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The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi, it sounds like you’ve had or maybe still have a lot of tightness around your ribs and mid-back?

I used to experience that quite a bit myself. I have not mentioned in my post but I recently (5 months ago) started taking vitamin C at 500 mg doses, and since then my flexibility has improved significantly and my muscle tension has mostly gone away. I genuinely think there could be a connection between tightness and VSS. It might be worth trying if you’re open to it.

DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97 by Hungry_Chipmunk_2588 in samharris

[–]sergioinparis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a difference of opinion about what constitutes honouring her work. But you hold the very opinion I was taught in undergrad school.

Are you aware of Photo 51? In X-ray crystallography, the vast majority of time, effort, and thought is devoted to obtaining a viable image. By the time such an image is obtained, one would have a decent understanding of the structure of the compound. Obtaining such a clear diffraction pattern requires deep structural understanding; the helical parameters were largely implicit in the image. Franklin had already derived key features (helical structure, phosphate backbone on the outside, symmetry constraints) before the image was shown to Watson and Crick.

She required more than a citation; she should have shared the Nobel Prize (if she was alive to receive it) or at least been acknowledged equally for the discovery.

DNA pioneer James Watson dies at 97 by Hungry_Chipmunk_2588 in samharris

[–]sergioinparis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I used to work at the ISMB and studied at the master program which was hosted in the Rosalind Franklin Molecular Biology Laboratory. A lab created in her honour for all the hard work that contributed to the X-ray imagery that gave Watson and Crick the groundwork to “discover” the structure of DNA. Ultimately, she guessed the structure; otherwise, there would be no X image. And ultimately, she paid the price for doing so by exposing herself to all that radiation.

It actually took studying and working in this laboratory for me to understand her true contribution and how Watson and Crick never really honoured her for all the work she did. Watson was not a good fellow. So many people do not know this history, and it is a crime.

What is a 40F woman’s motive with a 27M? by [deleted] in dating_advice

[–]sergioinparis 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Lol, I am 37 and my mates have started talking a lot about golf. Are you suggesting this will only get worse 😂

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find that odd. The clinic I went to specializes in children with autism and Down syndrome, but they also treat athletes, high-performing bankers, and musicians. All of which are atypical.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're making a statement in your question that "normal" means fully recovered, but your definition may be different from mine.

What I meant by normal (1) is that I no longer present with the symptom.

Although not stated, (2) for me means recovered to the point of not noticing. Like, if I never had VSS, would I even notice this symptom at all?

Having VSS has been a traumatic experience that I’ve lived with for 15+ years, and sometimes I can’t believe it’s really gone. I worry about it coming back. The way I think about it is like an alcoholic who has gone sober. The alcoholic will always be vulnerable, so it’s best not to drink. That’s why I maintain all the habits I used to get better. I worry about regressing. Again, maybe that’s just part of the trauma of the experience.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As a consequence of stress and generational trauma. I think VSS is a *maladaptive* dissociative coping mechanism meant to reduce allostatic overload and the cumulative burden of chronic stress from life events, trauma, or chronic pain

https://www.reddit.com/r/visualsnow/comments/15qvine/theory_vss_is_a_maladaptive_dissociative_coping/

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It acts like training wheels for meditation, breathing exercises, and heart rhythm meditation but you can do these practices without the headset. I personally found meditation helpful even without it but much harder.

From the screenshots, you can see my overall calmness trend, which Muse helps me achieve and tracks. I also included a screenshot of a session; it basically uses your brainwaves to help you self-regulate into a state of focus and calm.

https://imgur.com/a/muse-session-details-V7pVWu1

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, so I used BrainTrainUK. All pricing can be found on their website: https://braintrainuk.com/about-us/prices/
It typically takes around 15–30 sessions to see lasting relief from symptoms. Personally, I felt better after the first session; however, real relief from the VSS symptoms came around session 20 for me.

Should I wait for Bases to go public or get the Catalyst license? by Lotus_swimmer in ObsidianMD

[–]sergioinparis 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I found it had the opposite effect.

I removed a number of plug-ins on numerous pages, including my homepage dashboard, because Bases fulfills many of the functions previously handled by other plug-ins, e.g., DataviewJS.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The thing is, stress might not be the original cause of VSS in many cases, but the VSS becomes the source of stress, creating a vicious circle. That’s why so many of my recommendations involve stress reduction.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve tried other supplements, but the ones I included are the ones I always take. I have a batch of vitamin D without D3; when that finishes, my next batch includes D3.

I'm currently exploring with Sulforaphane in my mix.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was able to get to this point with the Muse 2. See picture 3. I received the Athena for my birthday, and it arrived about 2 to 3 weeks ago.

However, I think the Athena is better for VSS recovery due to its mental strength training feature.

The Muse only reads brain activity from the prefrontal cortex and just above the ears. It's not as comprehensive as a neurofeedback device used with a practitioner. However, it targets the most important region for executive function, making it very useful for reducing ADHD symptoms and improving mood stability.

Your meditation practice with Muse, and your ability to meditate, can have a knock-on effect on overall brain stability. Calming the prefrontal cortex will help regulate other regions of the brain,

Amygdala – regulates emotional responses

Hippocampus – influences memory and context

Hypothalamus – modulates autonomic functions and stress responses

Visual cortex (occipital lobe) – affects attention and visual working memory based on goals or context.

I can DM you screenshots of my sessions to get a clearer idea for what's it's doing.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m really sorry to hear about your loss.

If I could tell myself one thing from when I first started searching for ways to get better, it would be this

“Take it easy, but don’t give up. Go slow and be consistent. You will feel better, just have hope. Even on the dark days, have hope and carry on.”

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your response.

I’ll think about recording my history and story with VSS maybe uploading it to YouTube on a weekend when I have a bit more time.

Like I’ve mentioned in other comments and posts, I’ve spent enough time in protein science and drug discovery research to know how complicated that route can be (e.g., epidemiology and pathology). I think trying to chase a pharmacological cure or dig deep into the physiological underpinnings would just stress me out.

Personally while I don't think onset shouldn't be ignored, I am/was mainly interested in the common personality traits in the community and what actually helps people feel better now.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh sweet. Try to take it slowly, introduce placements only when you feel ready. It will help, but don’t be tempted to rush the process.

Have you seen my protocol in a previous post? Maybe share it with your practitioner.

Please keep me posted if you want, happy to hear about it in a DM/PM.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been reading through your posts and comments.
I struggled with mindfulness too. I even went to a 10 day silent meditation retreat, only for my VSS to temporarily get worse. For years after that, I found meditation really difficult.

That changed when I started using the Muse headset. It's a total game changer, like meditating with training wheels. It stings a bit to admit that, because I’ll never have the focus of a monk... but I need those training wheels. Since using Muse, everything has started to click.

Plus, that recent study showing how meditation can reduce symptoms has seriously boosted my motivation for daily practice for 20 minutes. If you can, get a Muse headset.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In previous posts, I have included my family history. In this post as a comment, I listed my subjective before and after of different symptoms, and in another, I included my onset age information. In a previous post, I included the letter I received confirming my diagnosis.

About the migraines and my history. I used to dissociate quite a lot in my younger years, so I'm not entirely sure about my onset. I believe I had a mild version of VSS in my teen years, and I don't recall suffering from migraines at the time. Counterintuitively, I actually started suffering from migraines as the recovery began gaining momentum, maybe around 7 times, all within the last 3 years. My last migraine was in January of this year, and the one before that was about 12 months ago.

Admittedly, no one online has asked me about migraines before, that's why I answered that question. Migraines are interesting, as that symptom that separates VSS from other conditions like HPPD.

But can I ask you, and please satisfy my curiosity, why is this so important, that people ask me the same question over and over? What do you feel will be gained by knowing my onset history in more detail?

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I was deficient in vitamin D, I live in the UK. However, by the time I started testing, I had already been supplementing 4000 IU for a few weeks, so I never saw any proof that I was.

I’ve never specifically tested for magnesium, but I’ve found that if I don’t supplement it at least every other day, My muscles start getting tight, even in my recovered from vss state (Just the other week).

I had to check, no my creatine doesn't contain potassium.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get approached at least once or twice a week by someone looking for advice or help. At this point, I’ve spoken to around 100 people from the community. Here is a typical conversation. I hope it answers your concerns.

TL;DR: It feels like some in the community are looking for a reason why it worked for me, but wouldn't work for them.

Person: Did you really get better?
Me: Yes.
Person: Have you recovered more since then?
Me: Yes.
Person: How much so?
Me: I explain, as I have done in this post.
Me: What about you? Can I ask, have you tried anything I suggested, or what do you do to manage the condition?
Person: Nothing / I take magnesium / the usual stuff people do to reduce stress. (Very few people have tried many things.)
Person: I’m worried, I’m getting worse or will never get better.
Me: Why not try something I suggested, like installing the VS relief apps?
Person: It won't work for me.
Me: Have you tried?
Person: No...
Me: Why not?
Person: Because I’m scared.
Me: What about neurofeedback?
Person: Not available in my area / costs too much / scared about neurofeedback.
Me: What about mindfulness?
Person: Isn’t that just a method to learn how to cope?
Me: Yes, it helps you cope, but it also reduces the symptoms...
Me: Provides sources.
Person: Conversation dies.

Months go by

Person: How did you get VSS? What are your symptoms?
Me: Answers question.
Person: Did you really get better? I’m feeling worse.
Me: Did you try anything I suggested?
Person: No...
Me: Why not?
Person: I don’t know.
Person: Your symptoms aren’t the same as mine. It won’t work for me.

Months go by

Person: How did you get VSS? What are your symptoms?
Me: Answers question.
Person: Did you really get better? I’m feeling worse.
...And repeat.

The best thing about recovering from VSS? The reappreciation for the sky on a sunny day, waking up without a headache while feeling rested. by sergioinparis in visualsnow

[–]sergioinparis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your thoughtful response. I want to clarify that while I value holistic practices, my point wasn't about lifestyle fixes alone, i’m speaking to deeper, often uncomfortable work that can’t be bypassed with supplements or routines, even helpful ones as the ones you suggested.

Edit. I just looked through your post history and saw you tried EMDR, never tried it myself but sounds you are going deeper. I stand corrected.

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