"Space phobia," fear of falling (vs agoraphobia)

I wanted to share something I found resonated with me strongly. I'm 25, have had Meniere's since I was 12, and in the past several years my mental health has taken a toll.

After suffering from what I have thought to be agoraphobia for a long time and not improving, I was doing some research online. Then I found some studies (they are old and possibly outdated, however) about "space phobia," and it absolutely hit the nail on the head for what I have been feeling. It was thought to be related to agoraphobia, but not the same. The chief characteristic according to one of the studies I found is a fear and distrust in the space around you keeping you from falling, something not prominent in agoraphobia.

Does anyone know anything more about this condition, if it has been recognized under another name?

One of the studies I found mentions an elderly woman afraid of falling:

"Gradually she became unable to walk anywhere unless a wall or furniture was nearby, though she did not actually have to hold these. Removal of visual support more than a foot away induced crying and terror of falling, although she had never fallen." (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1687285/?page=1)

Reading that gave me pause. I've had drop attacks before, some landing me flat on the face in asphalt. But the agoraphobia I've developed is very specific. I would say if I have nothing to grab onto (or no one who could help me walk) within 10-20 feet of me, or no shelter to hide under, I start to feel panic.

For instance, today we had some crazy weather, so I went out with my dad (who is nature enthusiast, too) to take pictures of some of the damage. I was completely fine wandering around the neighbourhoods, in gale force winds, as long as the car was nearby. But the moment we started walking to the shore, and I found myself alone in a big field (he ran ahead), I was instinctively running for a fence. I grabbed onto that fence, and had to pry myself off of it (I'm proud to say it took less than a minute or so this time). I was fine, til nothing was supporting me. My dad let me hold his arm, and all my anxiety left.

Another thing this study says: “Unlike most agoraphobics, our four patients were not troubled particularly by public places. One woman’s dislike of buses was caused by a reluctance to let go of the bar of the bus platform. Another woman’s while driving was evoked by space cues even in the sitting position. The space syndrome and agoraphobia might be separate conditions that happen to involve similar physiological mechanisms…” I could relate to that so much. Often, I find myself holding onto something with a death grip and not wanting to move from it if it means crossing a wide open space.

The studies say (much like Meniere's) that "space phobia" is thought to have an onset of 50+ years of age. I'm wondering if that corresponds with an increase in vestibular problems, which affect people in the 50+ age range more frequently than it does people my age.

Here's what another study said:

"They feared falling and were anxious in open spaces because they had no immediate means of support; they were not anxious in the crowded public places characteristic of agoraphobia. Thus, one of Marks’ patients could dance when the floor was crowded but felt anxious as soon as it cleared of people, and another said, 'The fear is of space around me.'" (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1495659/?page=1)

"Agoraphobia usually responds well to exposure treatment, while space phobia seems more resistant. All the patients apparently had some ocular-vestibular disturbance. The hallmark of the syndrome is that perception of unsupported space leads to a fear of falling and inappropriate rescue reactions… (However), all who are afraid of falling are not space phobic…" (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC490980/?page=1)

I thought it was interesting and maybe worth bringing up with a mental health practitioner. It could be why I've made little progress conquering my anxiety so far. Hopefully, it will help all of us suffering from anxiety and phobias. I wonder if any more recent research has been done on it that I've been unable to find.

Anyway, thanks for reading and hope it helps. Please let me know what you think. I would love to be rid of this feeling - maybe I should be getting a cane, lol. Anyone have tips on being stylish as a twenty-something woman with a cane?

 

Thanks! And I hadn't thought of it that way, fear of falling isn't really irrational when you have Meniere's is it? I found a pretty cool looking foldable cane on Amazon, maybe you're right about the confidence thing. I might order it for travelling

 

Thanks for the book recommendation! I'll definitely have to check it out, that sounds interesting.