I've noticed as I've gotten older, and especially within the last year, that I've become really clumsy. Just last night, I fell outside on my front step for no reason at all - I just fell. I also bump into walls with my shoulder as if I'm incapable of determining where my body is in relation to the wall. I also tend to bump into things that are waist-high and end up bruising my things.

I was wondering if anyone else suffers from this sort of clumsiness.

There is only one correlation that I can think of between the clumsiness and PTSD and that's the fact that I've been on meds for the last year.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Best,
Rachel

Rachel, you've described me to a "T", the last 2 years (post-trauma). Granted I've never been particularly graceful *giggle* but post-trauma (once I developed PTSD) I became very lightheaded. I had a terrible time judging distance, and I tipped over all the time -- just TIPPED OVER. Whoops! (Well, usually I cussed. LOL) I was constantly bumping my shoulders into furniture, walls, appliances, door frames! Ouch, those are hard! ... I would stumble through the house like a freakin' pinball. All - the - time. Literally, 24/7. Drunk people walked much straighter than I.

This developed after my trauma. It WAS NOT present before.

I started on Wellbutrin over the winter, and the lightheadedness disappeared pretty much instantly. The Wellbutrin has also shut down the majority of my bad PTSD 'processes' in my head, and reconnected a bunch of the normal 'pathways', so the bad stuff is pretty well stuffed, and I have a good bit of my normal personality back. Some days are better than others of course. But the Wellbutrin, I was amazed, that lightheadedness and clumsiness cleared right up. Gone.

That leads me to believe, in my scientific opinion (HA HA) that it is somehow depression/PTSD related. I don't know which though, because I have both.

I have a couple of Physiology of PTSD books on order from Amazon, they should be here next week. As I find out more I will post to this thread. I wish I had dug into this sooner because the physical symptoms have been driving me just as nuts as the mental ones.

Bailey

I am also bumping into walls AND much to my dismay I am also breaking glasses while washing dishes. It is like my depth perception is way off. I have also noticed that I am no longer parking my car straight in the parking spot. I did 100% better when I was drunk.

I was wondering if it was the meds. I'm on Zoloft and Xanax. I have also found a slight difficulty with my balance. Have not fallen lately, but have fallen for no reason before.

I know this is making mother nervous since I am washing HER dishes. When I put a glass in the sink I almost always chip the glass next to it. Took a big chip out of the rim of my favorite coffee cup------pissed, Yep!

I am wondering if it is meds since we are all on different meds! But it is a fact that my depth perception is way off too

Herc, have you always been on meds while you had PTSD? Do you remember if you had those symptoms pre-meds? Were you like that pre-trauma? (I'm so sorry, I am having a total brain fade on your hx, which is why I'm asking.)

I have always been on Paxil (for like 11 years now), before and after PTSD, so I can't say that is the cause. I didn't have the lightheadedness when I was just on Paxil, pre-trauma.

However -- here's a fun one -- I often get lightheaded with migraines. Migraines can be very neurologic, and some of them, boy oh boy ... Ms. Pinball again. I wonder if it is a similar process?? Hmmmmmm.


Herc, you reminded, me, I also drop things a lot. Little items -- not big ones. I am forever dropping stuff in the kitchen, and feel particularly clumsy re. the sink. I am always crashing things around and making a real mess, and it's totally not what I'm trying to do... ?

*sigh* These are the things that make me feel "broken," which totally erodes my self-esteem. It seems so little, but we're talking basic motor skills here... :-P


Bailey

Bailey

Never gave the pre PTSD meds a thought. I am thinking that I was not so clumbsy before going on my meds. I have been on them since 1997 and prior to that I took nothing but hormones.

I fell down quite often, but that's cuz I was drunk so I guess that does not count, right?

I hope there will be a good response to this question. I am curious to see if this is a common result of meds or ptsd.

But ya know, now that I think about it, I was clumbsy as a kid. I eventually broke all my toes--1 at a time. I was always misjudging distance when walking and placing my feet down, but then I had ptsd and did not know it so no meds were involved.

This is a hard one to answer

Clumsy....hhhmmmmmmmm I broke my baby toe the other day. Walked right into a wooden box, that I knew was there.

My right elbow.....Well it seems at least 1-2 times a day while walking through a door way, that I bang the side of my elbow. It now has a permenent lump which is very sore to touch. Judging distance seems to be way off in door ways. DUH!!!!!!

I drop things all the time, trip over *AIR* and sometimes can't seem to get the feet to go in the direction that I want to go in. The little buggers have a mind of their own. LOL!!!!

I am on NO meds, but have been this way as long as I can remember. Then again I have probably had PTSD for as long as I can remember.

I'd like to add, that I too drop stuff all of the time, especially in the kitchen! Also, I am always burning myself on the oven - never the stove top, just the oven!

I've had depth perception problems since a child and I also *believe* (along with 2 therapists) that I've had PTSD since childhood. I wasn't as "clumsy" as I am now, though. It seems to be getting worse with age. Or maybe, the PTSD is taking its toll?

Oh Lord, yes. I can be such a klutz -- on the other hand, once in a while a grace passes through me that I can only marvel at.

Some time ago, I came upon these words (Sorry; forget the source): "Fear makes us clumsy while love makes us dance."

Even before meds and diagnosis I was clumsy: nothing changed after.
1. Broke my toe during yoga
2. Leave shower in on position --I always hear about that one
3..Constantly hitting my self with things
4. Missing steps on the stairway--god I hate that!
5. Run into door frames, other people; whatever is available at the time
6. I've been banned form the kitchen when my wife is in it
7. Answer my cell phone with my ipod ear plugs in.
Anyway, in short, me too.

Paul

I'm very clumsy as well and my husband thinks it's funny. I always have bruises around my hip area and legs where I bump into door knobs and dressers. There are always bruises on my body that I have no idea where they came from.

I've had this for many years and it seems to get worse as I'm getting older. Also, my memory is shot too. I was in a real bad car accident with minimal brain damage, and I don't know if all of these problems stem from that or the PTSD. Maybe both?

I know my balance is off too because I tried to walk on balance beams (thin bars that are for acrobats), and I can't do it without leaning one way or the other. My vision and balance seem to be the problem and maybe the rewiring of the brain has an effect on these things. I can't go out in the sun without sunglasses and noise is a problem that I can't tolerate well.

These things are interesting correlations to PTSD.

It is very annoying and the fact it's getting worse freaks me out.

Tammy