Feminist Survival Project: Episode Summary – "Lying on the Floor in Public"

Release Date: July 31, 2025

In the "Lying on the Floor in Public" episode of the Feminist Survival Project, hosts Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski delve deep into the intricate experiences of living with chronic dizziness, balance disorders, and the broader implications these conditions have on daily life, autonomy, and societal perceptions of disability. This candid and insightful conversation not only sheds light on the personal struggles associated with vestibular migraines and orthostatic intolerance but also explores the intersectionality of disability and feminism.

1. Introduction to Chronic Dizziness and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory

Emily begins the episode by introducing the concept of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a tool used to assess the impact of dizziness on an individual's life. She recounts a recent personal experience where she administered the inventory to herself and Amelia, comparing their scores to understand the severity of their conditions.

Emily [00:13]: "I'm gonna ask you 25 questions... and we're gonna give you a score."

The DHI assesses dizziness across three categories: functional, physical, and emotional. Emily shares her score of 54, categorizing it as a severe handicap.

Emily [04:24]: "So, that's the dizziness Handicap Inventory."

2. Personal Experiences with Balance Disorders and Vestibular Migraines

Emily narrates her journey with vestibular disorders, emphasizing her struggles with vertigo and balance issues. She explains how these conditions have progressively worsened over the years, affecting her ability to perform everyday tasks.

Emily [05:13]: "I literally just have terrible balance... I have holes in my running leggings because of all the falling down."

Amelia contributes by discussing her own condition, orthostatic intolerance, a consequence of long Covid, highlighting how it limits her mobility and necessitates the use of assistive devices like a cane and accessible parking placards.

Amelia [16:46]: "I have an accessible parking placard because I cannot walk distances more than I'm going to say 40ft without having to lay down..."

3. Impact on Driving and Mobility

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the challenges of driving with a balance disorder. Emily reveals how her dizziness affects her driving habits, making it difficult to perform quick head movements essential for safe driving.

Emily [08:53]: "I cannot move my head too fast... it affects my driving."

Amelia shares her experiences with driving disabilities, emphasizing the necessity of advanced driver-assist technologies to enhance safety and reduce the cognitive load required to compensate for their physical limitations.

Amelia [32:56]: "In a world where every car has air conditioning... luxury car things are now driver assistance."

Both sisters highlight the financial burden of acquiring vehicles equipped with necessary assistive technologies, which are often classified as luxuries but are essential for their mobility and safety.

Emily [35:11]: "I love lane correction... I need my car to help me more."

4. Coping Strategies and Assistive Technologies

The Nagoskis discuss various strategies they employ to manage their dizziness and maintain independence. Emily mentions behavioral compensations and the importance of renting cars with the latest assistive features.

Emily [35:26]: "I love it when the wing mirrors have a thing that tells you when there's a car in your blind spot..."

Amelia adds insights into how specific car features, such as automatic headlights and high beams, significantly enhance their driving experience by reducing the need for manual adjustments that can exacerbate their conditions.

Amelia [38:47]: "High beams should automatically turn off when there's oncoming traffic... it's much faster than I would be."

5. Social Impacts and Disability Perception

The conversation shifts to the societal perceptions of disability, particularly the invisibility of certain conditions like Emily's vestibular disorders. They discuss the stigma and misunderstandings faced when displaying visible signs of disability, such as lying on the floor in public during a dizzy episode.

Emily [62:42]: "I think if you have to lie on the floor in public, you're... a sign of disability."

Amelia shares anecdotes about public reactions to their conditions, emphasizing the lack of understanding and the emotional toll it takes when assistance is perceived as unnecessary or when their needs aren't visibly apparent.

Amelia [54:50]: "I warned them because I knew that people freak out when you lay on the floor."

6. The Intersection of Autism and Disability

Emily explores the connection between her autism and her balance disorder, suggesting that hypersensitivity and motor disorders like dyspraxia often coexist within the autistic population. This intersectionality complicates their experiences, as societal structures are typically not designed to accommodate such nuanced disabilities.

Emily [41:47]: "I believe it is tied to my autistic brain... autistic people often have like motor disorders..."

7. The Importance of Taking Inventory and Seeking Help

A pivotal moment in the episode is when Emily takes the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, leading to a profound realization of how severely her dizziness impacts her life. This act of self-assessment underscores the importance of recognizing and quantifying one's disabilities to seek appropriate support and accommodations.

Emily [49:41]: "If you have chronic dizziness... I would like to hear what that is like for other people."

Amelia echoes this sentiment, advocating for broader conversations around chronic dizziness and the need for societal acknowledgment and support.

8. Conclusion: Recognizing and Addressing Chronic Dizziness

In wrapping up, Emily and Amelia emphasize the necessity of understanding and addressing chronic dizziness not just as a personal struggle but as a societal issue that requires empathy, support, and structural accommodations. They encourage listeners experiencing similar challenges to take inventories of their conditions and seek out supportive communities and resources.

Amelia [60:26]: "I'm doing the most environmentally responsible thing I can in the context of also getting the help I need."

Emily [63:19]: "That's disability. It's not a crisis in my body. It just feels like, oh, I know how to fix this."

Overall, this episode serves as a powerful testament to the hidden struggles faced by those with chronic dizziness and balance disorders, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness, understanding, and support within feminist and broader communities.