Falling off the earth

[circle]

Ive tryed to google about this but I dont seem to find anything, i want to know if anyone has the same problem

At the height of my anxiety I have an absolute and real fear of falling off of the face of the planet, like gravity could give way at any second. If i'm outside i have to get inside, if i cant get inside i look for things that i can hold on to. I could be sitting in the park with a friend and it would overcome me all of a sudden and i will be gripping hold of the grass. i think how insane it is that i exist, and who is that who is thinking that, everything overwhelms me, normal life seems ridiculous, how can people go on with there normal lives when its all this insane, its so huge, dont they see it?

Then the anxiety finally resides to its daily murmur, and i rejoin normal life

maybe someone can relate?

 

[Helyna]

Hmm... never heard of that happening, but it sounds like some sort of panic attack.

 

[toothpastekisses]

....................

 

[Avoidance]

I have experienced somthing similar with a panic attack, I get real dizzy and feel like I'm about to lose my balance and I also lose my perception of what is up or down. For me I feel like I'm on a sky scraper and I garb for something and get a death grip on it and then battle myself trying not to pass out. The last thing you want to do on a roof of a high building is pass out or fall, it can be really terrifying. I have a fear of crowds and open places and I have just about full blown Agoraphobia. My Dr won't diagnose me with Argoraphobia because I guess don't get those type panic attacks 100% of the time, which is BS.

 

[sabbath92002]

I think about closing the door
And lately I think of it more
I'm living well out of my time
I feel like I'm losing my mind

I should be at the table round
A servant of the crown
The keeper of the sign
To sparkle and to shine

Never, no never again!
Listen to me and believe what I say if you can
Never, this is the end
You know I've seen the faces of doom
And I'm only a man

Help me
Tell me I'm sane
I feel a change in the earth and the wind
And the rain
Save me, take me away
You know, I've seen some visions of Hell
And I've heard what they say!

I've got to be strong, oh, oh,
I'm falling off the edge of the world, mm
Think you're safe, but you're wrong
We are falling off the edge of the world

Look out! There's danger! Nowhere to run!
It seems like desperate measures but sometimes
It has to be done
Over, it's over at last
And the message inside is we build a new life
From the past

We're falling off the edge of the world
Yes, the edge of the world
It's the end of the world

 

[Len]

Hi Circle, I can relate to how you feel. I have problems with balance and sometimes it feels like I am on a sea ship and the world is moving from under my feet. I have written a similar post regarding reality here if you want to have a read:

http://www.socialphobiaworld.com/postt18825.html

Cheers

 

[dottie]

wow, i always thought i was the only one in the world who would freak out about the possible reversal of gravity! i remember being in high school in the gym and imagining if gravity suddenly stopped working it would be a long way to fall onto the ceiling. there would be nothing to grab onto. what if i was outside? i would have to cling to a tree but eventually i would still have to let go. i would start to panic about it, my heart rate would speed up. i would just logically talk myself out of it, though. it has never happened before so it is unlikely it would happen even in my lifetime so i can relax.

thinking about existing can especially make me panic & have a breakdown so i try not to let myself go there.

maybe that is why we are all so anxious. maybe we are more realistically aware of how miniscule and insignificant our existance is than other people. the fact that this is our only life, our only tiny chance to make an impression on the world (and we realize that), maybe that is why everything seems so much more important and serious to us.

 

[Helyna]

maybe that is why we are all so anxious. maybe we are more realistically aware of how miniscule and insignificant our existance is than other people. the fact that this is our only life, our only tiny chance to make an impression on the world (and we realize that), maybe that is why everything seems so much more important and serious to us.

I think that's exactly how I feel! I never even considered it. Thanks!

 

[theblank]

You might want to pick up a good pair of moon boots. That might help ease your fears.

 

[Lea]

At least you´ll have a nice trip to the space, and for free.
Loosing gravity, it happens to me sometimes in sleep but never happened awake.

 

[tofeelatease]

yes me too. I would be sitting down and all of a sudden, i feel like i am falling off from my chair and i have to grip it tightly. the fear overwhelms me.

 

[circle]

wow, i always thought i was the only one in the world who would freak out about the possible reversal of gravity! i remember being in high school in the gym and imagining if gravity suddenly stopped working it would be a long way to fall onto the ceiling. there would be nothing to grab onto. what if i was outside? i would have to cling to a tree but eventually i would still have to let go. i would start to panic about it, my heart rate would speed up. i would just logically talk myself out of it, though. it has never happened before so it is unlikely it would happen even in my lifetime so i can relax.

thinking about existing can especially make me panic & have a breakdown so i try not to let myself go there.

maybe that is why we are all so anxious. maybe we are more realistically aware of how miniscule and insignificant our existance is than other people. the fact that this is our only life, our only tiny chance to make an impression on the world (and we realize that), maybe that is why everything seems so much more important and serious to us.

haha, it seems i am not the only one!

sorry i havent checked back to this website for a while, i didnt realise anyone had replied

i have thought about it alot since i first wrote. i think you are very close to the answer, i think it is my constant questioning and pondering of existence, it overwhelms me sometimes. Its crazy, everything is so massive and unfathomable, but it seems that it is not accepted in our 'normal lives' to view this or speak about it, so i feel alone and afraid around people who fill their lives with goals, and i try to do the same, if i keep myself distracted the fear subsides, but then it is clear to me that it is just that - a distraction, a distraction from the fact that there are no explanations to this experience

 

[Benatom]

Ive tryed to google about this but I dont seem to find anything, i want to know if anyone has the same problem

At the height of my anxiety I have an absolute and real fear of falling off of the face of the planet, like gravity could give way at any second. If i'm outside i have to get inside, if i cant get inside i look for things that i can hold on to. I could be sitting in the park with a friend and it would overcome me all of a sudden and i will be gripping hold of the grass. i think how insane it is that i exist, and who is that who is thinking that, everything overwhelms me, normal life seems ridiculous, how can people go on with there normal lives when its all this insane, its so huge, dont they see it?

Then the anxiety finally resides to its daily murmur, and i rejoin normal life

maybe someone can relate?

I've actually heard of that myself actually. One of my relatives experiences that and they have to go indoors. That person actually suffered with nightmares whenever they tried to fall asleep and in those nighmares this experience would happen. So she saw a sleep doctor and the doctor helped her deal with the experiences. Also a lack of sleep can cause this experience.

 

[girliegoth_360]

Ive tryed to google about this but I dont seem to find anything, i want to know if anyone has the same problem

At the height of my anxiety I have an absolute and real fear of falling off of the face of the planet, like gravity could give way at any second. If i'm outside i have to get inside, if i cant get inside i look for things that i can hold on to. I could be sitting in the park with a friend and it would overcome me all of a sudden and i will be gripping hold of the grass. i think how insane it is that i exist, and who is that who is thinking that, everything overwhelms me, normal life seems ridiculous, how can people go on with there normal lives when its all this insane, its so huge, dont they see it?

Then the anxiety finally resides to its daily murmur, and i rejoin normal life

maybe someone can relate?

i can totally relate. I have been scared that the earth will fall out from under my feet for years. I know it cant happen but i always ask myself "what if it did"? its to the point where im afraid to go places or even drive in my car, and i can barely stand at work.

 

[panicsurvivor]

Yes yes yes yes.
Now you are starting to see things like I do. This is the kind of thing that I have anxiety about. I have a bunch like that. I have no trace of SA, so people think that I am lucky. But things like that freak me the **** out. My whole life is full of OCD "anchors" that I must constantly have around me or I short circut. I have gotten a lot better lately but it still plagues me.::

 

[Marianne.]

Ive tryed to google about this but I dont seem to find anything, i want to know if anyone has the same problem

At the height of my anxiety I have an absolute and real fear of falling off of the face of the planet, like gravity could give way at any second. If i'm outside i have to get inside, if i cant get inside i look for things that i can hold on to. I could be sitting in the park with a friend and it would overcome me all of a sudden and i will be gripping hold of the grass. i think how insane it is that i exist, and who is that who is thinking that, everything overwhelms me, normal life seems ridiculous, how can people go on with there normal lives when its all this insane, its so huge, dont they see it?

Then the anxiety finally resides to its daily murmur, and i rejoin normal life

maybe someone can relate?

I don't suffer with this but I read that it is called Barophobia (the fear of gravity). Good luck, I hope you can get some help for it.

Barophobia: The Fear of Gravity - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com


What Is Barophobia?

Barophobia is an overwhelming, irrational fear of gravity. The barophobic individual may have a completely distorted view of the force and/or consistency of gravitational pull. Individuals coping with this phobia may fear that they will be crushed by the force of gravity were it to become too great. These people may fear falling, for no reason, except for the pull of gravity. On the other end of this spectrum, there are barophobic individuals who may fear that gravity could fail and that they will simply float away. Barophobia derives from the Greek word "baros", meaning weight and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Barophobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person coping with Barophobia has experienced a traumatic event at some point in their life. That experience is then consistently and automatically associated with gravity.

Perhaps this person fell from a considerable height and did sustain an injury. Maybe the barophobic individual has personal knowledge of someone falling from a great height, but with devastating consequences. Perhaps this person has read science fiction books or watched movies about the loss of gravity and the consequences of it. Maybe the person coping with Barophobia is simply under-educated about the nature of gravity.

Whatever the reason, the barophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that completely disrupts their ability to function on a daily basis.

What Are the Symptoms of Barophobia?

The symptoms of Barophobia vary from person to person. Some people, when confronted with their fear, may feel slightly uncomfortable, become nauseated or begin to perspire. At the opposite, extreme end of the spectrum, other people are so severely impacted by this phobia, that they may experience anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Barophobia can include:

* Heart Palpitations

* A Dry Mouth

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Feeling Dizzy

* Muscle Tension

* Hyperventilation

* Numbness

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

* Overwhelming Feeling of Disaster

How Is Barophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Barophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual realizes that their fear of gravity is irrational and that it is severely compromising their ability to function.

The barophobic person may discuss their phobia with their primary physician. Rarely would the doctor make a diagnosis of Barophobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any physical reasons for the phobia, the doctor will refer the individual to a mental health professional for further assessment and evaluation.

How Is Barophobia Treated?

When the fear of gravity becomes so intense as to disrupt a person's daily functioning, there are a variety of ways to treat Barophobia.

These can include:

* A referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

* Traditional "talk" therapy that will teach the person to recognize and cope with their phobia.

* Exposure Therapy.

* Hypnotherapy.

* Self-help techniques such as purposeful and progressive muscle relaxation.

* Support groups with other people coping with this specific phobia.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization.

* In extreme cases of Barophobia, anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed.

Barophobia is an intense, irrational fear of gravity. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely halt a person's ability to function. Unchecked, Barophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with an individual's personal life, their social life and job responsibilities. Untreated, Barophobia impacts every aspect of a person's life.

 

[Kiwong]

At social situations I used to feel like the world is a slippery place, when it can be dragged away from under you, with fear lying beneath. It is more a metaphorical feeling rather a real fear of falling off the earth.

 

[Nanita]

About 7 years ago, I used to wake up at night and be very scared, having thoughts about falling off the planet....I found out that this nightly anxiety was caused by a drug abuse I had before - the drugs had removed my grounding.

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

I don't think I've had this...
I do get bad involuntary vertigo from time to time- a near faint when I'm climbing stairs or a hill or going up or down in an elevator... that type of thing. (and sometimes I do faint but not often anymore)
Has to do with my blood sugar/iron levels/blood pressure, I think.

I do love trampolines though...

 

[Christiiina]

I absolutley have the same fear. I recently went to a festival and had terrible feelings of anxiety over it, i even passed out a few times. When sat in the grass, if i could see the skyline i would feel sick and have to go back to the tent.
The only thing i could find to explain it is barophobia-a fear of gravity.
Hope that helps.