Beating fear of heights…

[V1nce Fox]

As title really. Just come back from a break with the wonderful mrs. Vince and wasn’t able to go up one particular local landmark (bridge across sheer cliffs).

I’d like to be able to get a grip of heights as i don’t want it stopping us seeing other stuff.

Anyone get a win out of this?

[LordHaveMurci]

Look at VR Therapy, probably hideously expensive though.

Orher than that, build up height gently & gradually, don’t do what I did & jump out of a plane, climb mountains etc - doesn’t conquer your fear, merely reinforces it.

[V1nce Fox]

LordHaveMurci said:

Look at VR Therapy, probably hideously expensive though.

Orher than that, build up height gently & gradually, don’t do what I did & jump out of a plane, climb mountains etc - doesn’t conquer your fear, merely reinforces it.

yeah i wasnt planning that!

[nuyorican]

LordHaveMurci said:

build up height gently & gradually

This.

I think a fear of heights is a perfectly normal response. But also that it is learnt. What I mean by that is, for example: as a kid I was fearless, climbing the highest trees, clambering over very high roofs etc. Then as an adult, my bottle went and I became terrified of heights. Then a while back, I became a painter in the summer, working up ladders and on scaffold etc. When I began I was hanging on for dear life. But I needed the money so... what I noticed is that over a few years, at the beginning of the summer I'd be terrified. but slowly get used to it and by the end of the summer I'd be hopping about all over the place up there, almost complacent. And actually enjoying it.

Find a safe way to expose yourself to increasing exposure!

Also, I'm not sure how scientific this is, but I'm sure there's a link between balance and fear of heights. If you get your abs/core strong, you can balance more without wobbling around which kind of feeds back into more mental 'control/calmness'. In my experience anyway.

Edited by nuyorican on Saturday 26th February 13:27

[MitchT]

I have a very weird response to heights - I get stabbing sensations in the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. It happens even if I watch videos on YouTube of people doing scary height-related stuff. I'm actually okay with heights myself as long as I'm on a stable structure - Eiffel Tower, Empire State, Top of the Rock, etc. all fine. On the other hand, half way up stepladders and I'm a pathetic mess!

[Glosphil]

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

[V1nce Fox]

Glosphil said:

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

This is interesting. I’ve got worse with age as well.

[frisbee]

LordHaveMurci said:

Look at VR Therapy, probably hideously expensive though.

Orher than that, build up height gently & gradually, don’t do what I did & jump out of a plane, climb mountains etc - doesn’t conquer your fear, merely reinforces it.

The impression of height in VR games is really effective, especially standing on a ledge or driving around a racetrack which you know in real life.

[Stan the Bat]

V1nce Fox said:

Glosphil said:

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

This is interesting. I’ve got worse with age as well.

Me too .

[robinh73]

Stan the Bat said:

V1nce Fox said:

Glosphil said:

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

This is interesting. I’ve got worse with age as well.

Me too .

Same here. Bit of a pain as in my mid 40s I decided to take up tree surgery full time. The climbing trees side of things (something I did with ease and no worries in my younger days) was a real hurdle and has taken time to get used to. I found that building the height up in manageable doses was the way forward for me. I still struggle with trees over about 80ft but am getting there. I also realised that it is a natural fear and not something to worry about or get too het up about.

[TRIUMPHBULLET]

Glosphil said:

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

Have to agree with this, have got to the age where I freeze with fear on even modest heights these days.

[mcelliott]

Pretty scared here, as in feet tingle when I see anyone free climbing or such like, anyway a few years ago I had a mole that turned cancerous on my face, I thought it would a a good idea to raise some money for charity, long Storie short I end up doing a skydive 10,000ft over the English Channel, and have been doing every year since, hasn't cured my fear though!

[Louis Balfour]

V1nce Fox said:

As title really. Just come back from a break with the wonderful mrs. Vince and wasn’t able to go up one particular local landmark (bridge across sheer cliffs).

I’d like to be able to get a grip of heights as i don’t want it stopping us seeing other stuff.

Anyone get a win out of this?

Many years ago, I was a BT engineer and used to have to climb poles. I had a nylon belt in which I used to lean out and hang from the pole. Before I did the job, I wasn't good with heights and never really got over it.

This was the worst pole I ever climbed. It was so high that all the drop wires went downwards towards the properties and it used to sway in the wind.


So, in my experience, exposure is not an effective therapy.

[ruggedscotty]

Height is one that you need to work on in a safe controlled environment.

some people never get over it. some realise that through faith in the correct gear like harness and ropes you are in control and wont fall but thats faith in your kit.

the step from i might fall to im not going to fall clarifies a lot. and the right kit approach and training does that.

[LordHaveMurci]

V1nce Fox said:

As title really. Just come back from a break with the wonderful mrs. Vince and wasn’t able to go up one particular local landmark (bridge across sheer cliffs).

Tintagel by any chance?

[Cotty]

Glosphil said:

My fear of heights has worsened as I've aged. As a teenager I went rock climbing & often climbed trees. In my late 30s I did a parachute jump - not the latest kind when youre strapped to an experienced jumper, but by myself from 1500 feet.
Now, at 75, I hate heights. I'm OK if enclosed in a building, etc., but can't stand near a high edge in the open.

Im a little like that. As long as its a safe height im fine. I used to work on the 18th floor in my office and it had floor to ceiling windows and never had a problem. Outside put me close to a large drop like a cliff with no protection/safety thats when I get sweaty palms.

[V1nce Fox]

LordHaveMurci said:

V1nce Fox said:

As title really. Just come back from a break with the wonderful mrs. Vince and wasn’t able to go up one particular local landmark (bridge across sheer cliffs).

Tintagel by any chance?

That’s the bd. Was really looking forward to seeing the statue of Arthur, watched loads of videos and didn’t register as a problem.

Soon as i got to that bridge my feet welded themselves to the ground. Bit pissed off with myself tbh.

[LordHaveMurci]

V1nce Fox said:

That’s the bd. Was really looking forward to seeing the statue of Arthur, watched loads of videos and didn’t register as a problem.

Soon as i got to that bridge my feet welded themselves to the ground. Bit pissed off with myself tbh.

I went before they installed the new bridge, that was ‘testing’ enough.

Took an Aussie friend & her daughter there 2yrs ago, I let them carry on & went for a walk

[V1nce Fox]

LordHaveMurci said:

V1nce Fox said:

That’s the bd. Was really looking forward to seeing the statue of Arthur, watched loads of videos and didn’t register as a problem.

Soon as i got to that bridge my feet welded themselves to the ground. Bit pissed off with myself tbh.

I went before they installed the new bridge, that was ‘testing’ enough.

Took an Aussie friend & her daughter there 2yrs ago, I let them carry on & went for a walk

Glad it’s not just me then. Seeing little kids skipping across it didn’t help either

[The Mad Monk]

V1nce Fox said:

As title really. Just come back from a break with the wonderful mrs. Vince

Why isn't she Mrs Fox.

Or is she narried to Cpl Jones?