Throughout my work with MdDS (Mal de Debarquement Syndrome) patients, one of the primary consistencies among patients is chronic anxiety. MdDS in itself will absolutely upregulate anxiety, and although not a pleasant experience, is very much consistent with the condition. Anyone living with a continuous rocking or bobbing sensation is going to feel somewhat tortured and uncomfortable, wondering if it will ever stop! So please, if you are suffering from MdDS and your anxiety is through the roof as a result, try your best to breathe and know that there is help for this anxious feeling. Contact our Functional Medicine clinic in Boulder CO today to schedule an appointment.

Dealing With Anxiety In Boulder CO?

Another interesting observation is that most patients who develop MdDS, Vestibular Migraines, or 3PD (Persistent Postural Perceptive Dizziness) have always dealt with anxiety on some level. Why is this? From the test we have ordered here at Wolfe Functional Medicine, we have noticed a congruent genetic variant amongst all patients with these disorders: they are either homozygous or heterozygous for a COMT (catechol-O- methyltransferase) genetic variant. We call this a COMT Snp (snip). Individuals with a COMT Snp have difficulty metabolizing dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine and estrogens. The build-up of these excitatory neurotransmitters can cause anxiety and further tax the HPA axis increasing cortisol levels 24 hours a day. So, if someone tells you that you need to relax and meditate more, it's really not that simple. This is a biochemical process in your body that will not stop with only lifestyle changes. Furthermore, if dopamine is continually building up in your system, you can end up with an excess of quinone chemicals which are very harmful to the brain (for more on this, read Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch). This is one of the reasons I believe people develop MdDS and other rocking or bobbing types of dizziness.

The good news is that these genetic Snps can be managed with herbal supplements. The ill effects of poor methylation and difficulty breaking down these excitatory chemicals can be helped with supplements like B6, B12, Folate, Magnesium and SAMe. Please note that these supplements and dosages should be recommended and monitored under the direction of a trained practitioner.

At Wolfe Functional Medicine, we understand that suffering from anxiety in addition to MdDS, Vestibular Migraines or 3PD, makes it very difficult to function and maintain a normal daily life and we would be honored to help. If you are dealing with any of these conditions, please reach out to us at https://www.drgingerwolfe.com/functionalmedicine/ and one of our staff will contact you to arrange a complimentary 10 minute consultation with one of our Functional Medicine Practitioners here at Wolfe Functional Medicine.

Sources:

• Lynch, Dr. Ben, Dirty Genes, HarperCollins Publishers, 2018