Balance and fear

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Just curious - I've always had an irrational fear of falling in the sense that I absolutely hate any activity that involves me feeling unsteady on my feet (eg iceskating, skateboarding and so on), and I wondered if this was related to Aspergers? Not diagnosed but kind of self-diagnosed.

Seems like balance issues may be related but I wondered if anyone else had the fear response?

well, it is common amongst people on the spectrum to have issues with balance, but the fear of falling is universal along all living beings, so i dont think it's AS specific.

One of the senses is vestibular, or balance. Some people are hypersensitive so don't like to feel off balance, and some are hyposensitive so like to spin. Check out sensory processing. There are 8 senses involved.

We had a fall of snow yesterday and it turned to ice overnight. The roads and pavements were like an ice-rink this morning. I took my daughter and her NT friend to school. My friend's boy held on to me for his dear life, his legs were rigid and I felt him go unsteady a few times. Meanwhile, my girl waltzed around like an ice-skater and she refused to take my hand, totally fearless and completely in her element. I wasn't worried about her as she's got great balance. Other parents were asking about her wellies, thinking that they must be good for icy ground, but I had to tell them it was more about her than the footwear.

My balance isn't great (which I believe is more common for those on the spectrum than the way my daughter is). I've given others the impression that I've been drinking, at times (flying through open patio doors and landing flat on my face on a wooden deck, falling down a flight of stairs, or toppling onto my desk with a loud clatter). Unbelievably, I've never done any serious damage to myself. But, I'm fine when the going gets tough, like today. I don't think I'm as frightened of falling as others, which helps when the ground is so slippy. Maybe it's because I'm used to having to correct my body position.

That's a strange one SylviaLynn - will have a google, thank you. I do remember loving to spin as a child but I can't bear to watch even a swift camera-pan (not sure of the term!) these days.

Izzeme - I should have been more specific. I meant a fear that was more heightened than perhaps in the average person, but I suppose that is hard to quantify.
I wouldn't say that my balance is particularly bad in itself so I think it's out of proportion. Just wondered if it was something that others here felt. I don't have a fear of the idea of skydiving or heights etc, it's specific to feeling off balance on my feet...don't know if this makes any sense!

Mummy_of_Peanut - the weather today is what made me think to ask the question. I nearly slipped on the way to work and had such a jolt of fear that I felt shaken all the way to work and I hadn't even hurt myself. I'm not looking forward to walking home tonight .

I am very clumsy and have to very consciously pay attention to my surroundings to avoid bumping into things...maybe I'm just aware that I'm more accident-prone than most

When I was little I loved spinning myself and anything else. I always hated man-made heights such as staircases or ladders. Now I couldn't play first-person shooter video games because I get dizzy. Stuff changes.

This is why I hate the snow. It's because it forms ice, which is more likely to be more prolonged when there is thick snow surrounding. But I fear embarrassment more than anything else.

I used to spin a lot as a child too. I have a dent in my skull, from the time I spun so much I fell over and cracked my head on the fireplace. I loved funfairs too. But, these days, just watching my daughter moving around knocks me dizzy and I sometimes have to close my eyes when she's being extra active. I also have position vertigo, which so far has only appeared when I've been lying down, but I think it's having an impact on my upright balance too.

I do hope you've seen a doctor about that positional vertigo, and they took it seriously. My ex-husband's doctor blew it off and he nearly died of a brain tumor in the cerebellum.

I am a little concerned about it, mainly because my dad has been having episodes like mine, but much more severe and lasting for days or weeks at a time, and it's looking like he may have Meniere's Disease. I've thought for a long time that this was the way I was heading, then this started to happen to my dad, out of the blue. We see the same doc, although I don't think he knows we're related, and we've been prescribed the same meds.

I have a poor sense of balance and won't/can't do things like roller skate, ice skate, or ride a bike. I don't even like walking down some hills.

I also get motion sickness easily in vehicles, from playing video games with certain kinds of camera movements, and from watching videos filmed with a shaky hand.

I have a fear of falling to but it´s a realistic fear, not an irrational one. My motor skills have always been below average, I have poor balance and I have problems with staircases which means that the chances of falling are a lot bigger in my case. I am pretty sure it has got something to do with Aspergers and other autistic disorders.

Thanks for your replies. Thinking maybe it's not that irrational if your balance isn't great. I remember going ice skating a few years ago and bursting into tears as I was just so overwhelmed by how much I hated the sensation. I think I was just shocked that I had such a strong reaction (and very embarrassed) as it's very unlike me to cry, especially in public - I think I'm quite good at hiding how overwhelmed I am by most things.

It just felt like a very strong instinctual reaction which from what I can gather Aspies seem to feel more intensely. Don't think I'm explaining myself very well!