Conquer the fear of falling
There’s nothing like the snow and ice that we had this past weekend across North Carolina to make everyone have a fear of slipping and falling on the ice!
We do have to be extra careful with snow and ice.
However, many folks have a fear of falling every day for other reasons.
Photo by Tina Devidze on Unsplash
Basi-what?
Did you know that a fear of falling even has a name: “basiphobia?” Basi- or Baso- coming from the Greek “basis,” “step,” or “foundation” and -phobia meaning “fear.”
Fear of losing our foundation!
A fear of falling can also impact our “foundation of life” - being independent, doing what we love with the people we love, or whatever matters most to you.
Impacts of Fear
There are many reasons that we might be afraid of falling. Maybe we’ve had a previous fall or know someone who was injured from a fall, or worse, died from a fall.
A fear of falling can often lead to not doing the activities that bring us joy and meaning, such as meeting up with friends and family, walking, etc.
A fear of falling increases your risk of falling!
Unfortunately, limiting activities can have serious health consequences and lead to additional risks for falling. For example, limiting physical activity can lead to muscle weakness and balance issues, which are fall risks. Not going to social activities can lead to isolation and depression, another fall risk. And the list goes on.
The good news. There are steps you can take to address your fear of falling and other risk factors. We can move from fearful to mindful.
Let’s Conquer this Fear!
Please check out this great article from the Cleveland Clinic on how to conquer this fear! Be sure to see the list of ideas on how to start overcoming this fear!
There is also a program called A Matter of Balance offered in some communities in NC. A Matter of Balance participants learn how to think differently about a fear of falling and to develop problem solving skills to reduce a fear of falling. If you don’t see a class currently near you on HealthyAgingNC.com, please contact your local Area Agency on Aging or Senior Center directly to find out if they offer this program.
There are steps you can take to reduce your risk, so that you can keep your foundation of life!
Let’s reframe “basiphobia” to focus on the “basis” or “foundation” for keeping our foundation, staying on our feet and staying strong, connected, and engaged in life!
Start exploring at StandingStrongNC.org
Find local programs or exercises you can do at home
By Ellen Bailey, MA, MPH, Senior Project Manager, Falls Prevention, NC Center for Health and Wellness