Sometimes you can be moseying along, feeling
pretty good about how you are coping with life – and then everything goes
pear-shaped......
Well, that’s happened to me. I was making steady progress after my cycling accident when, one night on my way to the loo, I suddenly realised I couldn’t
walk straight. The world seemed to be
turning round and round. I couldn’t work out what was up and what was down. My
head was spinning. I had to hang on to
the wall for dear life. The next morning
was no better. Walking downstairs was too
terrifying to contemplate, so bum-shuffled instead (which confused the dogs no
end.)
And no, before you ask, I hadn’t been on the
ale.
It was vertigo. It’s common after head trauma.
The collision dislodges the tiny stones in the inner ear (otoliths) which are
responsible for balance.
It’s better now. I’ve had time to reflect
on my responses to this, and how they might make sense for different sorts of unexpected problems.
1.
2.
Find a place
of safety. If you can, find somewhere out of harm's way, to ride out the
storm. For me it was lying on my back in
bed, moving as little as possible. I
didn’t know what was happening, how long it was going to go on, whether it
would get better or worse. But just lying there I had a sense of calm, of acceptance.
In Gabrielle Roth’s words, I was ‘finding
comfort in the sweet territory of silence’.
3.
Distract yourself.
If you’re
stuck somewhere bad and can’t do anything about it, then it’s good to take your
mind off it all, distract yourself. Switch from right brain (feelings) to left
brain (thought). I decided to try and remember the names of the main characters
in The Wire. I got lots of them – McNulty, Bunk, Daniels, Avon and DiAngelo, Bubbles
and the brilliant Omar Little. For some reason I couldn’t recall Stringer Bell
(psychoanalysts will have their theories, I’m sure).
4.
Find support.
You
need someone who’s there for you, who can calm things down a bit and help you
think about what to do next. For me that’ was the easy bit. I just told Sue and
she was there like a shot.
5.
Seek help. You still need someone to help you fix the
problem, or at least manage it as best you can. Within 24 hours I was in touch with
the wonderful Nova Mullin, balance therapist from our local hospital. She has exactly
the right combination of wisdom and confidence, assured me it was going to get
better and started me on exercises I could do even with my neck in a brace.
A
s I say, I’m
a lot better now. I can do White Crane Spreads Wings again in my tai chi class - though not yet with my eyes
closed!
I wonder if this makes sense for you. How
did you respond, the last time something unexpectedly horrible happenened?
.
