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My mission is to provide you with the toolkit and support to create your glowing wellness. You hold the keys to owning your health even with vestibular migraines and beyond. I also encourage you to read my book Uncovering Bliss. That will give you a better understanding of my journey with vestibular neuritis + vestibular migraines, and the chapter of my life that lead me to sharing holistic goodness with others journeying with a vestibular something.
Here's what we'll cover in this guide:
Here's what we'll cover in this guide:
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vestibular migraine storm
As I'm sure you know, there are many forms of migraines and they often taken different shapes. Vestibular Migraines are a beast of there own. In my early twenties, I was experiencing silent migraines, meaning I didn't experience any pain with these episodes. At the time I had absolutely no idea what was happening. I went through a period of a few months in my mid-twenties when I felt disconnected from my body and just that off feeling most of the time. I kept going back to the doctor saying something felt off. I couldn't put words to it. I had other experiences of the disconnection (what I later learned was the symptom of derealization) setting in and passing within the hour. I never thought about it again... until years later.
In the fall of 2016, I had a dizzy spell that became a nightmare. In short, I experienced a cycle of vestibular migraines over the course of a year with little reprieve. My symptoms were 24/7. I talk about that journey: here.
If you suffer from migraines, my heart goes out to you. If you live with vestibular migraines, I know there's a part of you that understands me completely. If you're finding this space while in a dark place, I hope that it becomes your light.
I can only share what has helped me and continues to support my health every single day. In my experience having support - both for the mind & body - is a game changer when it comes to migraines. It has the power to take a desperate situation and make it bold and inspiring. I know that's a lot to put out there, but I mean it. During one of my most intense attacks, I felt like all my control had been sucked from my body in an instant. But then moments later, I was doing everything in my power to fight back, help my body, and come out on top.
In the fall of 2016, I had a dizzy spell that became a nightmare. In short, I experienced a cycle of vestibular migraines over the course of a year with little reprieve. My symptoms were 24/7. I talk about that journey: here.
If you suffer from migraines, my heart goes out to you. If you live with vestibular migraines, I know there's a part of you that understands me completely. If you're finding this space while in a dark place, I hope that it becomes your light.
I can only share what has helped me and continues to support my health every single day. In my experience having support - both for the mind & body - is a game changer when it comes to migraines. It has the power to take a desperate situation and make it bold and inspiring. I know that's a lot to put out there, but I mean it. During one of my most intense attacks, I felt like all my control had been sucked from my body in an instant. But then moments later, I was doing everything in my power to fight back, help my body, and come out on top.
power over migraines
I do not believe that migraines have to dictate my life. This journey has been three+ years of learning and exploring many routes to heal my migraine, and I'm still journeying.
I'm not a doctor. I'm a Vestibular Warrior, Health Advocate and believer in owning my wellness. You know what's best for you, so if anything I share doesn't resonate with you, I'm glad that you can recognize that. I encourage you to ask questions, do your own research, and advocate for yourself.
The holistic support that I have with me each day helps me through all the twists and turns of life, giving me the foundation to thrive in my life- with migraines and beyond. It makes it possible for me to uncover my bliss.
That's my wish for you.
I'm not a doctor. I'm a Vestibular Warrior, Health Advocate and believer in owning my wellness. You know what's best for you, so if anything I share doesn't resonate with you, I'm glad that you can recognize that. I encourage you to ask questions, do your own research, and advocate for yourself.
The holistic support that I have with me each day helps me through all the twists and turns of life, giving me the foundation to thrive in my life- with migraines and beyond. It makes it possible for me to uncover my bliss.
That's my wish for you.
this guide
This guide ties in several pages from this space, so don't be surprised if you're bouncing around Bliss Out. It's made that way, so you can explore each avenue as your heart and soul is ready to dive in...
Heal Your Headache
There's a lot of information out there when it comes to healing migraines. I find comfort in the fact that I am not alone and that many (many) other people are also looking to find the magic cure for migraines. I'm going to ask that you read Heal Your Headache, which I found informative. I took bits and pieces from the book and incorporated what I felt was right in my life. It opened my eyes to the scope of migraine and the many factors at plan. Educating ourselves is incredibly important in this process.
Along with learning the intricacies of migraines, I think we need to listen to our bodies. We'll dive deeper into this, but if you notice triggers in your life that increase or decrease symptoms, pay attention. Our bodies talk to us, but sometimes we're so caught up in life around us, it's really hard to listen. I want you listen to what makes you feel better or worse, and even what seems to make no difference at all. Journaling can be both therapeutic and necessary at times. I know that when I was a year in with a seemingly endless cycle of migraines, I couldn't differentiate between the days and how I felt one day to the next. It's only in looking back over months when I started to share how I was feeling that I could see things more clearly. I could then gain some perspective on what I was doing that was helping me and what wasn't.
Along with learning the intricacies of migraines, I think we need to listen to our bodies. We'll dive deeper into this, but if you notice triggers in your life that increase or decrease symptoms, pay attention. Our bodies talk to us, but sometimes we're so caught up in life around us, it's really hard to listen. I want you listen to what makes you feel better or worse, and even what seems to make no difference at all. Journaling can be both therapeutic and necessary at times. I know that when I was a year in with a seemingly endless cycle of migraines, I couldn't differentiate between the days and how I felt one day to the next. It's only in looking back over months when I started to share how I was feeling that I could see things more clearly. I could then gain some perspective on what I was doing that was helping me and what wasn't.
There's a lot to talk about here. A lot of which is super personal because we are all different and a food that may be a migraine trigger for one person, could be perfectly fine for another. There's a number of factors that come into play when our bodies have exceeded the threshold of what it can handle and then a migraine sets in.
I've done a lot of experimenting with foods, cutting things out and then reintroducing them. If the food + migraine conversation is new to you, then I would certainly check out Heal Your Headache to gain some insight on the power of food. I'm going to share the lifestyle that works for me as well as the shifts in my diet that have made an impact on my wellness. In writing this, I know that you will make food choices based on what works for you and I'm happy for that. I'm a student of holistic nutrition and have been following a plant-based diet for the last decade, both of which shapes my diet choices and how I approach food as medicine.
Admittedly, I didn’t have much of an appetite in the beginning of my seemingly endless migraine cycle. When my world was off kilter and walking felt like a huge task to maintain the balance, my appetite certainly wasn’t vibrant. I drank a lot of smoothies (and continue to). It was a way for me to simply pack in nutrition when functioning was a battle of its own.
I first embraced a plant-based diet in 2009, which changed my world, my perspective, how I felt about myself, and at the same time released me of so much negativity. It certainly didn't happen overnight, but looking back over the last decade I can very easily point out that making that shift was the catalyst for so much goodness.
Even though I was eating a plant-based diet when it all happened, I still needed to make tweaks. It’s about really listening and paying attention to the feedback your body is giving you. You may find that certain foods are triggers for symptoms and therefore, they are not helping your body. That doesn’t mean you need to say goodbye to those foods forever. As far as triggering foods, we are all different. Many with vestibular migraines find they need to stay clear of coffee, chocolate, dairy, citrus, white sugar, gluten and processed foods (among other foods). To be honest, I'm a firm believe eliminating dairy, white sugar and excess processed foods can help everyone elevate their wellness.
Through working with a holistic doctor, I learned that sugar was feeding the problem inside me, so there was a period of time that I was more restrictive. There was a solid six months that I avoided gluten, white sugar, processed foods, along with keeping within my plant-based framework.
Was it hard at times? You bet. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The food you eat will influence how you feel tomorrow and beyond, how you think, how you heal, and how you move forward. When I was in the midst of it, I did not have the luxury to eat whatever my heart desired, but as I started to feel better, what I desired was simply nourishing food. It might start out difficult, but then it becomes a habit, and then it is a part of you.
[Note: The traditional migraine diet is not vegan.]
I've done a lot of experimenting with foods, cutting things out and then reintroducing them. If the food + migraine conversation is new to you, then I would certainly check out Heal Your Headache to gain some insight on the power of food. I'm going to share the lifestyle that works for me as well as the shifts in my diet that have made an impact on my wellness. In writing this, I know that you will make food choices based on what works for you and I'm happy for that. I'm a student of holistic nutrition and have been following a plant-based diet for the last decade, both of which shapes my diet choices and how I approach food as medicine.
Admittedly, I didn’t have much of an appetite in the beginning of my seemingly endless migraine cycle. When my world was off kilter and walking felt like a huge task to maintain the balance, my appetite certainly wasn’t vibrant. I drank a lot of smoothies (and continue to). It was a way for me to simply pack in nutrition when functioning was a battle of its own.
I first embraced a plant-based diet in 2009, which changed my world, my perspective, how I felt about myself, and at the same time released me of so much negativity. It certainly didn't happen overnight, but looking back over the last decade I can very easily point out that making that shift was the catalyst for so much goodness.
Even though I was eating a plant-based diet when it all happened, I still needed to make tweaks. It’s about really listening and paying attention to the feedback your body is giving you. You may find that certain foods are triggers for symptoms and therefore, they are not helping your body. That doesn’t mean you need to say goodbye to those foods forever. As far as triggering foods, we are all different. Many with vestibular migraines find they need to stay clear of coffee, chocolate, dairy, citrus, white sugar, gluten and processed foods (among other foods). To be honest, I'm a firm believe eliminating dairy, white sugar and excess processed foods can help everyone elevate their wellness.
Through working with a holistic doctor, I learned that sugar was feeding the problem inside me, so there was a period of time that I was more restrictive. There was a solid six months that I avoided gluten, white sugar, processed foods, along with keeping within my plant-based framework.
Was it hard at times? You bet. Was it worth it? Absolutely. The food you eat will influence how you feel tomorrow and beyond, how you think, how you heal, and how you move forward. When I was in the midst of it, I did not have the luxury to eat whatever my heart desired, but as I started to feel better, what I desired was simply nourishing food. It might start out difficult, but then it becomes a habit, and then it is a part of you.
[Note: The traditional migraine diet is not vegan.]
I'll just start by saying that I believe in taking supplements because every day we face many hurdles to our health + wellness:
-nutrient deficiencies caused by diet
-lack of exercise and quality sleep
-exposure to toxins
If we do not meet our daily nutrition requirements this can lead to problems, or make existing problems worse. I am not willing to chance it because there’s a very good chance that my needs are not being met simply by eating a healthy diet.
Does a nutrient dense diet filled with whole foods help? Absolutely! But let’s be honest, who really eats a ‘perfect’ diet every meal of every day. Supplements do not replace a wholesome diet, but they work with that diet to provide your glowing wellness. So I supplement to promote overall wellness and address person health issues (hello, vestibular disorder). I want to know that I am doing everything I can to nourish my body. Because this is my body – the only one I got – and I deserve to feel better than just ok, I deserve to glow. And my friend, so do you.
When I got hit with vestibular neuritis, I wasn’t supplementing consistently. I started to do my own research (countless hours looking for answers) and as I took a look at my holistic approach, I felt there was a hole. Enter: supplementation.
I’m going to share with you the supplements I take and then I ask that you take a look at your current wellness routine and determine whether it could use a boost. This is about uncovering what is best for you and to do that you have to consider how you’re nourishing your body now, and what changes may be needed.
-nutrient deficiencies caused by diet
-lack of exercise and quality sleep
-exposure to toxins
If we do not meet our daily nutrition requirements this can lead to problems, or make existing problems worse. I am not willing to chance it because there’s a very good chance that my needs are not being met simply by eating a healthy diet.
Does a nutrient dense diet filled with whole foods help? Absolutely! But let’s be honest, who really eats a ‘perfect’ diet every meal of every day. Supplements do not replace a wholesome diet, but they work with that diet to provide your glowing wellness. So I supplement to promote overall wellness and address person health issues (hello, vestibular disorder). I want to know that I am doing everything I can to nourish my body. Because this is my body – the only one I got – and I deserve to feel better than just ok, I deserve to glow. And my friend, so do you.
When I got hit with vestibular neuritis, I wasn’t supplementing consistently. I started to do my own research (countless hours looking for answers) and as I took a look at my holistic approach, I felt there was a hole. Enter: supplementation.
I’m going to share with you the supplements I take and then I ask that you take a look at your current wellness routine and determine whether it could use a boost. This is about uncovering what is best for you and to do that you have to consider how you’re nourishing your body now, and what changes may be needed.
Using a holistic support system supported my mind + body when I was at my worst (and continues to every day). I have flashbacks of feeling so disconnected from my body, like I was in another universe but somehow still in my body; taking steps like I was walking on a trampoline; my neck being so tight I could hardly turn my head; feeling like I couldn't quite "see" the world right in front of me- like a curtain of fog I desperately wanted to break through. And guess what helped me in those moments... Yup, you got it: essential oils. I like to call it beautiful plant support.
I believe in oils so much that while I was digging myself out of the awfulness of a vestibular condition I started teaching classes and sharing all the ways oils were supporting my health. I stood in front of a class of people feeling like I was floating across the floor, rambling on how Oregano essential oil was what started my healing.
I share my love for pure plant oils because it fuels my soul. The incredible part of this is that I get to help others. And then they can go on and spread the word as well if their heart is drawn to it.
The world of healthcare is shifting and I believe that a holistic support system is an amazing opportunity to elevate our wellness.
I believe in oils so much that while I was digging myself out of the awfulness of a vestibular condition I started teaching classes and sharing all the ways oils were supporting my health. I stood in front of a class of people feeling like I was floating across the floor, rambling on how Oregano essential oil was what started my healing.
I share my love for pure plant oils because it fuels my soul. The incredible part of this is that I get to help others. And then they can go on and spread the word as well if their heart is drawn to it.
The world of healthcare is shifting and I believe that a holistic support system is an amazing opportunity to elevate our wellness.
The most common question I get asked when it comes to my vestibular disorder is: How did you get through it?
I can assure you that confidence does not happen overnight.
I had to get incredibly uncomfortable every moment of every day for days, weeks and months to uncover a whole lot of courage and determination. It started by showing up in my life again, but this time with a vestibular condition. My youngest child was three months old and my older son was two years old when the vestibular stuff hit. I still was up half the night to feed my baby, and to be honest it’s all a crazy blur. I was getting by only by focusing on life moment-to-moment. I relentlessly moved through each day regardless of how I felt and fighting every moment somehow knowing I could do it no matter what.
My simple answer is: I showed up.
I had to hit the true edge of my comfort zone, to then find confidence while sitting in that feeling.
When I felt like I was standing on a moving dock 24/7 for months on end, I showed up. I went to work and the grocery store and everywhere and it all felt awful. Nowhere provided relief so I figured going through the motions was worth a shot.
When the anxiety was coursing through my body like fire, I showed up.
When I felt off kilter and completely detached from the world, I showed up.
That’s the blessing part of an invisible disorder…I could show up because on the outside I was still the same person.
I remember standing in line at the grocery store experiencing so many symptoms, the lights driving me crazy, feeling like I was floating, taking steps like I was on a trampoline, and wondering if anyone else felt like I did in that moment. What I learned was that I was not alone and that provided me with comfort in the darker moments.
Showing up was half the battle, but from doing it over and over (and over) again, it got easier. I learned to trust my body and that even when I was being overcome with symptoms, I could still push through. But it took repetitive practice for months and months until one day, I was the one in control again. I was out in the world, living life once again, but with a vestibular something.
My mindset towards my vestibular disorder was one of the strongest elements that I had going for me. I’m not bragging as I’m sure you understand that vestibular stuff has the ability to make you feel powerless, so I was grasping for whatever I could hang onto. I was in pure survival mode. I wouldn’t have left my house if it wasn’t for the persistent determination to be a part of life. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t have terrible days, because the symptoms were dreadful for a long while.
But, my mindset carried me through those difficult moments and forced me to look beyond the hell I was drowning in. I was always working to stay afloat and to do that I had to fight every moment. It’s exhausting, right? It weighed on my heart and soul so heavily, but I’m telling you that my mindset had power over that weight.
I’m going to let you into my mind, because then you can experience what carried me through the darkness and out of the tunnel:
This vestibular ‘stuff’ does not define me. It is a part of me, but it is certainly not all of me. I am in the driver’s seat. I will see beyond these all-consuming symptoms. There is life beyond these symptoms. Fear will not dominate me. I will crush that fear with my hope, resilience and everything beautiful that makes up me, and I will keep showing up. I will show up every single day until every moment isn’t so challenging. I will cry and breakdown and then I will get up, every time. This disorder is just a part of my life, but it is not own all of my life.
I can heal, nourish and elevate my mind + body.
I will heal, and this disorder is shaping me for all I’m meant to do in this life.
...
I encourage you evaluate how your perspective is either hurting or healing you.
Start living now, not when you’re through this condition. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be completely through it, but I refuse to miss an opportunity to start fresh and live authentically as me, with a vestibular disorder, with happiness, with tough days, with really hard moments, with hope, with excitement, with happiness, and with an enthusiasm to see how I grow.
If I let this condition take me down, then it would be me saying ‘no’ to the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m going to enjoy life with my vestibular something if it takes everything out of me because otherwise I’m missing out on my beautiful human-experience.
xoxo,
Em
I can assure you that confidence does not happen overnight.
I had to get incredibly uncomfortable every moment of every day for days, weeks and months to uncover a whole lot of courage and determination. It started by showing up in my life again, but this time with a vestibular condition. My youngest child was three months old and my older son was two years old when the vestibular stuff hit. I still was up half the night to feed my baby, and to be honest it’s all a crazy blur. I was getting by only by focusing on life moment-to-moment. I relentlessly moved through each day regardless of how I felt and fighting every moment somehow knowing I could do it no matter what.
My simple answer is: I showed up.
I had to hit the true edge of my comfort zone, to then find confidence while sitting in that feeling.
When I felt like I was standing on a moving dock 24/7 for months on end, I showed up. I went to work and the grocery store and everywhere and it all felt awful. Nowhere provided relief so I figured going through the motions was worth a shot.
When the anxiety was coursing through my body like fire, I showed up.
When I felt off kilter and completely detached from the world, I showed up.
That’s the blessing part of an invisible disorder…I could show up because on the outside I was still the same person.
I remember standing in line at the grocery store experiencing so many symptoms, the lights driving me crazy, feeling like I was floating, taking steps like I was on a trampoline, and wondering if anyone else felt like I did in that moment. What I learned was that I was not alone and that provided me with comfort in the darker moments.
Showing up was half the battle, but from doing it over and over (and over) again, it got easier. I learned to trust my body and that even when I was being overcome with symptoms, I could still push through. But it took repetitive practice for months and months until one day, I was the one in control again. I was out in the world, living life once again, but with a vestibular something.
My mindset towards my vestibular disorder was one of the strongest elements that I had going for me. I’m not bragging as I’m sure you understand that vestibular stuff has the ability to make you feel powerless, so I was grasping for whatever I could hang onto. I was in pure survival mode. I wouldn’t have left my house if it wasn’t for the persistent determination to be a part of life. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t have terrible days, because the symptoms were dreadful for a long while.
But, my mindset carried me through those difficult moments and forced me to look beyond the hell I was drowning in. I was always working to stay afloat and to do that I had to fight every moment. It’s exhausting, right? It weighed on my heart and soul so heavily, but I’m telling you that my mindset had power over that weight.
I’m going to let you into my mind, because then you can experience what carried me through the darkness and out of the tunnel:
This vestibular ‘stuff’ does not define me. It is a part of me, but it is certainly not all of me. I am in the driver’s seat. I will see beyond these all-consuming symptoms. There is life beyond these symptoms. Fear will not dominate me. I will crush that fear with my hope, resilience and everything beautiful that makes up me, and I will keep showing up. I will show up every single day until every moment isn’t so challenging. I will cry and breakdown and then I will get up, every time. This disorder is just a part of my life, but it is not own all of my life.
I can heal, nourish and elevate my mind + body.
I will heal, and this disorder is shaping me for all I’m meant to do in this life.
...
I encourage you evaluate how your perspective is either hurting or healing you.
Start living now, not when you’re through this condition. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever be completely through it, but I refuse to miss an opportunity to start fresh and live authentically as me, with a vestibular disorder, with happiness, with tough days, with really hard moments, with hope, with excitement, with happiness, and with an enthusiasm to see how I grow.
If I let this condition take me down, then it would be me saying ‘no’ to the opportunity of a lifetime. I’m going to enjoy life with my vestibular something if it takes everything out of me because otherwise I’m missing out on my beautiful human-experience.
xoxo,
Em
COPYRIGHT © 2019 - EM ENGLERT