more tense. I eventually see spots in front of my eyes, my fingers have pins and needles and I feel I am "swooning".
I am not comfortable with being forcably made to relax, nor am I comfortable silently focusing as you mentioned. In fact, being asked to focus on relaxing, silently or otherwise, often sends me into a rage. I feel so totally patronised when I am told to just relax, or when relaxation techniques are offered. When I was hospitalised, I attended all the required group therapies but refused point blank to attend the relaxation classes. I ended up coming out of them need a tranquilizer.
I also have a habit of clasping my arms across myself very tightly. Possibly an attempt to keep the therapist out? My body language is ice cold.
I have no answers as to why this happens but thank you for sharing. At least I know I wasn't alone with this.
Sabrina
Posted by antigua on November 16, 2004, at 9:55:32
In reply to Need help for dizziness, posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
I have no suggestions, but just wanted you to know that I've been experiencing that more frequently in therapy lately, or often when I am alone and things seem to be creeping up on me. While it isn't comfortable, I see it as progress. So far, my T has been able to bring me back, but sometimes I don't want to come back because I think something is surfacing and I want to get to it.
I hate to say it, but maybe you do feel safer and you're letting yourself go a little more. He's there for you, and he can pull you back if he thinks it's necessary, so try not to be afraid.
Losing control of my body in therapy is one of my greatest fears but I'm trying to go through it.
Best,
antigua
Posted by mair on November 16, 2004, at 16:54:36
In reply to Re: Need help for dizziness » daisym, posted by antigua on November 16, 2004, at 9:55:32
I've never felt the dizziness, but about 6 months after I first started therapy, I developed a pronounced stutter in therapy. I've never been a stutterer. It was annoying, particularly when I found myself stuttering at work also. I never discussed it at all with my pdoc at the time except once when I was trying to get something out and I blurted out something about how disgusted I was that I was starting to stutter in other situations also, and my pdoc said something about being an adaptation to the stress of therapy. That was pretty typical of him to have theories about things that he never bothered to share with me unless I brought things up very directly. Fortunately it only lasted a month or two and much to my relief, went away on it's own.
Posted by Dinah on November 16, 2004, at 17:34:23
In reply to Need help for dizziness, posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
Quite frequently. Especially lately when I seem to be regressing quite a bit in therapy and pulling up old feelings and memories. But before too.
I usually inform my therapist that I feel dizzy. Sometimes he instructs me on breathing, but I know how to do this and he knows I know. Most of the time he just tells me that it's ok to talk about these things and speaks to me gently while I do what I need to do. I'm very good at relaxation techniques, self hypnosis, etc. and I can usually just move to a different level within myself and shake the dizziness enough to continue. Not always though.
I always want to put my head between my knees or just tell him I feel like throwing up, but that seems so dramatic I never manage it. Telling him calmly that I feel dizzy is about as far as I can go.
Have you learned yourself what helps you over the years?
Posted by alexandra_k on November 16, 2004, at 19:20:02
In reply to Need help for dizziness, posted by daisym on November 15, 2004, at 22:26:55
I had a therapist who gave me breathing training to try to help me with that. We timed how many breaths I would take in a minute and turns out I breathe quite fast and shallow.
Mindfulness meditation where you focus on your breathing helps you learn what it feels like to take proper deep breaths. If you practice it regularly you can catch yourself breathing shallow and fast during the day and make a conscious effort to slow it down.
Maybe doing a mindfulness / breathing exercise like that would be helpful for when you feel dizzy in therapy?
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