How to be less clumsy?

[ItsBulkingSeason]

How can I become less clumsy? I am always bashing into things or banging myself. I literally just slipped on the stairs and now my forearm by my elbow is coming up with a cracking bruise.

I already have a bruise above my elbow from banging it whilst hoovering, my wrist on the other side is bruised from a door frame incident and my shin has a huge bruise from whacking it with a dumbbell.

those are just this weeks bruises. It’s constant.

I am getting embarrassed that people will think I am in an abusive relationship but I’m not, I am just clumsy I bounce off things instead of going round them. What can I do!

It's worth a try and also good for stabilising joints if you're hypermobile. If I think about it I do bump into things less these days but didn't connect the two things until now.

You have my sympathy for the bruises, from one clumsy person to another!

I fell down the stairs a couple of days ago too. My DH says I'm Olympic level at falling over for no reason, I constantly knock things over, walk into door frames, trip over furniture. and have managed to punch myself in the face while getting dressed more times than I can count. I have a coffee cup with a lid for when I'm working, because I can't be trusted with liquids near electronics. It's 50/50 whether I'll immediately stab myself in the eye when putting on mascara.

I have ADHD, dyspraxia, and also an eye thing that means my peripheral vision isn't quite what it should be, which doesn't help. Honestly, learning to laugh about it was the best thing I could have done - I'm as careful as I can be, but it doesn't seem to change much!

For comfort, DS is dyspraxic and highly likely ASD. He manages the coordination side really well- he sort of focussed on what he does frequently and masters it, and the things he does less often don’t matter.

He has hyper focus though I suppose, so is perhaps naturally mindful. He is whatever he is doing. A bomb could go off and he wouldn’t notice.

You are all making me feel better knowing I am not alone.

I had a big cry this morning, partly because it bloody hurt, partly because its hormone season and partly because I am fed up of being like this. So thank you all for helping me to feel better.

I always thought ADHD was something naughty boys had. When I went for therapy thinking I had BPD and the therapist said I absolutely don’t have that but I should look at getting tested for ADHD it blew my mind. I have since been diagnosed with PMDD but the link between that and ADHD is quite strong apparently.

Tai Chi offers mindfulness as well. I don’t know whether Pilates does.

Also, focus on positives. Instead of ‘I mustn’t spill/bump/trip’, think about watching your feet, looking where you are going etc.

I used to foster, and the DC could struggle with this. Their heads were full of distractions- worries, shame, doubt, anger.

I am very clumsy. It's partly genetic I think but also because, like a PP, I have a dodgy eye that doesn't really work and I have no peripheral vision on one side so I'm always walking into things. Stairs are my nemesis but I try to just go very slowly and hold on tight.

I would suggest there's a strong possibility that you might have dyspraxia although as with everything else it's a sliding scale as to how badly you are affected. I have dyspraxia but am classed as high functioning with no overlapping adhd or other neurodiversity.
I have driven for 28 years (passed 4th attempt) & up until last year always had a manual. No issues with writing, grammar or getting dressed. However I enjoy exercise as in going to the gym but crap at team sports or exercise classes. I can trip over fresh air! Also I have to really work hard at being organised.
Honestly though you've probably already subconsciously developed coping skills as women are naturally better than men at masking & you may find that a few subtle changes may help but these vary from person to person.

Are you naturally a "fast" person? I am, I do everything at warp speed and this causes me to be clumsy (I have ADHD). What has helped me is adopting the "black cat" persona - doing things slowly and at a considered, relaxed pace. Its made me far less rushed and clumsy. Its also helped my anxiety a bit too

If you get a solution let me know!!!

I'm forever walking into doors, catching myself on handles and tripping on paving, yes i probably have dyspraxia as my dd does but diagnosis is irrelevant, it's the bruises that are annoying, especially deep ones when I jab some piece of door furniture into my upper arm, weeks, months to heal!

I experience this. I have realised that I'm not very aware of where my body is in space, if that makes sense.

Yoga and pilates helped as I began to be more aware but it took a long time. I still bump into things and get bruises but it's better than it was.

I probably am a fast person, yes I think so. Always thinking one or five steps ahead.

I am definitely going to look when Pilates is on at the gym, I wanted to try it some toned stomach but hey bonus if it helps with this too!!

I, too, am incredibly accident prone. It shows how old I am that when I was tiny my Dad used to say I would trip over a threepenny bit. I always have a bruise, burn or a cut and often have no idea where I got it. I was once outside a shop in Venice that had closely packed shelves of little Murano glass nick nacks. My friend flatly refused to go in there with me on the basis it was too dangerous!

I'm also a bit of a rusher, I'm always on to the next thing. I don't know if it has any neurological underpinning. However, I am firmly of the belief that there isn't 'a spectrum' that some people are on. I don't believe it is binary between NT and ND. I think there's one spectrum and we're all on it somewhere with our own individual variations.

However, one thing being accident prone has done for me is made me very cautious about 'big serious things that might hurt me'. I use a lot of power tools, including saws and am very careful. I use a hiking pole on icy pavements. I rarely venture far up a ladder, etc. I'm good at identifying things that might be hazards and pointing out trip hazards and so on to others. Thankfully (and touch wood) I've never broken anything other than a finger and never had to have stitches. I also have a very extensive knowledge on the treatment of minor injuries and a large collection of dressings.

But put me in a room with very little that could be considered hazardous and I can trip up or bang my head very quickly.

My daughter gave me one of those face razors and I look like I have been attacked by a cat. She on the other hand has a beautiful smooth glowing face.

I handed it right back.

I am clumsy myself but it has never put me off trying new things ( and breaking bones) but has helped my coordination, perception of space etc. Now before you laugh my I suggest you try an adult ballet class for the fun of it? Ballet is all about placement of the body and is very slow intentional, and fantastic for clumsy people! It is alot of fun and you will learn so much about your own body.

My immediate instinct is that you are having a laugh but I can actually see where you are coming from.

I know my gym definitely offers Pilates but I haven’t seen any ballet classes around. I think Les mills online does Barre though might be worth a look.

You sound like my DD1. Have s Google of 'poor proprioception'.
Both my DC have dsypraxia, but very different presentations.