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Mild CP and big fear of walking outside!

Charl73

Hi, hope you all all well and safe.

Sorry, it’s me again! Firstly, I want to thank you all for helping with the challenges I’ve been having over the past year.

I’m still really struggling with walking outside, so much so that it’s really frustrating and I end up beating myself up about it; not literally. I’m getting better with a hiking stick but really wish I could return to my ‘normal’ walking from a year ago.

I came across this discussion from 2017 and this is exactly how I feel, even to the point of I’m ok if by a wall etc.

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/35040/fear-of-walking-outside?_ga=2.11109044.1687916338.1617142667-119231389.1617142667

i know I must sound like a broken record but I do think this is all ‘in my head’, ie anxiety. I was leaving a supermarket with my partner a few weeks ago and froze when I stepped outside but he said to me ‘there’s no one around and no one watching you’ as soon as he said that I walked fine!!

Does anyone else have these difficulties? Any hints/tips?

As always, thanks for taking the time to read my tales ;-)

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Comments

janer1967

Hi

I would suggest you try walking in places where there us nobody around at first and then build it slowly to places with few people and so on

It may help boost your confidence a bit

Welshjayne2021

Hi @Charl73. Oh how I recognise just what saying about walking. I too have mild cp. Up until 10/12 years ago I walked around unaided. Then I notice I didn’t feel safe outside physically and mentally. So I started using a rollator, and it helped for a couple of years. But know I am as active as I was, I am finding that there area of my home that I do not feel safe to walk. I can’t explain it, it’s almost like blind spot. One of the places is in my bedroom, I simply can’t walk around the end of my bed. I was so terrified of falling that I bought another rollator for upstairs. I don’t really know what to suggest to help. As I’ve said this anxiety came from nowhere, it is a weird feeling. Just take you time and tiny steps. I wish you well.

Richard_Scope

I have heard this quite a lot from people who have CP but are able to walk. I do think it is anxiety-based. I have a similar feeling when getting into and out of the bath after several falls. The muscles tighten and I'm unable to move easily and this increases the chance of falling.
I would recommend some cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), this helps to change the thought process in given situations.

Charl73

Thank you for all your comments, again it's so reassuring to hear that I'm not alone or indeed going mad ;-)
I will look into CPT, thanks Richard_Scope