ONLINE: HOW TO HEAL PERSISTENT DIZZINESS

Dr Cherylea Browne was diagnosed with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) in 2014. The condition presented major challenges, but also a rare opportunity to better understand the patient experience by confronting MdDS head-on in her personal life, and engaging closely with other MdDS patients, possessing a true sense of understanding and empathy regarding the symptoms and struggles of patients with this debilitating condition. Dr Browne’s research interests reflect her passion and drive, as a leading voice in the MdDS community, using her expertise to contribute toward better understanding the condition and available treatments.

Dr Shaun Watson, a leading Neurologist in managing vestibular patients with special interest in chronic persistent conditions will share his experience in managing these group of patients. You will get a unique opportunity to take a deeper look into how a Neurologist assesses and treats patients that almost all other medical practitioners often fail to acknowledge or manage properly. An update on latest medical research, assessment and management protocols will be discussed

Dizziness and anxiety frequently co-occur. Patients with dizziness are more likely to be anxious, and individuals with anxiety are more likely to become dizzy. A condition variously called ‘phobic postural vertigo’, ‘chronic subjective dizziness’, and ‘persistent postural perceptual dizziness’ was identified decades ago, and was found to be common among many dizzy patients with high levels of anxiety. For some people anxiety plays a key role in perpetuating dizziness, even when the original cause is a vestibular condition. In this session we will explore strategies that can alleviate anxiety, as well as dizziness and other related symptoms. We will review the most widely used psychological treatment for this condition – cognitive behaviour therapy.  Key features of the therapy as it applies to treating dizziness will be described, and participants will receive practical suggestions on how to best manage their own symptoms.

You’ll be introduced to leaders of community support groups, who will discuss what they do and how they can help you manage persistent chronic dizziness. They have far-reaching networks including practitioners, government agencies, and affiliated groups that will provide treatment, advice and general support.

Neuroplasticity is a necessary process that all vestibular affected people require for recovery. Some will naturally undergo neuroplasticity and return to normal sensory perception after a bout of tinnitus or vertigo.  Other do not. People with persistent symptoms and added complexities often need guidance, education and support to help their neural networks rewire and reset normal.

No medical drug or surgery can do create neuroplasticity.  No health professional can create neuroplasticity either.  However, conscious neuroplasticity, which will be demonstrate, is a teachable skill that anyone can learn to do.  It includes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our inner healing process.  It is not something that you read about but rather something that you do and feel.  Everything we do, feel, or say is wired through neural networks.  You will be shown how to reset your neural networks and return to normal firing patterns.  Consciously learning to cultivate a new sense of normal takes attention to detail, with specific duration, frequency and intensity of neural firing for each specific goal.

Viviana has been working for the past years on Mal de Debarquement Syndrome, which is currently considered a rare neurological disorder. In order to bring her research forward she had to overcome a series of obstacles, which are typical of when performing research work on a rare disorder. Some of the challenges included: working with a small number of patients, poor resources, and economical difficulties. She overcame some of these challenges by merging forces with other researchers, establishing an international collaborations with Dr.Cherylea Browne from Western Sydney University, Australia, and Dr. Dai and Dr. Yakushin from Ichan School of Medicine in Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC, USA.  In this talk Viviana will provide some anecdotal stories about her experience working in the field of MdDS

The talk will centre on the essential and interconnected ingredients of nutrition, oxygen and light to help heal and repair the brain. In almost all chronic persistent dizziness and associated conditions, the brain is affected and either inflamed, damaged, environmentally sensitive or deficient in what it needs to overcome its challenges.

Topics like stress management, Vagus nerve activation, gut-brain axis, hyperbaric chamber use, dietary and nutritional aspect will be discussed in an holistc approach

People with persistent chronic dizziness and poor balance often have associated symptoms including fatigue, poor sleep, brain fog, anxiety, environmental sensitivities, poor memory and gut-related problems. A management approach that considers all of these with respect to various brain (dys)function is essential to identify the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘why’ these conditions exists in certain people.

Several case studies will be discussed to highlight a vestibular neuro-rehabilitation approach, including eye movement recordings, balance, heart rate variability, quantitative electroencephalogram and neuromodulation, for the assessment and management of persistent dizziness.