Why your rocking, bobbing and swaying dizziness won't stop - Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS)

For anyone reading this, i got it for 2 weeks after using the elevator. It stopped at the wrong floor and i anxiously hurried out and got back in, which I presume, caused the imbalance I endured for a good few painful days. I would have really bad anxiety attacks, which worsened the rocking and swaying motion. But, it soon went away by the end of 2 weeks and I am very thankful for it. Try to be patient, walk 10 mins twice daily, practice some vestibular exercises and you should be good. Staying active and keeping your stress levels low is the key. You arent alone.

This lady knows her stuff. What a pleasure it would be to go to such a knowledgeable clinician instead of the medical professionals we usually encounter when we come down with these conditions.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart, from Australia - for your sharing and expertise. I experienced MMDS back in 2014 in which I saw endless drs, physios, neurosurgeons who were clueless to this. Eventually with a lot of self research and work with another neurosurgeon, we believed I had MDDS. (MDDS literally disabled my quality of life, when I was in my 20’s after a prolonged kayaking tour). Came off the kayak and for 4yrs, I had these constant bobbing and swaying sensations whenever I was in a fixed position. I would feel like I was walking on mushy ground, walking on waves, or my feet are not planted on the ground firmly. These sensations were greatly heightened whenever I was sitting still, standing still, lying in bed. I would feel like I was floating on waves. Whenever I was walking, running, doing something in motion - I actually didn’t feel the rocking sensations. As if I was “moving” in the “rocking”? So it was ok. Believe it or not, as a Christian - through prayer in Jesus Christ, one night I heard Jesus ask me if I trusted in him, and I gave my life to Him if he would heal me. As crazy as it sounds - that following morning waking up…I was healed in every fiber of my being. Zero MDDS symptoms, was like a baby being able to sit, stand, again without bobbing. It’s been 6yrs of healing. And I’m grateful for Jesus. Even though these few days, I randomly experienced a relapse of what seems like MMDS again. First I thought it’s vertigo, however after trying epley maneuvers it didn’t trigger any spinning sensations. MDDS is a living hell! Just wanted to say thank you for your channel, you’re really bringing this rare illness into light , and hopefully there will be more medical investigations and treatments on this over time! I hope to try out the optical moving stripes app, you suggested :) and hope it will give some relief over the week! Please keep doing the amazing work you’re doing - you’re truly saving lives, even if it’s just mine for a day! ❤ God bless

You are a God send!! I started noticing slight dizziness at the end of 2022. I told my Dr at the time and he did some silly quick test and let it go. In 2023, my current Dr did the same thing. I do cruise yearly and in November of 23, I took a cruise with out any issues. About 3 days back the symptoms started and today they are constant! I have had mri, ct scan, told by neurologist that there is nothing wrong in any way that would lead to concerns. Yet, still happens. I can do stuff like wash car or cleaning but when I get still or subtle things, it’s very intense. I ware motion sickness patches, I’m seeing a chiropractor for military neck issues which they say can cause cervical dizziness. Of all this, your video just gave me some peace!

You are my HERO! I have listened to you very carefully. I’m 84 years old. 5years ago-I was struck down by a large dog-in the middle of my back. Long story short-I’m completely well now-as I understand why I’ve been “rocking and rolling”since that time. I’m overcoming it. I have so much to say-that I’m going to write it all out and somehow-send it to you. All of this has nothing to do with age. I, now, feel like I’m in my 70’s and have a lot more living to do.

Thank you SO much for this I got it yesterday a couple hours after getting off of a plane and carried on into today, now that you say that it is the “WHY” I am so happy that I finally have a reason why this is happening and also thank you for being so genuine.

I have MDDS. This is my sixth year. I took a very long airplane flight and i feel like i never got off of that airplane. I have classic symptoms and spent 10 days with the space doctors at Mt. Sinai Manhattan trying to get some relief. They put me in machines and slung me around and blew air into my ears until i puked. It was fun to play with the astronaut docs, but i have never gotten better. It is exhausting.

THANK YOU Dr. Arthur.. YOU (not the many other doctors I've seen) helped me. You spoke the truth about vestibular migraines, provided the tools to relieve symptoms, and answered all the many questions. I will always be grateful.

Hi Yolit. I need to thank you for your videos. They give me peace of mind. I've had chronic dizziness for two months. It never goes away. I'm very afraid to have these symptoms forever. I can't see well and that's the reason why I can't work, since I'm a graphic designer and an artist... That has been the worst part of my illness. I feel so stressed and sad. Thank you for your help. I hope to get fully recover someday.

Excellent and informative video! Especially for people like me who have been diagnosed with spontaneous onset, persistent MdDS. I appreciate your in-depth analysis as a practitioner in getting to the bottom of all the pathology of MdDS on all angles. Thank you so much! I truly the psycho social factors of contemporary society and constant over stimulation is a HUGE factor in all of this.

While MDDS doesn’t describe my situation I can see the symptom patterns on many vestibular issues overlap and it’s helpful to hear you discuss the nuances.

Such a great video and super helpful. After 2 years of doing my own research on Mdds, I believe in everything you mentioned here. I am so happy to have found you and now be working with you. I am getting closer to my healing!!

I want to first THANK YOU for this video and I think you are SPOT ON for every facet of MdDS. I stepped off my 29th cruise 3 years ago and within 48 hours began experiencing full blown MdDS symptoms. I believe I also suffered after my 19th cruise but did not know it was MdDS, I thought it was a stuffy ear and symptoms were off and on for 6 months. Both cruises I was on a lower deck in a cove balcony and it seemed I was right at the water and it would make me dizzy/ I stopped going on the balcony. I have read thousands of pages and watched hundreds of videos and I’m actually shocked that you described everything exactly correct about this syndrome. Being a sufferer we do not see many people who completely understand. When I am confronted with a stressful situation I will immediately begin to rock and sway more. How bad I rock or sway is greatly affected by how I react to symptoms. If I calm myself down I can greatly diminish them. If I keep my mind busy I almost forget I have MdDS. Standing still is my most difficult task. I can sit and lay easily as I have learned how to react. Of course the car is wonderful. A few weird facts- if I’m the driver for a full week my symptoms are a little amplified right when I get out of the car but then almost non existent. If I move hangers to the right I am fine, my eyes do not “like” them going to the left. If I turn my head to an exaggerated down I rock more. If I drink alcohol (less stress) almost non existent but worse the next day. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart- to be seen and heard is absolutely priceless!

Thank you so much for this excellent video. I started experiencing MdDS symptoms two months ago...it was during a stressful exam period but I cannot shake the rocking since. My symptoms are very much brought on by computer use which is hard to avoid. I also think that from previous illnesses, my sympathetic nervous system gets stimulated easily. I nearly cried when you said you think this is due to repressed emotions. I also feel the rocking and swaying when I eat or have a bowel movement...anytime my nervous system fires up. I feel this video may be the first step in understanding what is going on.

I believe I have MDDS. I’m haven’t gone to a doctor yet because I am travelling, but a little over a week ago I got off a ferry in Greece and haven’t stopped feeling like I was rocking on a boat since. My mom was telling me I was probably dehydrated, but after day 4 she believed me. It’s so frustrating because it makes me tired and dizzy in this hot weather and it’s ruined my vacation. Im always grateful to be on a bus or in a taxi because I don’t feel the swaying anymore. I’m not sure if it’s related, but I’ve also had this weird headache and I’m struggling to be out in the sun even with sunglasses due to the light. I plan on going to see my doctor when I’m home next week if it still persists to confirm that I have MDDS.

Obviously very late on this, but thank you. I got MDdS following a viral inner ear infection which caused extreme vertigo for about 12 hours. 2 MRIs later, my neurologist just shrugs and says there's nothing they can do. After 3 years, it's mostly better, but I still can't sleep on my right side and I still struggle a bit, though nothing terrible anymore. It's so frustrating to overbalance and have to catch myself still, or to not move my head too quickly. I know you talk about stress, but the stress of just having this is immense.

Thank you SO SO MUCH . I have been living with this condition for over five years or more. I have seen so many specialists and so far nobody has been able to really help me, i have been diagnose as suffering of chronic exhaustion, having vestibular migraines.. post head trauma (i had a very bad car accidents, amnesia, causing neck issues) taking some anti depressants not really because of being depressed but i guess anxiety that definitely triggers the condition. I have to say it has helped, and not working for months (because of the pandemic) has also helped. All these diagnostics are somewhat relevant. But this summer after a 12 hours car ride the symptoms kick in seriously… and yesterday i decided to use an old oxyciser for 15 minutes, an apparatus that moves the legs while lying down… and the MDds symptoms kick in right away. I never heard about MDds before this morning… just putting a name on it helps me relax and understand better. And i think there is a trigger that awakes past trauma. Your channel is so helpfull i will definitely go through your videos. I am a therapeutic yoga teacher and body worker for thirty years, so will also share your channel. Sorry for this long comment. But this condition is difficult i feel for all those people out there suffering from these isolating and disabling conditions. Thank you and have a long life, may you be of benefit for a long time 🙏

Thank you for your MDDS views on WHY. In all the years I have had MDDS ,8 total no one ever said anything about the why. I am 85 years old, lived on boats for 15 years then moved to land and MDDS started. I will take your course on stress and believe that unexpressed emotions and issues of the past need to be released. Just hearing that has helped already. I have done many of the exercises for mdds with a therapist in Denver which did help. Some of the triggers have been better until last week when the swaying became worse again. So never give up keep searching and I found you with the WHY

Sounds like what you’re saying is in alignment with what I’ve learned about TMS (the mindbody syndrome) and Dr Sarno’s work. Regardless, it has the ring of truth and it’s very interesting that your clinical experience lead you to that conclusion.

This is very interesting. I recently went on a cruise ship for 4 days and have not retained my balance and it is starting to really concern me. I suffer heavily from work stress. I run a business on my own and work crazy hours sometimes 100 hour weeks and also have suffered most of my adult life with anxiety as well as IBS. I'm going to get straight into trying to relieve my stress and anxiety along with trying your VOR exercises and hopefully my rocking dizziness will go away. It's super annoying and the more I think about it the more it gets worse!