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Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and imbalance can also co-occur as symptoms when someone is suffering from land sickness.
Mal de débarquement syndrome (MdDS) is a neurological disorder causing a persistent sensation of motion that doesn't end.
The symptoms can be unpredictable, with the sensation of motion typically subsiding when the person is in motion again, such as driving or walking.
The persistent sense of motion can be debilitating and leads some individuals to suffer from anxiety and depression as a result.
Land sickness is an issue that often occurs after exposure to passive motion, like traveling on a boat, car, or plane.
Symptoms of land sickness include a constant feeling of rocking, swaying, or bobbing—as if still on a moving vessel—after being onshore.
Although we know that the sensation is occurring in the brain and is a neurological disorder, the exact mechanism causing land sickness is unknown.
It's believed that land sickness primarily affects the brain's balance and motion processors. It's most common in women between the ages of 30 and 60.
Other medications, such as those used to treat insomnia, have been shown to help others. Drugs for motion sickness, however, don't help the condition.
There is no specific test for land sickness, so diagnosis occurs by exclusion, primarily based on the patient's medical history and reported symptoms.
Preventing land sickness is challenging, due to the fact it's unpredictable and we don't yet know for certain why it happens.
However, in some rare cases, the sensation doesn't end. This is when "mal de terre" becomes a chronic condition with a new name.
Certain antidepressant medications have been shown to be helpful in treating those who are suffering from land sickness, but more information is needed.
The official term for land sickness is "mal de terre," coming from the French language. Many people will feel it for a short period of time.
All that we do know is that it's commonly triggered by long boat journeys or other forms of passive motion, so avoiding these as much as possible can reduce the risk (which might not be very practical).
Mal de terre is likely to be caused by events in the inner ear. The fluid and fine sensors of the ear are what help us to retain our balance.
The movement of fluid excites the nerve endings in the ear canal, and it's believed this is what sends information to the brain that the individual is in motion.
Tiny crystals inside the ear, that are held in place by fluid, help to monitor our balance in relation to gravity and motion. If these crystals become dislodged, a false sense of movement happens.
Early intervention and treatment for MdDS can help to improve outcomes for patients. Brain stimulation therapy can be effective for some.
While not a cure per se, stress management techniques, such as meditation and yoga, may alleviate the severity of MdDS symptoms.
A lot remains unknown about the mechanism underlying MdDS, but some individuals find that avoiding caffeine and alcohol helps them manage their symptoms.
Support groups and online communities can provide an emotional lifeline and share coping strategies. They might also suggest ways to educate family and friends about MdDS, so they can understand and help the affected individual.
One treatment that's also shown promise in sufferers of MdDS is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a type of non-invasive brain stimulation therapy.
Consulting with a neurologist or an otolaryngologist, i.e. someone who specializes in balance disorders, can help sufferers to benefit from more targeted care.
Sources: (Web MD) (Healthline) (British Sub Aqua Care) (Cleveland Clinic)
Awareness and education about MdDS are essential for improving diagnosis, treatment, and support for those affected. Research is ongoing to understand the condition better.
There are few things as unpleasant as sea sickness. What you might not be expecting, however, is to feel the sensation of being sick and in motion once you're back on land; even though you felt fine on the boat. This phenomenon is known as "land sickness" or "mal de terre," and it affects many people who've been on a cruise ship, boat, or yacht at sea.
Intrigued? Click on to find out more about this unusual condition.
What is land sickness and what can you do about it?
Lasting for a significant time post travel, it can be really unpleasant
HEALTH Balance
There are few things as unpleasant as sea sickness. What you might not be expecting, however, is to feel the sensation of being sick and in motion once you're back on land; even though you felt fine on the boat. This phenomenon is known as "land sickness" or "mal de terre," and it affects many people who've been on a cruise ship, boat, or yacht at sea.
Intrigued? Click on to find out more about this unusual condition.