Hello puzzclar: There is something highly attractive about free-falling. It takes no energy & it can actually be quite a pleasant sensation... at least until you hit the ground. I know I frequently feel this way. It's so... well... "comforting" to simply feel myself gliding down into that dark & familiar place.

I know that I can stop myself too. Or at least I believe I can most of the time. Although sometimes I wonder if this is like the smoker or the drug addict who tells him or herself: "I can quit whenever I want." The problem is, every time one takes that dive, there is the urge to wait just a little bit longer before putting on the brakes. At some point, the person may wait just a little bit too long and then... Please just don't wait too long...