Anyone who witnessed my panic attack at the top of the 40ft high Tiger Trap (how apt) at Tough Guy last week will realise I suffer from vertigo.
Something Angelis said at Wokingham half today made me think - he said to overcome a fear you should keep on facing it.
Is this true? Is it possible to at least control vertigo? I get classic symptoms of feeling sick & dizzy & wanting to jump off.
Any advice welcomed. Perhaps I should practise by getting on a ladder & cleaning the upstairs windows at home, they certainly could do with it!
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Have you been on the London Eye?
Then perhaps a Big Wheel at a fair, look out of a very high window at a castle or something...
Or just close your eyes and think "Apache"...
Yes, I've been on the London Eye, although I didn't feel very comfortable.
Closing my eyes now, ahhhh ...... :-)
I remember going to Bristol a few years ago and litterally not being able to walk onto the suspension bridge there. My Dad just couldn't work out what the problem was when I suddenly paniced and it took a good half an hour to calm me down enough for me to explain what the problem was.
That was about 6 years ago but I can walk over although I'm not exactly relaxed at times but can control it.
I eventually decided not to let it stop me doing anything but always tell someone I'm with if I think we might be going somewhere where it could be a problem - I find if I trust the people round me to get me down then I'm generally ok, although sometimes have to hold someones hand!
I've managed to sucessfullly go paraglyding, absailing, climbing, ridge walking - I just refuse to let it be a problem. However I really can't do ladders.
The more times you experience and conquer the fear the better you will be able to cope with it.
i expect the Tough Guy was a particularly bad situation cause you felt you had to rush and didn't have a chance to decide for yourself that you wanted to go on.
It's about being in control and taking time to have a deep breath and weigh up the risks.
Well done for getting through the Tough Guy - you are much braver than me :-)
I think you're right about the being in control bit. I try hard not to make it stop me doing things like going on the London Eye with the family for example, and I think the problem with a couple of the obstacles at Tough Guy was that there really was a risk of falling off (albeit into safety nets - don't want to put anyone else off doing it!).
I think an outing to the top of the tower at Leith Hill might be in order soon ...
I regularly run over a dual carriageway - the bridge on the island over the top. This too gives me the willies; I have to run as far away from the edge as I can. I also hate driving over flyovers - eek to Spaghetti Junction & a bit of Nottingham. But yes, regular exposure makes it better, in my opinion. Focus, deep breaths.
Strangely, being up high on a hill or mountain doesn't scare me as much as the urban stuff. No idea why. I went up Mam Tor in the Peak District a couple of days ago, windy enough to launch you off the top if you put a foot wrong. I was only mildly worried compared to going over a relatively safe flyover in the car. How does the mind work? I don't know...
It is probablly the posibility of falling that is more of a factor than the height itself. I ususally find it much better if I have something to hold onto.
Lets run to Leith Hill one weekend soon - I've never been up the tower but I have had the great cake they make!
Good idea about running to Leith Hill Lindi, I was going to post on the Ashtead Running Group thread about a long run on Sat 21st Feb if I can ever find the thread again!
Well done you!!
You CAN do it Tiger!
At least I know I'm not the only one.
So, looks like a trip to Paris is in order ...
I went up the Empire State buliding recently and even lent over the side to take photos - I was a bit shakey but ok really.
But I really struggled to stand on a chair to change a light bulb on the landing last week.
Tiger - I think you need to do a round the world trip touring tall buildings, adn I'd better come along too!
think Angelis and LH are right to an extent - confront your fears gradually and in safety and you'd be amazed what you can overcome
never worked for me with celery though
Like most phobias, facing them is the first step, there just there to keep you safe.
As you confront your fears, you'll find it does get easier.
Went to a climbing wall with work a few years ago - first climb I only could get up to about 15 feet before feeling very unhappy (and fully harnessed). After a bit more practice I was happily scurrying round the top of the wall. It's a fun activity, and you are in complete control of how far you go up. Maybe that would be worth doing ?
That Tiger will hold no fears for you next year !
I agree that it is possible to become desensitised to your fear- several years ago, Dad was repointing the chimney (scaffolding up the side of the house etc) During the course of the fortnight I went from not being able to climb more than 6' off the ground to running around the roof at will...unfortunately that was about 25 years ago and I've lost my nerve again now!
Thanks for all your feedback everyone.
Good luck - maybe I should join you!
http://www.high-sports.co.uk/
This is going to be a laugh - a bunch of quivering wrecks clinging 3ft off the ground on a wall!
I think there are lots of different types of fears of heights, I'm happy as Larry on a knife edge ridge, but hate looking off high man-made things. For what it's worth, I've got a completely unfounded theory about one type of fear of heights. I spent quite a lot of time walking in the alps and although I could be on a wide enough path, if I looked down a steep slope into a big valley I felt really dizzy. I think it was because my brain just wasn't used to looking down and seeing something 3 miles away, rather than 3 feet away. Anyway, I found if I just sat down and spent 15 minutes or so looking at the view and getting my brain used to it then I was fine after that.
Quite fancy one of those Ironman things, is it horrible though?
Cheers
Dunk
My friends are now better climbers than me, in Oz we scaled sheer-180 meter sandstone rock outcrops in 4 pitches (to those in the know...) and abseiled down again!
Try it - it's great fun!
I work with heights all day long and suddenly out of nowhere had a horrible panicky feeling whilst on a pitched roof which terrified me about 4 years ago!
Funny thing is I am also an anxiety phobia coach!! Which was quite handy, because I knew exactly what to do to quickly get the panicking to stop and the anxiety to pretty much go.
Allow me to put a challenge to you and runners world maybe.
If you will give me 4 hours of your time, I will guarantee to massively improve your heights phobia. Maybe eradicate it completely! I have used a simple technique on quite a few people, which bypasses your logical mind and gets to the issue of where the phobia comes from fast and effectively with no need to retraumatise yourself.
What do I want out of this?
Only a case study!
Good publicity for runners world in getting someone over their heights phobia. Good for you to overcome your phobia. Good for me in I get a proven case study.
Am not sure how you can get in touch via here?