overcoming a fear of heights?

Raumarik · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:20

Anyone got any ideas how I can do this? I hate how I am around cliffs, even going up a ladder fills me with dread. I can actually get dizzy looking out the 2nd story window at work and even get nervous if someone opens the window and appears to me leading out a little! It's a little over the top at times but I really am utterly petrified of heights, I still have no idea how I managed to get myself into the loft a month ago to put some stuff up there! was a miracle I swear!

Has anyone conquered this? I would LOVE to do a skydive or something but to be honest doubt I'd be alive at the end of it! Oddly I use to live on the 4th floor of a block of flats.. and yes I did stay away from the windows

I'm a wimp, I admit it!

Nix · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:22

Jump.

Fantom · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:30

are you scared of falling or just being high?

Freefaller · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:31

Jump out of a plane

PaulStat · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:32

I'm scared of heights too.

Yet recently, i've done a tandum skydive, 3 bungee jumps and a canyon swing.

Did this cure it, errrr NOPE.

You're stuck with the uncomfortable feeling mate, you just have to get on with it.

Raumarik · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:33

cheers Paul at least I dont have to put myself through that and find out that it didnt help

Rotty · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:36

I'm not comfortable with heights too , I stopped it being an issue by not going anywhere high up

PaulStat · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:39

Kami said:
cheers Paul at least I dont have to put myself through that and find out that it didnt help

Actually thinking about just one of those bungee jumps in particular brings butterflies to my stomach :eek:

Watching the DVD is quite nerve racking too, i'm as white as a sheet.

|Show| · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:43

i used to be scared of heights...then i just climbed high things...i went up St Paul's, York minster and a few other things like that...it pretty much cured me...

technically when i'm by the edge of something high i tend to get a falling feeling...but its better than being scared of actually being up high....

Yas786 · 3 Apr 2006 at 13:58

Rotty said:
I'm not comfortable with heights too , I stopped it being an issue by not going anywhere high up

So how do you cope with flying then??

jakeke · 3 Apr 2006 at 14:13

i'm also un comfortable with heights, but i'm cool with flying etc, what happens happens in that case - not in my control.
as for bungee jumping etc, there is NO way i'd ever get nearly that high!
i've just stayed away from anything high that looks dangerous all my life, and never go near windows if they're high - i never think they're safe and i get so nervous when people lean on them

jumpy · 3 Apr 2006 at 14:21

I think there's a deffinite difference between being in/on a high place, but knowing you are secured or not able to fall to your death and being reliant upon your own strength and grip to not fall to your death.
I'm not afraid of high places airoplanes etc, nor do I suffer from vertigo, but I'd certainly have a problem with jumping a 4' gap between two planks of wood above a gap higher than 15'. It's the knowlege of what will happen to you if you miss... :eek:

pyro · 3 Apr 2006 at 14:41

Freefaller said:
Jump out of a plane

Basejump ***!

shimy182 · 3 Apr 2006 at 15:18

you got to go some place where you feel really comfortable yet really high. soon im sure you will get used to it and adventually over come your fears

Dinomania · 3 Apr 2006 at 15:19

My mother has terrible vertigo. She couldn't come up the Eiffel Tower with me and my stepdad, because she'd have felt an extremely strong compulsion to throw herself off.

Kell_ee001 · 3 Apr 2006 at 15:23

PaulStat said:
You're stuck with the uncomfortable feeling mate, you just have to get on with it.

Yep - that's how I felt when I was coerced into walking up the Eiffel Tower!

Did it though, and it was worth it

(just)

DJammyRasta · 3 Apr 2006 at 15:58

hehehehe when i went on the london eye i spent the entire times lying down on the seats in the middle looking at the horizon... so it is a true phobia... was i in any danger, nope.... was i too scared to go stand by the rails around the edge.. damn right i was

plan on doing a parachute jump some time soon... i dont think that will be as bad once i am actually floating down happily it it isn't really the height that is the problem.. more the violently falling to my death aspect

Murf · 3 Apr 2006 at 15:59

Kell_ee001 said:
Yep - that's how I felt when I was coerced into walking up the Eiffel Tower!

Did it though, and it was worth it

(just)

You should have trekked further you big nancy!

In all seriousness congrats though, for someone who's scared of escalators or stairs with glass sides you did well to get to the first floor when the staircase wasn't enclosed.

Le_Petit_Lapin · 3 Apr 2006 at 16:11

sara said:
My mother has terrible vertigo. She couldn't come up the Eiffel Tower with me and my stepdad, because she'd have felt an extremely strong compulsion to throw herself off.

Compulsion to throw herself off? :confused:

Thats not vertigo! get her on the Samatitans helpline asap!

Dinomania · 3 Apr 2006 at 16:19

Le_Petit_Lapin said:
Compulsion to throw herself off? Thats not vertigo! get her on the Samatitans helpline asap!

Lol, she isn't suicidal. Just her fear is so great that if she's up high enough, she'll get scared enough to want to get back down, immediately. And over the edge is undeniably the quickest way...