[mrtamnus1]

Hello everyone, so last saturday i tohught i was finally healed, i was done of headaches and i finally felt like my dizziness had subsided. It was the best i had felt in 2 months. However when i went into bass pro shops i got very dizzy. Can the camouflage and long isles trigger vertigo or was this just an isolated episode. Ever since that day i have been dizzy and its like the process of recovery has repeated all over again

[Lightrail11]

Overstimulation of any type can trigger reoccurrence of symptoms. After almost three years I still get anxious in grocery stores for example. I doubt there was anything specific (such as camo clothing) about the Bass store other than general crowds, noise, and other sources of sensory overstimulation.

[berkeleybrain]

These stores are sensory overloads: lights, busy aisles, music, rows, and people!

I was told to wear a low brim hat, sunglasses and ear plugs to calm dizziness. I know I look silly, but it helps me when I must shop.

[Mark in Idaho]

mrtamnus1,

Lightrail and Berkeley are correct. But you need to add some skills to this kind of situation. Try to be aware of how you are reacting in small ways. If you get a feeling of needing to put extra effort into focusing your vision/eyes, or need to "stop to think" to remember what you went into the store for, these are likely signs of impending sensory overload. Remove yourself from the environment to a place that is quiet both visually and auditorily.

Then, on a subsequent day, put on the hat, sunglasses and ear protection and carefully try again. Make a list of the things you are going into the store for. Trying to remember with just memory will put too much cognitive load on your brain. Be on the hunt for those items. Get them, and get out.

Also, choose your days and time. Go during the slow times, late at night or first thing in the morning. Call ahead and ask when the crowds are the least.

You need to give your brain time to re-acclimate to the busy environments. Rebuild this skill and capability slowly being aware of those times where you are pushing too hard.

Your brain has not healed. It has just recovered to a point where it can start a second level of recovery. You need to support it by taking it slow.

My best to you.

[Laura G]

Yes I believe that going into a shop with camouflage wear and long aisles could certainly have triggered the vertigo. By going into that shop, you put yourself in a very challenging figure- ground perception problem. Your brain had to work extra hard to distinguish the smaller figures of camouflage material from all the other camouflage it was backed up against.

For myself I had months of difficulty in seeing anything in a table or grid. It would give me an immediate headache and dizziness/vertigo. I still don't know exactly why tables were particularly difficult. All I can say is that after year and a half it has resolved. I'm so grateful!

Hopefully the suggestions about using different skills and some glasses and hats etc. will help you as you go about your business.

Take care,

[ReWiredKris]

Yes, sensory overload. IKEA still gets me. Regarding skills to manage this, figure out your triggers and know your limits. I can't go to concerts - too much audiovisual stimulation and I walk like a drunk (disequilibrium), can't talk fluently for days and my vision goes blurry. The following help me:

Lighting - sunglasses can work wonders - experiment with lense color/darkness
Sound - sound cancelling earbuds are great
Movement -- well, I still hold onto the arm of whomever I'm with for balance
Cognitive - The amount of choices in stores, deciding which product is better over another, etc. can be exhausting as well - I've learned to know my limits to avoid side effects.

Find what works for you. At the beginning of my recovery my neurologist gave me "melt down pills" because going to a restaurant caused emotional lability (uncontrollable emotional reaction out of proportion to the situation - ie embarrassing moments) before I figured out my limits.

Also know this can hit you when you're under stress in the future - I forgot and was surprised when it hit again in IKEA.