Mal de Debarquement Syndrome / Disembarkment Syndrome

If you’ve been on a plane, boat or car ride, you can still have the sensation of motion as an aftereffect. However, in a few cases this sensation of rocking or bobbing can continue for weeks, months or years. This feeling of motion that persists for an extended period even when not in motion is called Mal De Debarquement (MdDS) or Disembarkment Syndrome. Other associated symptoms can include anxiety, imbalance, brain fog, cognitive slowness and visual-motion sensitivity.

It has been hypothesized that MdDS occurs due to the brain’s ability to adapt to unfamiliar movement, such as during a cruise, but fails to readapt once the motion has stopped. MdDS has been treated with vestibular physical therapy, benzodiazepines/antidepressants, and stress relieving treatments.

Mal de Débarquement - Vestibular Disorders Association