| The inner-ear system plays an important role in | | | | balance problem: |
| modulating and controlling anxiety. But this is not its only | | | | "I experience terrifying fear when I cross a long, high |
| job. It also performs all of the following functions:o It | | | | bridge. The flat, level ones don't present any problems, |
| acts like a gyroscope, giving you your sense of | | | | but the other kind do. I become extremely dizzy, |
| balance.o It acts like a compass, giving you your | | | | light-headed, nauseous, shaky, and faint. I cling to my |
| intuitive sense of direction.o It acts like a sensory | | | | husband's arm and hang on for dear life. I also urge him |
| processor (or tuner), tuning in and fine tuning all of the | | | | to talk to me so that I will be distracted. Although my |
| sensory information entering the brain, including light, | | | | husband is a patient man, he does become angry with |
| sound, motion, gravity, temperature, barometric | | | | me sometimes." |
| pressure, chemicals, etc.o It regulates your internal time | | | | B) Compass-Related Phobias |
| clock, giving you a sense of time and rhythm.o It acts | | | | When the inner-ear compass is impaired it can be |
| like a guided-missile system, coordinating and | | | | aggravated by tunnels, wide-open spaces, shopping |
| sequencing movements (voluntary and involuntary) and | | | | malls, darkness, small enclosed spaces such as |
| thoughts in time and space. | | | | elevators, airplane cabins, and other disorienting |
| If the inner-ear system is impaired, one, several, or all | | | | circumstances (any or all). These triggers may |
| of these functions may be impaired. Under certain | | | | provoke any or all of the following "broken-compass" |
| circumstances, these impaired functions may be | | | | symptoms:o Anxiety, and other related symptomso |
| further aggravated. This can provoke anxiety. If this | | | | Disorientationo Confusiono A floating sensationo |
| anxiety is not adequately dampened or controlled, fear | | | | Spacinesso Light-headednesso Feelings of unreality or |
| and panic may result. | | | | disassociationo Dizziness |
| But what are these "certain circumstances"? | | | | When the anxiety is severe or uncontrollable due to a |
| YOUR PHOBIC TRIGGERS | | | | maladaptive anxiety response, phobic behavior may |
| Many things can aggravate inner-ear problems and | | | | result. |
| trigger anxiety. These vary from individual to individual | | | | Compass-Related Phobias: An Example |
| and depend entirely on which inner-ear functions are | | | | Connie has numerous compass-related phobias, |
| impaired. Let me give you some examples of the | | | | including a fear of shopping malls, department stores, |
| more common Type 3 (the innner-ear) phobic triggers. | | | | and supermarkets. She explains: |
| A) Balance-Related Phobias | | | | "I would only shop in small stores or in department |
| The triggers may provoke any or all of the following | | | | stores I knew well. Anything complicated seemed to |
| balance-related "broken gyroscope" symptoms:o | | | | overwhelm and consume me. It was as if I became |
| Anxiety, and other related symptoms, including racing | | | | overloaded, confused, and dizzy all at the same time. |
| heart, sweating, hyperventilating, jelly legs, and so ono | | | | Panic would result. Once I even got lost and couldn't |
| Dizzinesso Light-headednesso An off-balance or | | | | find my way out of my own school library. It was as if |
| off-center feelingo Floating sensationso Spinning or | | | | I had completely lost my orientation and sense of |
| whirling sensationso A magnetic "tug" from the ground | | | | direction. I panicked. I don't think I've ever been so |
| belowo Fallingo Faintingo Tipping or swaying | | | | scared." |
| When the triggered anxiety is severe or uncontrollable | | | | The vast majority of phobias can be traced to a |
| due to a maladaptive anxiety response, phobic | | | | physiological problem: a malfunction within the inner-ear |
| behavior may result. | | | | system! The inner-ear system plays an important role |
| Balance-Related Phobias: An Example | | | | in modulating and controlling anxiety. In my blog, see link |
| Deborah is afraid of bridges. Notice how her | | | | below, I have further discussed these problems. |
| description of this fear clearly reveals an underlying | | | | |