AIBU to think it's damn near impossible to "be more careful"

[MyBonnieLiesOverTheOcean]

I've always been clumsy. I knock things over, chip glasses and plates, break things unintentionally etc etc.

I've not got any special needs - I'm just slapdash. But I really don't think I can help it. I've always been this way. I don't often stop and think about something before I do it and I do crash and bash about a bit.

Do you think it's possible for people like me to change? Have any of you become more careful? If so - how??? DH and I are at loggerheads about it. He gets irate when I break stuff when I'm not being careful, but I think he should know what I'm like after 25 years and shouldn't get so annoyed when I chip another (Ikea) plate. The constant criticism over this is wearing me down.

Help please if you've been in a similar situation.

Well, I'm thinking possible dyspraxia. Do you have any organisation issue or sensitivity to taste / textures?

But apart from that, you can to a small extent, by thinking about where you put things on a table, not trying to carry too much etc, but you can't stop it completely.

Use it as an excuse to not do the washing up!

You say you don't stop and think - any reason why not?

(My DD can hurt herself when sat at the dining room table. Or when walking through a doorway. Or anywhere really.)

I'm exactly the same OP. Bull in a china shop and constantly tripping over my own feet / fresh air. My DH also despairs. My DS is exactly the same and, bless him, always manages to get himself into ridiculous situations. A recent A&E trip after taking him to soft play being a prime example. Interestingly his clumsiness really winds me up and I wish he'd be more careful - but I guess it's in the genes and I've only got myself to blame!!

I am like this, and I have wondered if I have dyspraxia.

I'm like this! It's not as easy as just stop and think- I would be so busy stopping to think to plan my next move I'd never do anything. I can injure myself just sitting on the sofa! (Feeding DD, starting to ache so shifted slightly and pulled a muscleM)

I'm the same. I was actually assessed for Dyspraxia but it wasn't that.

I do have developmental trauma, which I believe affected my motor skills.

I've got decent hand to eye coordination and I've always been OK at sport so don't think it's dyspraxia in my case.

Dyspraxia manifests in lots of different ways, you can be good at sport and still dyspraxic.

That level of clumsiness does sound like it could be dyspraxia.

I've heard some people think they are more coordinated if they supplement with omega 3 and wit vitamin d, so I suppose wouldn't do any harm to try those if you want to improve.

But tbh you're unlikely to see significant improvement as an adult, so yes your DH should just accept that.

It doesn't really help but I dislocated my jaw yawning once, standing still.

Have you tried just slowing down a touch? Have a think through what you are going to do before you do it? A bit like walking with a cuprofessional of hot tea and training yourself to move gracefully and not spill it. It takes practise.

I'm mildly dyspraxic. It manifests in me mainly in a lack of spatial awareness. I'm always misjudging doorways and bruising my arms or hips. I bump into things a lot and trip over my feet. I have good hand eye coordination though.

Kisses - sorry, that made me laugh!
I can fall over fresh air. I break glasses by looking at them. We don't own a plate that isn't chipped
Interesting what a pp said about tastes and textures - how does that manifest then?

I suffer from the same problem.

I wonder if I have some kind of overactive thyroid or something.

I have a lot of energy and I think part of the problem is that I am always on my feet, moving about etc.

I can't even sit still... I bounce my leg and other weird stuff.

Oh, and can't go to the toilet standing up without making a right mess.

That's all!

But surely if yore holding something that will break you know not to crash it about because..it will break?!

Me too :)

I do think I might have mild dyspraxia though, I do have mild hyper mobility and the two seem to go together fairly often.

I was always pretty good at sport too, I think it's because if I'm doing a sport though I'm just concentrating on that, if I'm just walking through the house I'm thinking of about 1000 other things as well. My attempts at DIY are shocking though.

Re: the tastes and textures I don't have any odd taste quirks, but I'm really funny about the textures of clothes and find lots of things too tight or too itchy.

I'm clumsy and break/drop loads. I'm not allowed red wine in the living room and have only been out of plastic glasses for a few years

I've been better over recent times though. Just really concentrating on watching what I do. Where is that doorframe? Shall I walk an extra step to navigate round the cup of tea? Is that really safe on that shelf?

I have dyspraxia, think it used to be called clumsy child syndrome

JeReviens Sensitivity to taste and or texture is often present with dyspraxia.
So e.g. not liking buttons, or lacy things, or furry things. DD is fine with buttons (only she used to have trouble doing and undoing them) but e.g. we had to find her wintercoats without furry stuff on the hoods, and clothes with frills are a no-no.
Same with food, dyspraxics can (not always) be extra-fussy over the taste and/or texture of food in their mouths.
Lack of (or extra) sensitivity to heat/cold - e.g. being fine in shorts when there is snow on the ground.
Organisation skills, lack of. Being extra forgetful, losing things, (not just due to not bothering or age related). Difficulty organising thoughts for essays.

It's one of those things where different people present with different bits.

I hate vegetables because of the texture😣walk into stuff, don't like people touching me and have trouble explaining what I mean. Like there is a disconnect between my brain and mouth

Is it related to your menstrual cycle? A friend of mine is very clumsy before she is due on.

I find a lot of being careful involves preplanning what I'm doing (don't start cleaning out fish tank til I've cleared the area by the sink type thing) and not rushing. Neither comes naturally to me but when i dont do them I break far more stuff. Nothing I do seems to stop me bumping into stuff though - I don't seem to be able to coordinate 4 limbs at once. Which is strange because when driving a vehicle one of my minor talents is being able to quickly and correctly judge what size gaps it will get through and drive through them /park in them without touching anything.

Do you have hypermobility? I was told that its really common to be more clumsy if you do. I can attest to this....

I'm also clumsy just before I start my period. Literally 'Oh look a huge bruise, better throw some tampons in my bag'. It's how I know.

Rest of the time I'm OK, but still have lots of little bumps. I'm always rushing around though housework gets done as quickly as possible, I'm usually slightly out of breath

Teen and Tween, reading this I think my DD might have dyspraxia, she is incredibly clumsy and has all the things you describe. She is seven.