EXPERIENCING MENIERE'S DISEASE: RESOLUTION STAGE
The resolution stage is one of mixed emotions and the mind is somewhat in shock. You are beginning to realize that to help yourself you must make appropriate decisions and follow through with action. You must the one to do it.
You may still have residual feelings of anger and depression but these will be short lived. Occasional bouts of the 'poor me's', feelings of guilt and embarrassment about how you handled your anger and depression in the company of others, and guilt about not doing something sooner to help yourself come to terms with the changes you have gone through, are all normal at this time. You may also feel acutely embarrassed about having Meniere's disease.
Resolution is a progressive stage. You have reached the depths of despair and survived. You have reached deep into your psyche and found some answers and hidden strengths which enable you to cope. Your attitude is more positive about yourself, your problems and people around you.
During this stage you may decide to implement some coping strategies such as using a hearing aid or participating in an exercise program. You may seek a second medical opinion, enter a rehabilitation program or attend speech reading classes. You may seek the support of a self-help group and search for further information about the nature of Meniere's disease. You may re-evaluate your priorities in life, be kinder to yourself and more understanding of your needs.
As you begin to explore the options available to you, acceptance becomes part of your existence. The strength and ability to lead a fulfilling life will slowly return as you regain control of your independence.
Listening to the many people who contact the Meniere's Support Group of Victoria, we have found the counseling aspect of coping with Meniere's to be as important as, or in many cases more important than, the coping mechanisms offered by technology and modern medical science. An extract from a letter received from one of the many people who sought further information about Meniere's illustrates this point.
"Thank you for your letter and all the information enclosed. Very much appreciated! It's quite amazing how different it made me feel, realizing that not only is Meniere's shared by other people, but that those people are able to come to terms with it and get on with their lives. There is life after Meniere's as you say!
I guess I started to accept the situation when I asked my doctor about support groups and continued when I wrote to you. Reading through the material you sent helped the acceptance come on by leaps and bounds. How comforting to read about the various emotional stages and know that your anger and denial are normal, given the circumstances. Thanks so much. When you are on the emotional see-saw of trying to cope with Meniere's, you need all the help you can get."
There is a great need for a 'holistic' approach to patient management. A person with Meniere's disease, an acquired hearing loss or a vestibular condition is not just an 'ear with a difficult condition', but is a person with feelings.
Treating the whole person, understanding the anxieties and stress that a hidden disability like Meniere's can bring to a person's life, is vital. Dismissing the cry for help by saying, "We don't know what causes it and there is no known cure. You'll have to learn to live with it", (but forgetting or neglecting to say how), is devastating to someone newly diagnosed with Meniere's disease. Ultimately it is up to the person with the condition to find their path to acceptance, but being shown the avenues of help that are available, makes the journey so much easier.
Being able to access accurate information and talking to those who share similar experiences can give one courage and strength and fosters hope for recovery.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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