Saturday, October 17, 2020
Speaking of atrophy....
Mentioned atrophied senses at the end of previous item.
I've always understood the use it or lose it principle in an intellectual way. I didn't understand it in a direct experimental way until two years ago.
I was having lots of trouble with vestibular crap. Frequent dizzy spells, occasional spins. Being naturally anxious and hypochondriacal, I sought advice and solace in a Facebook group. After a while I realized that these people were medicalized. They were spending their entire life in various clinics and therapy offices, constantly getting "treatments" that never really helped. I didn't want to end up that way.
I decided to try an experiment. Waiting for the bus was an especially difficult time. Walking was easy, but standing in one place without support wasn't easy on the bad days. I had been standing next to the bus bench and holding on tight.
I tried NOT holding. Every time the impulse to put out a hand occurred, I resisted. Quickly the unsteadiness receded. The internal senses, which had been conditioned to laze around, started working again, and they worked properly.
Use it or lose it. Don't let the senses and muscles get lazy, even if lazy seems better. It's not better.
Labels: coot-proofing, Experiential education, TMI
¶ 6:39 AM
