vestibular migraine symptoms: what vestibular migraines feel like
I found that when I was journeying along with my vestibular something (eventually labeled vestibular neuritis + vestibular migraines), it was one thing to slap a label on it, and a completely other thing to truly talk about how it felt. It was easy for a doctor to tell me I was experiencing dizziness, but that wasn't a fair description of it. I felt like I was floating 24/7 and that my world was off-kilter for months and months. Dizziness hardly summed up the complexity of how it felt.
vestibular migraine symptoms
Below I share several symptoms of vestibular migraines, but of course there are others. Our experiences may not be identical, but often there is great resemblance. I hope that my honest account provides a light for others journeying with vestibular migraines, trying to make sense of their symptoms.
Something I want to note is that my symptoms sort of evolved over time. The first year my symptoms were 24/7 and it was hard to make sense of the vestibular neuritis symptoms vs. vestibular migraine attacks. However, after the first year I had a better sense of the ups and downs, and attacks (or regressions as I called them) became much more clear. The symptoms were never identical from one attack to the next. For example, I never got extremely nauseous in the beginning; however, during one attack (which passed within hours, so grateful for that), nausea/vomiting was a part of that episode. Lovely, I know. I point this out just to showcase that symptoms were not always consistent. What I discuss below is an array of the symptoms that I experienced over the course of eighteen months.
DISSOCIATIVE SYMPTOMS- this was my biggest symptom and the worst; it included derealization (disconnected from my environment) and depersonalization (disconnected from my body)
ANXIETY/PANIC- this spike was often my telltale sign of what was to follow; it felt like my nervous system was on fire
LIGHTHEADEDNESS- feeling like I might faint (this is a symptoms I experienced throughout my twenties along with derealization)
PHOTOPHOBIA- sensitivity to light or intolerance of light
VERTIGO- feeling like my world was spinning even though I was still
VISUAL ISSUES / DIMINISHED EYE FOCUS- difficulty focusing my eyes and my world appearing skewed (although I could completely see)
SPACIAL DISORIENTATION- suddenly needing to make sense of where I was; feeling unaware of my body's position
NAUSEA- this symptom made an appearance at times making me lose my appetite (and on a few occasions get sick)
NECK PAIN- this would often happen before other symptoms showed up; turning my neck would become difficult and painful to the touch
My mission with this post is to shine a bright light on what vestibular migraine symptoms feel like. Experiencing these symptoms encompasses much more than a simple label of dizziness, anxiety, vertigo etc...it's broader than that.
I hope by sharing what it felt like, it helps others on their path with vestibular migraines and beyond.