I'm in good health and relatively fit, but I have noticed I have a problem with stairs. Its mainly if I am going down the stairs to the underground (tube). If the escalators are broken and I have to walk down, I sometimes really struggle. If I look down I struggle to see where the edge of the step is, and so I dont know where to put my foot, so I freak out that I will fall over. It all sounds really silly, but yesterday it happened, I was walking behind friends and I felt really freaked out and couldnt keep up. I just wanted to stop and scream, which is really out of character for me. I just grabbed onto the rail and walked slowly. If I look straight ahead it's not so bad, but this was a very long, steep, spiral staircase. All I could see was the stairs spiralling down and down, which was more scary.

I cant think of any major childhood incident which would make me fear stairs. I did once fall down the stairs at home, but barely remember it. I did think it culd be vertigo, I'm fine with flying and not that bad with heights.

The other possibility is, could it be dyslexia? I have never actually been disgnosed as dyslexic, but have many of the symptons. I have read that dyslexics can have problems with lines, which does seem to be the basis for this. Also a dyslexic friend also said he had a problem with stairs.

Sorry for such a long post, any answers would be gratefully recieved.

K

what stuck out at me from your post was struggling to see the edge of the step. do you have any vision or depth perception problems? i don't have the best depth perception, and this(among other problems) makes stairs difficult for me.

The other possibility is, could it be dyslexia? I have never actually been disgnosed as dyslexic, but have many of the symptons. I have read that dyslexics can have problems with lines, which does seem to be the basis for this. Also a dyslexic friend also said he had a problem with stairs.


Could definitely be dylexia. Do you also have problems going down very steep hills or is it only steps?

could it be mild dyspraxia? it seems to go along with dyslexia and related conditions, from what i remember hearing.
i can relate, i have a little trouble with going down stairs, and using escalators, (cos i can't see my feet for my boobies lmao) and crossing the street, (can't judge car speeds too well) lol. i often have to concentrate a lot to avoid falling on my ass or missing the step or getting run down. i also can't cope with ladders at all, even really short ones- i always seem to fall off or wobble a lot. its like my brain just won't judge the distances and space, or i that i don't trust it to get it right.
its weird, but i find it a little easier when i'm distracted by something else though- but i still silently rejoice if i see a school crossing guard to help me cross the street (i'm 26 lol) it takes me a while to get on an escalator (i don't have much choice on taking my time in getting off though, lol), and i won't go on a ladder, ever.

Ah it's good to see I'm not alone, was begining to feel a bit stupid. One optican I once had, said I had an eye problem, I think he called it poor conversion, like if I held a pen infront of my face I'd see 2, even if it was fairly far away. I spoke to another optican a few years ago about my problem with stairs and he couldn't suggest anything.

I dont have any real problems crossing roads or using ladders. Though I hate climbing off or onto the top of ladders. Never really noticed a problem with hills.

I think with it being on the underground it makes me more anxious as theres always people rushing, I'm usually fine on normal stairs.

K

One of my sisters has this problem too (and has fallen a couple of times). She suspected it might be a depth-perception thing.