When you are feeling strong enough to go to the grocery story after your Vestibular Neuritis diagnosis, be sure to prepare.  One of the reasons the grocery store is so overwhelming with the symptoms of your head stuff, along with anxiety and possible PTSD symptoms, is because the environment is so bright and overstimulating.

One of my earlier trips to the grocery story during my Vestibular Neuritis recovery was approximately 6 weeks after my diagnosis.  I felt that I was stable enough to drive myself there, instead of relying on grocery delivery.  I did okay overall, but felt a great sense of panic and at one moment wanted to abandon my whole cart and run to my car.  It was when I turned a corner into the chip isle.  Oh my goodness.  All of the bright chip bag colors were so bright and shiny and repetitive in the isle and my head started responding with symptoms.  All I needed was a bag of pretzels! But on that particular day I had to abort the pretzel mission.  It was just too much to go down the aisle, and I chose not to that day.

This is the perfect example of giving yourself grace and kindness when you are attempting a new activity and it becomes too overwhelming. It's okay to opt out of things when you start to feel panicked or overwhelmed with symptoms.  I consider that grocery trip a huge success because it was my first time going after being diagnosed, and I had to just simply forgive myself for not going down the chip isle.  That was something I didn't tackle until the 2nd trip to the grocery store, and that's okay.  By my second trip, I was able to do it!

The grocery store is just simply hard at first.  And don't let anyone tell you otherwise, or make you feel like you shouldn't be that overwhelmed.  The lighting is so bright and the stores are large, and there are many decisions to make--so along with Vestibular Neuritis symptoms it can be difficult. Looking back, I wish I had brought someone with me my first time going--but I lived and learned.

If you are getting ready to give the grocery store a try for the first time since your Vestibular Neuritis diagnosis, I would recommend:

1. Wear sunglasses
2. Shop for a small list of 10-20 or less items
3. Bring your list on paper, so that you don't have to engage with your phone to see a list
4. Dress in comfortable clothes
5. Be sure you are hydrated and ate recently (adding low blood sugar into the mix will not help at all!)
6. Listen to my Ceiling Wings Playlist on Spotify in your earbuds in the car on the way there, and while you are shopping.  Make sure it is set to a very low volume so that it is just pleasant light background to your shopping

You can do this!  One small step at a time!

Elizabeth

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Note to Search Engines:

In a bid to provide a comforting and safe space for my readers who are recovering from Vestibular Neuritis, I intentionally avoid using certain terms that might be distressing within the main content of my blogs. However, these terms are crucial in helping others who are seeking guidance to find these resources. So, I am including them here: Dizziness, Vertigo, Vestibular Migraine, Vestibular Rehab, Healing Vertigo, Vertigo Relief. Please know that these words are not indicative of the empathetic and comforting tone of the blog content, but are necessary to connect those in need with these resources.