106. From "Manage It" to Actually Lowering Dizziness + Symptoms – Pain Scientist Dr. Rachel Zoffness

Dr. Rachel Zoffness on why chronic symptoms like dizziness, vestibular migraine, MdDS & PPPD often persist even when tests are normal – the brain-body connection explained. From "manage it forever" to actually lowering symptom volume using pain science, neuroplasticity & the biopsychosocial model. In this powerful interview on The Steady Coach, pain scientist and clinical psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness explains why chronic dizziness, PPPD, vestibular migraine, tinnitus, and other neural circuit symptoms often persist even when tests are normal. Drawing from her work in chronic pain, she breaks down the brain-body interplay, neuroplasticity, and the full bio-psycho-social model – showing how emotions, attention, social isolation, and behaviors amplify symptoms, while safety signals, agency, and connection dial them down. Dr. Z challenges the common "learn to manage it forever" messages many with dizziness hear from doctors, offering instead a clear "symptom recipe" approach: identify your high-symptom ingredients (poor sleep, stress, avoidance, catastrophic thinking) and swap them for low-symptom ones (better rest, movement, social engagement, reframing thoughts). She covers why monitoring symptoms can backfire, the role of trauma and hypervigilance, and how biofeedback and multidisciplinary support create real change – not just coping. Whether you're stuck in information overload, frustrated by "it's chronic" dismissals, or searching for practical ways to turn down dizziness volume, this conversation bridges pain science directly to vestibular/neural circuit recovery with evidence-based hope and tools. Resources: → Dr. Rachel Zoffness' new book Tell Me Where It Hurts: https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbDhzRXpFb2NfdlJpS0E1ekpoLVdEanJXZVBFZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsTDVXTENJR3FaNWk3QWhLS2w0ck1VUWdKVmllaUxjeW13cEo3alk1RWNRZS1fTUtLV0c2UE1GcHpNZjctZU9uZFFRNktGMmNpNmtPR1M3bVBnazgtZ1QwUzJfcG5vSEVoQWczR1JiRDc2RnB5MzhtNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FTell-Me-Where-Hurts-Science%2Fdp%2F1538758148&v=5svLzA1JHgw → Dr. Rachel Zoffness' website: https://www.zoffness.com/ → Free chronic dizziness recovery course:  https://thesteadycoach.com/free-course Learn more about Dr. Yonit and The Steady Coach on our website: https://thesteadycoach.com For more free education and information from The Steady Coach, please visit our YouTube channel and website: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thesteadycoach Free Healing Chronic Dizziness Course: https://thesteadycoach.com/free-course Instagram: @therealsteadycoach Our website: https://thesteadycoach.com DISCLAIMER: Please note that Yonit Arthur, The Steady Coach and any of  our guests are not acting as an audiologist nor offering audiology or medical services or advice on any public videos or on any other content. This channel provides wellness education and personal opinion only, and are not meant to be a substitute for medical or mental health instruction or intervention. Use any tools discussed at your own risk.