My fear of falling has gotten worse since my Parkinson’s diagnosis

The fear of falling is a common phobia, particularly among people over 65. Between 20%-85% of seniors have anxiety about falling, and up to half of them say the fear restricts them from their daily activities.

Aging and Parkinson’s disease are risk factors for falling. And of course, the age when people begin to worry about falling is right around the same time as the typical onset for Parkinson’s — in the 60s.

But what about younger people? I’ve long been a bit of a fraidy cat when it comes to falling and activities that require a lot of balance, long before my diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease at 36. I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been terrified of slipping on ice, and I remember saying when I was younger, “All of my biggest fears come from the fear of falling.” Heights, jumping over logs or streams, ice, they all come down to a fear of falling.

How ironic that I ended up having a disease where falls occur about twice as often compared with people of the same age without Parkinson’s disease.

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Falls and the fear of falls

I hate falling because of the damage it can do — broken bones, bruises, and scrapes — but I also hate that feeling just before you fall. That heart-stopping, stomach-churning feeling of being totally out of control, and knowing the hurt that may follow. It’s like time stops; you know what’s happening, but you can’t stop it. Also, I hate being out of control in any way, physically, emotionally, or mentally.

And once you’ve actually taken a spill, your fear of the pain or damage makes you even more hesitant and prone to falling.

I didn’t have many memorable falls before I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, except for a broken arm while Christmas shopping. No, it wasn’t a fight over a sale, it was just me tripping on an uneven sidewalk, which resulted in a minor fracture.

I also haven’t had that many falls since being diagnosed, but my fear of falling has multiplied. And the falls I did have have left their marks.

One occurred at a large industry conference in a room full of colleagues, clients, and competitors. It was right before my deep brain stimulation surgery, and I was kind of a mess physically. I fell getting up from a chair and landed on my backside, which didn’t do my body or my self-esteem any good.

My most recent fall happened one day around Christmas when I was home alone waiting for a package that needed a signature. When the doorbell rang, I raced to get it — well, as much racing as I can do — and turned a corner into my kitchen, but my foot slipped on the wood floors, and down I went. I landed on both knees, slammed my elbow into a wall, and hit my face on the floor.

There was no significant damage, just a lot of soreness and bruising, so I was lucky, and I did manage to get up and get the package before the delivery truck left. Sadly, it wasn’t booze to soothe my soreness, just some electronics my husband had ordered. But right after, I went online and ordered myself several pairs of warm socks with grippy soles to prevent that from happening again.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

So what can we do to keep from falling? We can avoid going barefoot or in socks unless they have grippers. Rugs and nonslip mats in the bathroom can also help prevent falls. Installing grip bars, tucking away cords, and keeping tripping hazards out of the way are also recommended. And we can exercise and even try to initiate postural and movement changes to reduce instability. Lastly, just paying attention — not rushing, reading on our phones, or carrying too much at one time — can also keep us on our feet and off our bottoms.

Stay safe out there!

Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.