[Polykronic]

I fell down the stairs for, like, the eleventh time this year and that's not even an exaggeration.

One time was just a standard slip I think (new shoes, marble floor at school) but nearly every other time it's from dissociating. Or maybe I dissociate after I fall. Or both. I dunno. I just think they're related somehow; it's been increasing as I dissociate more and become more aware of switching.

I live in a second story apartment, and work in a second story office, and all my classes are usually on the second or third floor. It's rare that there's an elevator --some of the buildings are historic so they don't have one. Since I gotta go to work and school and take the dog out, I probably go up and down the stairs nearly 20x a day.

Anyway, this time I just strained my neck, but I've been hurt pretty bad before. Anyone else experience this? Any ideas how to stop falling?

[PurpleFlyingMonkeys]

Ive yet to fall down stairs thankfully but i do fall when i switch sometimes. I used to live on the third floor of an apartment and was so afraid to fall i would sit on the steps and scoot all the way down.

Could you maybe hold onto the rail when your going up and down the steps? And try to do a little grounding when you are using the stairs? Wish i could be more help

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Polykronic

I fell down the stairs for, like, the eleventh time this year and that's not even an exaggeration.

One time was just a standard slip I think (new shoes, marble floor at school) but nearly every other time it's from dissociating. Or maybe I dissociate after I fall. Or both. I dunno. I just think they're related somehow; it's been increasing as I dissociate more and become more aware of switching.

I live in a second story apartment, and work in a second story office, and all my classes are usually on the second or third floor. It's rare that there's an elevator --some of the buildings are historic so they don't have one. Since I gotta go to work and school and take the dog out, I probably go up and down the stairs nearly 20x a day.

Anyway, this time I just strained my neck, but I've been hurt pretty bad before. Anyone else experience this? Any ideas how to stop falling?

my first reaction was Im surprised that your doctors are not trying to get to the bottom of your falling. here if you fell that much they would be checking if you are being abused or a medical problem...

I fall a lot, I thought it was Dissociative related but when my doctors started doing tests it turned out to be Multiple Sclerosis a physical health problem instead of a mental health problem..

Dissociation can on rare occasions cause a person to have accidents because they are not paying attention to their own safety...

that said from my understanding of dissociative disorders they dont get worse after diagnosis, they get better after diagnosis due to things like therapy, using grounding and other treatment options that treatment providers help / work with the dissociative on..

the fact that its getting worse now after diagnosis tells me that it may be a medical not mental problem...

my suggestion is contact your treatment providers, they can do all kinds of mental and medical tests to find out why you keep falling on stairs..I would also suggest using elevators when they are available and holding on to the wall or railing so that you dont fall in the mean time..

[Polykronic]

Originally Posted by amandalouise

the fact that its getting worse now after diagnosis tells me that it may be a medical not mental problem...
..

That part of me (don't know her name) doesn't usually post questions; I'm sorry if she wasn't quite clear. She's really bugged about the falling because she has to deal with it, so I thought I'd try letting her post herself.

It SEEMS like the dissociation and switching is getting worse because we are finally aware of it. Never really noticed before; it's just how things were. Since starting t and learning some techniques, we started realizing how often things like this go on. (And we've become more aware of each other --at least some of us.)

Anywho, I thank you for the advice. I've had a full medical work up already, though, a few times, and I'm otherwise healthy.

Maybe parts are just clutzier than others? Thought we'd ask in case someone knew what was going on or could relate.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Polykronic

That part of me (don't know her name) doesn't usually post questions; I'm sorry if she wasn't quite clear. She's really bugged about the falling because she has to deal with it, so I thought I'd try letting her post herself.

It SEEMS like the dissociation and switching is getting worse because we are finally aware of it. Never really noticed before; it's just how things were. Since starting t and learning some techniques, we started realizing how often things like this go on. (And we've become more aware of each other --at least some of us.)

Anywho, I thank you for the advice. I've had a full medical work up already, though, a few times, and I'm otherwise healthy.

Maybe parts are just clutzier than others? Thought we'd ask in case someone knew what was going on or could relate.

I see...so the falling itself isnt getting worse. its the same as always, you have always fallen 11 or more times a yr, whats changed is your perception and awareness that its happening.

Im sorry to say but with that kind of history theres nothing that can help until you learn how to ground and focus on the present so that you dont fall as much, or at all.

if it was a medical problem there's things like medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation services that focus on treating balance problems, muscle problems, and other physical health reasons for falling such as aging, ear infections, vertigo, diseases...that cause a person to fall at increasing frequencies.

[Polykronic]

Yeah, I've always fallen a lot. Now I'm around stairs a lot more so it just makes it more dangerous (and painful!).

I guess I'll just try to get everyone to be more careful.