When the World Spins: My Personal Experience with Vertigo and Renewed Empathy for My Patients

After spending four wonderful salt-soaked days crabbing on our boat, I came home feeling dizzy and nauseated more than the usual motion sickness I’ve grown used to. I couldn’t look at my computer screen without feeling disoriented, and the sensation of the world tilting and spinning persisted far longer than expected.

The vertigo reached a point where I wasn’t safe to drive myself home. I’m incredibly grateful to my colleague, Stephanie, who not only recognized how unwell I was but generously stepped in to drive me. Her support was a lifeline in that moment, and a reminder of how disorienting and vulnerable these episodes can be.

As an audiologist in Bellingham with over a decade of experience treating patients with dizziness, vertigo, and balance disorders, I found myself, quite literally, walking in their shoes.

While I’ve always had deep empathy for my patients’ symptoms, experiencing vertigo firsthand brought an entirely new level of understanding.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a specific kind of dizziness that makes you feel like you or your environment is moving or spinning, even when you’re completely still. It can be brief and mild, or severe and long-lasting. According to WebMD, vertigo is often caused by problems in the inner ear or parts of the brain that control balance.

Some of the most common causes of vertigo include:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Triggered by certain changes in head position, BPPV is caused by tiny calcium particles (crystals) that shift inside the inner ear canals, confusing your balance system.
  • Ménière’s Disease: A condition marked by fluid buildup and changing pressure in the ear, often accompanied by hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing), and episodes of vertigo.
  • Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis: These are infections (often viral) that inflame the inner ear or the nerve connecting it to the brain, leading to intense vertigo and imbalance.
  • Migraine-Associated Vertigo: Some people experience vertigo as a symptom of migraine, even without a headache.
  • Other Causes: Vertigo can also stem from head injuries, neurological conditions, or as a side effect of certain medications.

Vertigo is surprisingly common, affecting about 15% to 20% of adults each year. But as I discovered, it can feel anything but ordinary when you’re in the middle of it.

Coping with Vertigo: What Helps?

Experiencing vertigo made me revisit the strategies I recommend to patients with fresh eyes. According to Harvard Health, here are some of the most effective treatments and coping methods:

  • Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT): A specialized form of physical therapy that retrains the brain to compensate for inner ear imbalances through specific exercises.
  • Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers (like the Epley maneuver): These are gentle head and body movements designed to reposition dislodged inner ear crystals—particularly helpful for BPPV.
  • Medications: Short-term use of anti-nausea drugs, antihistamines, or vestibular suppressants may be helpful during acute episodes, but are not a long-term solution.
  • Hydration and Dietary Changes: Staying hydrated and limiting salt, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol can help manage symptoms, especially in conditions like Ménière’s disease.
  • Fall Prevention: Using assistive devices when needed, installing nightlights, and rising slowly from bed or chairs can help prevent injuries during dizzy episodes.

Personally, I found rest, hydration, and simply giving my body time to readjust to dry land were key to feeling better. Gentle movement and breathing helped calm the disorientation—and reminded me how unnerving the loss of equilibrium can be.

A Renewed Perspective

This experience was a powerful reminder of how impactful dizziness and vertigo can be—not just physically, but emotionally. It affects your ability to work, drive, engage socially, and function day-to-day. While I’ve always taken my patients’ symptoms seriously, I now carry an even deeper understanding of just how disruptive vertigo can be.

As healthcare providers, we often rely on clinical knowledge and pattern recognition to guide our care. But sometimes, personal experiences deepen our insight in ways textbooks never can. I’m grateful this episode was temporary, and even more grateful for the renewed empathy it has given me.

To my patients who live with recurring vertigo I am here to help you find your balance again.