For those grappling with vertigo, the sensation of the world violently tilting can be profoundly isolating. As Rebecca Shaw poignantly notes, discovering others who truly comprehend this disorienting condition brings a tear to the eye—a tear that might well be involuntarily moving due to the inner turmoil. This shared understanding offers a rare form of validation in a world where explaining the experience often feels futile.
The Disorienting Reality of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Shaw recounts how vertigo, specifically benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), turned her world literally upside down a couple of years ago. She takes issue with the term "benign," arguing that just because a condition isn't fatal doesn't mean it can't make you feel like death is imminent. BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear shift out of place, sending false signals to the brain that the body is tumbling through space, even when stationary.
This malfunction can cause the earth to seem to jolt off its axis with a simple turn of the head. Shaw vividly compares the experience to the spinning room of extreme drunkenness combined with the stomach-dropping thrill of a theme park ride turned upside down. The power of these minuscule crystals to disrupt life and physical perspective is, as she describes, utterly unbelievable.
Finding Comfort in Celebrity Struggles
Recently, Shaw has been enduring another vertigo episode, but she found a surprising source of solace: Australian cricketer Steve Smith. Smith missed an entire test match against England due to vertigo, a revelation that, while saddening, also provided Shaw with a sense of camaraderie. She reflects on how difficult it is for "Normals"—those without the condition—to grasp what it's like to suddenly feel the floor smash into your face, triggering screams and vomiting.
Shaw shares personal anecdotes, such as slipping on a wet cafe floor, which activated her vertigo and led to public vomiting. She notes that vomiting is an integral, if unpleasant, part of the vertigo experience, something Smith understands all too well. In 2020, Smith mentioned undergoing multiple Epley manoeuvres, a treatment designed to reposition those errant crystals by inducing vertigo in a controlled pattern.
The Challenges of Treatment and Shared Suffering
Unfortunately, the Epley manoeuvre hasn't worked for Shaw, who likens the attempt to placing the girl from The Exorcist on a Gravitron ride—resulting in violent vomiting that once landed her in hospital. There, a nurse who had experienced vertigo herself offered genuine commiseration, speeding up her care, possibly aided by the echoing sounds of Shaw's distress in the waiting room.
This connection to Smith and others who suffer similarly extends beyond vertigo. Shaw references comedian Bill Hader discussing shingles, which she also endured, highlighting how shared experiences of pain, whether from vertigo or other conditions, foster a sense of community. Knowing others go through the same ordeal, even famous figures, doesn't cure the condition, but it alleviates the loneliness, providing a steadying influence—until the next head turn reignites the chaos.
In essence, Shaw's journey underscores the importance of finding validation in shared struggles, using every tool available to navigate the disorienting path of health challenges.
