Is it normal to convince yourself you are about to fall down the stairs

[goneaway2]

My brain occasionally is convinced I'm going to fall down a step or two when I'm going downstairs, even thought I'm not. This morning I managed to hurt my right knee by landing too hard on my right foot somehow. It's really quite scary. This isn't normal is it?

I have always feared stairs and even pre my now disabled state I would hang on to the handrail and go very carefully.

For me it's one of those things that I do fine as long as I don't think about it but as soon as I do I get worried and discombobulated!

Sometimes I think about the act of walking down the stairs too much as I’m doing it and it messes with my brain so much I feel like I can’t do it and have to stop and do a brain reset. Sounds very odd now I write it down.

Occasionally I seem to have heightened awareness of the potential of mis stepping and can see myself crashing to the floor. I sometimes grab at the hand rail even though nothing has happened.

Intrusive thoughts. I have them every time
I’m carrying my toddler downstairs.

Yes I think this. Like what if I trip or when driving what if this is my last driving trip/am I about to crash when overtaking etc etc

For me, this occasion awareness of the possibility of falling was part of perimenopause.

I never stumble, haven't fallen, but I often think at the top that I'm going to fall all the way down and it would be horrific for my son to find me like that.

It's horrible!

I get those thoughts, occasionally.
I have OCD, perhaps there is a connection.

Intrusive thoughts was my first thought too. I mostly have them in relation to driving. But honestly, usually they are just thoughts and everyone has them from time to time. But if they start to creep into other areas of your life, or if they become a hindrance to living your life, it might be worth looking at the possibility of OCD - when intrusive thoughts get stuck on a loop. My son has OCD and I had it as a teenager myself.

Definitely intrusive thoughts I always get them usually when I'm halfway thru an activity say going down stairs then I think about falling then almost feel I am it's so annoying.

I get this but going up, a momentary swimmy feeling as though I am going to fall backwards - ugh. I also hate steep slopes but downwards in this case (although I'm fine on cliffs , its not heights, it's the slope <shudder>

Edited because I can't type 😁

I can’t carry a tray or a washing basket (basically anything that blocks my view of my feet) down the stairs as I’m scared of toppling forewords. These fears started around the time of peri menopausal symptoms and I’ve assumed that has something to do with it

I've fallen down stairs twice and consequently come down one stair at a time clutching the bannister. I suffer from vertigo since menopause.

I miss the days when I could jump down the last 4 stairs, or take them two at a time.

Intrusive thoughts I have them when I'm driving, carrying a child. At a height etc.

It's like the devil on my shoulder going 'you could turn the car into oncoming traffic'

I won't but my brain likes to toy with the idea

I thought it might be related to peripheral vision and balance ( inner ear) being slightly less as you grow older. I feel I can't take for granted just moving around any old how any more, have to check more carefully at roundabouts in the car, more consciously check at junctions, stepping on uneven surfaces, can't walk and look at a view at the same time without mis stepping.