Vertigo can be an overwhelming and unsettling experience. It’s not a disease in itself, but a symptom of many possible health issues, leaving people feeling dizzy, disoriented, and unsafe in their own bodies. For some, it comes and goes in waves. For others, the spinning sensations, imbalance, or pressure in the head can linger for weeks or months, disrupting daily life and creating fear about when the next episode will strike.
What makes vertigo particularly challenging to treat is that while physical factors play a role, a biological explanation for the symptoms is often missing. New medical research related to the role of mental imagery in health issues offers an opportunity for integrative approaches to identify and resolve the underlying mental imagery. Conventional medical approaches may help address certain causes, and medications may ease distress, but they don’t always resolve the underlying triggers of the distress.
Logosynthesis® offers a unique way forward. This gentle, guided approach uses the power of words to identify and release frozen perceptions and memories that trigger distress. By working with thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, Logosynthesis® can bring relief and restore a sense of safety and calm in the body.
An example of relieving Vertigo symptoms using Logosynthesis®
Connecting with the symptoms.
Monique was struggling with distressing physical sensations of vertigo for over a month, unable to drive her car or work regularly. She now realizes that there may have been symptoms over the past couple of years without realizing it, but they are now more pronounced. For example, when she relaxes on the dock at her camp, she later experiences a sensation of bobbing up and down as if on the water when she goes to sleep. I have worked with Monique using Logosynthesis® and so I offer to guide a session. As note, throughout this session, I do not specifically ask for a distress rating or SUDS because we are familiar with recognizing when triggers are active.
Monique says that the symptoms intensified about 3 weeks ago, and she realized a few stressful events, such as her dog being really sick. Physically, she is experiencing a low pulse rate in the 40’s and 50’s. She awakes at night, experiencing dizziness and imbalance.
“My brain is pulling me backwards.” The degree and experience change, but in this moment, Monique can feel more pressure in her head and a falling sensation.
Identifying the mental imagery.
“I feel like I am dying. I don’t feel safe in my body. I’m scared and I don’t know if I’ll be alright.”
When I ask her to connect with the emotions, she notices fear along with frustration because others aren’t always responding appropriately.
She notices: “About 10 years ago, I was told that I might not live to be old.”
Monique can recall this event by “hearing” and “seeing” this person. In Logosynthesis®, these kinds of distressing memories and images can be addressed directly through a specific set of sentences designed to release the frozen energy stored in them. I offer a cycle of the Logosynthesis® sentences on this perception, allowing sufficient time during the pauses for energy to shift.
“He didn’t say it would happen, but I took it as something that would happen. I was really worried that I would abandon my daughter.”
Additional cycles of the Logosynthesis® Basic Procedure.
At this point, the distress is really high because she is now more aware. She feels distress in her chest and head.
“I’m always looking out for danger. I won’t fly. I’m now scared to ride on boats. I’m nervous! Panic. Fear.”
I ask her to notice what is in the space around her.
“Images of travel.”, she says.
In Logosynthesis®, it isn’t necessary to analyze each image in detail—simply naming them allows the process to work. I don’t need to know the details of each of these images. I offer another cycle of the Logosynthesis® sentences on the perception: “Images of travel.”
Afterwards, she indicates that after saying the second sentence, there were images that were evidence of the danger, such as news of crashes. These images were released. After the third sentence, she was more aware of different strategies and behaviours to stay alive. There was a deeper sense of feeling unsafe. She recalled memories of dreams about out-of-control travel, a kid driving dangerously and more. As she spoke, a memory arose where she was the passenger in a very dangerous situation. She was screaming in the car.
This shows how Logosynthesis® can bring buried memories and fears to the surface so they can be released, reducing the distress that fuels symptoms like vertigo. I offer a third cycle of Logosynthesis® sentences on this memory, with her screaming in the car.
She then says, “At the time, there was so much on my plate that I didn’t have time to process my emotions or even notice them.”
Assessing what is present.
I ask: “What emotions do you notice now?”
She replies: “I don’t have a lot of emotions now. I’m trying to stay here. I feel it in the back of my head and through my head. It is more prominent now.”
Working with Logosynthesis®, we work gently and in layers for painful memories to arise and shift. There are often many aspects of complex situations and not all is resolved after one session. After three cycles of Logosynthesis®, I sensed it was important to guide towards relief rather than opening another deeper layer. Given that we started with the physical symptoms of vertigo, I introduce a Logosynthesis® protocol that guides the person to connect with their body for information.
“Be the body. What would you like to say to Monique?” I offered.
“I’ve consumed too much of other people’s energy and taken on too much stress, from one struggle to the next.”, she says.
“What do you need?” I asked.
“Gentleness.” She replied.
I then asked Monique what happens when she hears that her body wants gentleness from her. This resonates so I offer a fourth cycle of the Logosynthesis® sentences. This cycle uses “the wish for gentleness” as a label.
“During the sentences, I had flashes of periods where there wasn’t gentleness.”
I ask her to connect with her body, and she says, “It’s time to be free.”
By addressing thoughts, emotions and physical sensations, Logosynthesis® allowed Monique to identify the mental imagery and process it. She now feels calmer and safer in her body, easing the vertigo symptoms.
Later in the day, I sent her a message to check in. She replies: “I’m actually feeling a fair bit better than I was. Amazing session!”
Note:
This session is shared with permission, and identifying details have been changed to respect privacy. It is presented as session notes so that professionals in guided change can follow the flow of the process, while those curious about Logosynthesis® can gain a sense of what is involved in a session. Each session is unique to the individual, and the experience described here is not intended as a prescription or guarantee of results. Logosynthesis® work is not a substitute for medical or other professional care and can be integrated with other treatments.