Imagine feeling the following sensations periodically on a daily basis: dizziness, floating, spinning, whirling, light headedness, nausea. Add to that confusion and a sense of being out of sync with life, your environment, and those around you.This all makes you feel isolated and not understood. This is how I felt through much of January of 2012 after a head injury from falling down the stairs of my home. I needed a very special person in my life to teach me patience and pacing. I also needed one who had the education and skills to properly diagnose my problems and give me the therapy I needed to heal.
That person was Julie Knoll. While I live in Pueblo, driving 85 miles to see someone who could help me seemed like a blessing.
When I first met Julie, I was immediately impressed by her demeanor. In fact, since I had been working on acquiring patience in dealing with my vertigo and headaches, I felt especially reassured by the quote on a plaque behind her desk. “Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.” I knew my healing would not be instantaneous, but I knew I had found someone who would help on the journey. Julie exudes competence, self-confidence, wisdom, peace, patience, and hope. She is able to build all of these same virtues in her patients. As Julie began to review the intake form I had filled out prior to seeing her the first time, I was immediately aware of her great knowledge about the disorder for which I was seeking treatment. Her academic knowledge was enhanced by her obvious possession of much successful experience in her chosen field. While all of these attributes are greatly sought for in looking for any healer, I was especially struck by Julie’s healing nature which was expressed by her care, concern, and willingness to truly listen and respond with ideas to aid in healing. She didn’t just come up with a treatment plan, she gave me other resources to help me on my path to health. She suggested books to read, tips on handling times when I was experiencing symptoms, tips on traveling with this disorder, food choice that might make a difference, and advice on how to handle reactions to activities and medications. She is both a gifted healer and teacher. She taught me about the importance of exercise and diet to aid in recovery.
Every time I saw Julie, she gave me exercises to do to help me overcome my disorder and injury. The philosophy behind the exercise program she developed is one of habituation. In other words, I was to do those very things that made me dizzy in order to retrain my brain to accept those things that caused me to be out of balance with my body and my world.
As I think back over the past year, and especially over the last six months, I truly do not know what I would have done without the support, encouragement, knowledge, and help I received from this outstanding professional. It is no small thing to give one a name for something that is disrupting one’s ability to cope with what is going on within one’s body and brain. I learned that what I was experiencing had a name: vestibular disorder. I learned there was much to learn about the disorder itself, and I learned that the more you inform yourself about your disorder, the better equipped you will be to manage your symptoms and communicate effectively about your needs with family, friends, and health.
I will be forever grateful for her. She gave me the tools I needed to begin to recover my life. Thank you, Julie.”
Sally, Pueblo
Success with Post Concussive Syndrome