I'm a size 13, and I skate an 8.25 just fine, it's really just getting over the mental block you got. I previously skated an 8.5 for well over a year and felt incredibly sturdy, but after riding around on an 8.38 for another year and then deciding to go back to an 8.5, I felt just fine. If you want to stick to bigger boards, it's ultimately up to you, but I think you'll adjust just fine