Fear

, I think that fear can be pretty normal, especially if you have experienced some bad falls or know people who have experienced bad falls. Sometimes, it helps to talk to your brain, if that makes sense. Like, your brain says, "We could fall down that stairs! We could!". You can say, "Ok. We COULD. But, I turned on the light. I am holding the handrail. I am taking each step one at a time. We've got this." Maybe your brain says, "Yeah, but what if we DO fall??" Then you can say, "Well, hopefully I don't get too hurt. I'll take a second to catch my breath and assess the damage." And, I know. The brain can come back with, "WHAT if this fall really damages us?? Or worse??" Then, you generally would say, "Ok. We've fallen a lot. How many of those falls have we survived?" Brain says, "All of them." You can come back with, "Those are pretty good odds. I have survived every fall. I can do this. I can take precautions to minimize my risks, but even if I do fall, that's a pretty good track record I have. I ca do this."


Sometimes, our brains get stuck in 'catastrophic mode', which is an amped up version of survival mode. Our brains are just trying to protect us, but they get like a parent that wants to wrap a kid in bubble wrap. We need to re-train our brains to accurately assess what's a real risk and what's not.


I know this sounds corny, but sometimes, I just thank my brain and move on. Like, "Thank you, brain. I know you're just trying to protect me. Thank you. I appreciate the help, but I can do this." It stops that anxiety spiral in its tracks (sometimes 😉 ).


You can come up with your own script, but this is what helps me when my brain kicks in to "worry overdrive".


Best, Erin, MultipleSclerosis.net Team Member.

Fear of falling after just one major fall for people at any age and with any diagnosis is well-documented in the literature and extremely common.


This fear is embedded in the brain after the fall (much like Erin so sagely explained) and such anxiety leads to catastrophizing. One trick to address the fear is to face it. Rising to stand repeatedly from a chair with handrails is a great way to distract the brain's fear response.


Another way to dispel anxiety associated with any fear is to face the fear. This is called "Exposure Therapy" and it desensitizes the brain to a perceived threat. I live in Florida and I hate palmetto bugs (huge roaches that fly). Because I know I will encounter them here, I bought fake plastic bugs and I leave them around to decrease my panic response.


I hope these tricks help you!


Becca Ironside, Moderator

I was lucky , I suppose, I fall, but remember learning how to fall in the martial arts, even at 50 years later...my body just seems to fall maybe it's luck ,I fall all the time... my wife says I fall gracefully,in slow motion... I did fall on a stake ,I was impaled like vampire,just not in the heart ....

My PT said to be thinking while taking every step. I try to think or pray constantly while walking. Still, I fell twice last month with a walker. My wife's friend fell and hit her head and landed on hospice for a brain injury. I think it is good to take precautions to prevent a head injury such as the bicycle helmet my former neurologist recommended