Life with a Damaged Vestibular System
Life with a Damaged Vestibular System
Life with a damaged vestibular system isn’t easy to put into words. It’s invisible, unpredictable, and often misunderstood. From the outside, I might look fine standing, smiling, doing everyday things but inside, it’s a whole different story.
Every day is a balancing act, and I mean that literally. Some mornings the world tilts, other days it spins. Sometimes I can move through the day with ease, and other times, even a short conversation or a quick trip to the store can send my system into overload.
The Invisible Struggle
People don’t see the dizziness that hits out of nowhere, the way bright lights or busy places make everything blur, or the exhaustion that follows just from trying to stay upright. They see me cancel plans, miss family gatherings, stay home instead of showing up and they assume I’m being distant or flaky. What they don’t see is the recovery that comes after every outing or how hard I fight just to feel steady.
Conversations can be a challenge too. Sometimes my brain feels foggy, words don’t come easily, and focusing takes effort. It’s not that I’m not listening it’s that I’m holding on, trying to keep the world from spinning.
Learning to Live Differently
I’ve had to learn to slow down, to listen to my body, to rest when it demands it. I make plans knowing they might change, and I’ve learned to be okay with that. My life is quieter now not because I’ve given up, but because peace and stillness are what keep me grounded.
There’s a strange kind of grace that comes with living like this. You become deeply aware of the small things moments of calm, days when the world feels still, the gift of balance when it returns. You start appreciating things differently.
What I Wish Others Knew
I’m not avoiding life I’m learning to live it differently. Carefully. Gently. In my own way.
What you see is just a glimpse; what you don’t see are the quiet victories behind it all.
So if you know someone living with vestibular damage or chronic illness, give them grace. They’re showing up in ways you might never understand