APD (Accident Proneness Disorder)

I’ve had three small  (very minor) accidents in the last two months. All of them, unfortunately, were of my own making. Yes, this is a “confession blog.” Each one was potentially avoidable, and - truth be told - my spouse had warned me that this was bound to happen. More on that later.

But it makes me wonder: is this a case of late onset “Accident Proneness”? Is it a newly emerging disorder (I prefer to call it a disorder - because that diffuses responsibility), or is it a late-onset behavioral trait (for which I must, unfortunately, take full responsibility)? Or was it all, the wet climate of Kerala? (I need to find a reason beyond self.) I’ll leave the diagnosis to the reader.

 

Accident #1: Running Before Yourself Disorder (RBYD) - The first accident was a slip and fall on a wet and slippery step, the effects of which I’m still recovering from. In hindsight, the problem wasn’t the step - it was me. Specifically, it was me running ahead of myself. For those neurologist friends already diagnosing me: rest assured, I exhibit no signs of a propulsive gait, neurodegenerative disorders, or visual midline shift syndrome (I’ve done my self-examination).

 

The issue was simple: I was in a hurry to take friends and family to a funeral. I saw the wet step, acknowledged it was slippery, and still didn’t slow down. I call this the “Running Before Yourself Disorder.” It’s rooted in a false belief that busyness equals effectiveness. I wasn’t living in the present—I was already mentally in the next moment.

Accident #2: Preoccupied Mind Disorder (PMD) - The second accident involved missing a step. It wasn’t due to poor vision or visual agnosia, nor do I suffer from Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome. I was just preoccupied - my mind juggling too many things at once.

In retrospect, I diagnosed myself again: this time with “Preoccupied Mind Disorder” or “Distracted Mind Disorder.” I was taking out the garbage and not paying attention to where I was stepping. The mind was scattered, and the body was moving in a completely different direction. Life, like staircases, requires you to take one step at a time. I missed that - literally and figuratively.

 

Accident #3: Ignoring Advice Disorder (IAD)The third incident? Another slippery step. But this time, the culprit was a worn-out slipper (not soul, though that too may need checking). I had been repeatedly told to throw it out. I refused.

 

This wasn’t the first warning I ignored, but I convinced myself the slippers could last “a few more months.” And then I slipped. This, I believe, is a male trait (generally speaking). I’ve decided to call it “Self-Confidence Disorder” or perhaps more accurately, “Ignoring Advice Disorder.” There’s no official diagnosis in medicine, but it aligns well with cognitive dissonance - knowing the truth but choosing to ignore it, and then quite literally, falling for it.

 

The Cure - How do we treat these disorders? The answer is beautifully simple—at least in theory: Live in the present, Focus on one thing at a time and Listen to sound advice.

 

There’s even a timeless story in the Good Book that sums this up - the story of Martha and Mary.

 

“When Martha heard that her Master was visiting town, she eagerly invited Him over. She rushed around her apartment—setting the table, preparing snacks, checking everything twice. Meanwhile, her sister Mary simply sat in the living room, fully present, listening to every word He spoke. Frustrated, Martha finally burst in: “Don’t you care that I’m doing all the work while she just sits there? Tell her to help me!” He smiled kindly and said, “You’re stressing over so many things. But only one thing truly matters right now. Mary has chosen it - and it won’t be taken from her.”

 

Maybe I need to listen more, be present in the present, focus on one thing and read that story a little more often.