Rock climbing scared of heights reddit. I’m hoping these fears .

Rock climbing scared of heights reddit. You learn that you are OK. You’re more of a risk to yourself the more scared you are. My fear of dying or breaking off my legs is managed by trying to understand the safety systems and make deliberate choices about risk instead of becoming complacent. The hot air balloon was for a job, but the rest was for family and friends. But a great part of the sport Does the fear associated with climbing ever become more manageable? I am a new climber and I am continuously debating whether I should find something else to do for work. Anyone else get huge anxiety relief from climbing? I'm a beginning climber, and have a mild fear of heights as well as some general anxiety issues - but after a good climbing session (mostly bouldering) I really feel like I have just been through a good therapy session. I think most fears are discomfort with the unknown. i dont have a short term solution but for the long term, you should start rock climbing or bouldering. I'm still scared of heights, but I fly, I've been up the CN Tower and the Eiffel Tower, and I've gone in a hot air balloon. They all have auto-belays that safely lower you so you can go one time by yourself, rent gear, and try it out. Practice taking bigger and bigger falls, with at least one fall just outside of your comfort zone every time you train. I'm often afraid on steep terrain while skiing, and when rock climbing, I get very afraid of falling with lots of air below my feet. I can't afford to go see a therapist right now, but I want to get rid of this stupid fear. That's not weird, it's pretty normal, and not something you need to "conquer" necessarily. Best advice I have for getting comfortable would be to keep exposing yourself to heights. over time and some hard work, you will get better at dealing with heights im sure. How do you deal with fear of heights in rock climbing whether in a gym or on a mountain? Ive been rock climbing for 2 months. Edit: I just saw you already do that. Go do a bunjee jump or start of slow with some rock climbing. Feb 1, 2023 · People tend to say there is no way to rock climb if you’re scared of heights, but is that true? Are all rock climbers not scared of heights or falling or any of the logical fears that one might have in a sport that involves scaling vertical rock walls? Of course not! Fear is a natural part of climbing that all climbers have to deal with. The climbers were asked to rate their fear of heights on a scale of 1 to 5. And there is one thing that is undeniably holding me back, and that's just pure nerves and fear before and during climbing. I am not afraid of heights, my main fear tends to surround the possibility of the tree failing, or my tie in breaking. I’m really excited to hike the trail this year but I have a fear of heights and some of the mountains passes like Forrester pass in the sierras and freaked me out just watching a video of people doing it. The way I got over my fear was going to a water park full of zip lines, climbing walls, and cliffs to jump off of. If it helps, I hate heights too but when I’m in airplane, the more height the better! When you have control over how fast or slow you want to descend, it makes flying with a fear of heights less scary. Be confident and smart. Aug 3, 2022 · The science behind fear and expert tips for how to overcome being afraid when it prevents you from succeeding on the rock. I'm not a huge fan of climbing the ladder truck. I’m hoping these fears It is what it is. However what really helped me was indoor rock climbing with a harness. I joined my uni's climbing club, as I've always loved climbing but had a pretty strong fear of heights past maybe 8m or so. a healthy respect for heights is a good thing. Seriously, though. Dealing with fear is a very common theme in climbing, all the way from being afraid of bouldering heights to being afraid of taking big whippers when lead climbing advanced grades. But if you're looking to get into carpentry, drywalling, or roofing, you should learn to get over your fear. Maybe you'll get over it entirely. It was the first time I had felt a fear of heights, and mind you I'm a pilot! Then I went back after a couple of years of indoor rock climbing, other hiking at altitude in the sierras, and generally working to desensitize myself to cliffs and exposure. So I’ve done Mt Baker and Shasta guided via the usual newbie routes and I was fine but I think actually my fear of heights and falling has got worse over time. I have a mild dislike of heights as well. I just did the same wall, over and over climbing as high as I could each time. I second rock climbing/bouldering or anything else that involves heights. I did a couple of jobs that was a month of constant climbing truss and now it’s almost completely gone. Practice on a safe hill with less consequences of a fall. What worked for me is rock climbing. Every climber deals with fear in the sport at some time. It's not so much a manner of "getting over them. Its uncontrollable, as if a wave of freight suddenly passes through my mind. I get a I'm not scared of heights, I'm scared of being in danger. I'm not even afraid of falling from great heights. It’s supposed to be fun - so don’t do what makes you scared. I started climbing in a gym about 3 years ago, and it's pretty ridiculous how little that prepares you for outdoor climbing. I imagine anything, the rope cutting, the rock loosening, the belayer not paying attention- anything. Get some exposure to heights. I took steps to overcome my fear by reading up on the psychology behind the fear of falling (aka basophobia) and the fear of heights (aka A place to share between Locals and the membership. If you want to practice lots of climbing and height work with a safety system built in, look for adventure courses. That's when having an extra human to stabilize the ladder and spot helps. (I hate scrambling too. blogspot. I'm afraid of the sudden stop at the end. 3M subscribers in the climbing community. I have a terrible fear of heights that comes on as strong vertigo, I don't go near cliffsides because the vertigo makes me feel like I'm going to pass out and I'm afraid to faint and accidentally fall over the edge. But if a 5ft step ladder scares you, then maybe it's not for you. If your fear is heights, then the only way to develop that understanding is to I was never that scared of heights, just a little uneasy climbing high ladders. Apr 25, 2011 · I think that more climbers than not have to face a fear of heights or falling at some point, and learning to deal is what sets some of the most successful ones apart. As for the muddy boots, wear cheap crap (or keep an old pair)for getting around on the ground and swap them for good boots before you head up the ladder. It was worse in my mind, so i needed to experience it. it keeps you safe. For myself, I knew I wasn't truly afraid of heights after I tried rock climbing and repelling. Really interested in multi-pitch climbing, but having difficulty with my fear of heights Within the last year I've gotten back into climbing after roughly a decade hiatus, and I'm really getting interested in trad/multi-pitch. Everyone’s got fear of heights mate. MembersOnline • bashobt ADMIN MOD Try out a rock climbing gym with 30'+ top rope routes. Best of luck in your endeavors, dream high but don’t rush. Only greater fear of humiliation kept me going. I love being outside and I love climbing, I just sometimes get really nervous. Terrified of heights, I started rock wall climbing to see if I could get past it. Jan 30, 2024 · How to Overcome Fear of Heights in Rock Climbing: A Comprehensive Guide Are you an aspiring rock climber struggling with a fear of heights? Overcoming this fear is crucial to fully enjoying the thrilling experience of rock climbing. maybe you dont need to get over it, just be able to control it, and focus on whatever it is that you have to do. I have had this issue in my first year of climbing because I was very scared of heights but Bouldering would always psych me out way more because I wouldn’t be on a top rope and if I landed the wrong way I knew I could hurt myself. Massively afraid of heights and falling. You want to test yourself, throw yourself into something outside your comfort zone and see what you're capable of. It's a reality check that keeps you from doing stupid shit, in most cases. We're talking like anywhere from 20'- 150' off the ground. I know it's probably a ridiculous idea, but I'm wondering if anyone here has had to overcome a fear of heights initially? I would like to get into mountaineering and climbing, but I get anxiety around ledges. Speaking as a rock climber and a welder, you never really get over the fear of heights and falling. What do you think of it? : r/moviecritic Go to moviecritic r/moviecritic r/moviecritic A subreddit for movie reviews and discussions MembersOnline • PerroRosa MOD I don't think anything is wrong with you. The thing is, I absolutely love climbing, and before the fall it radically changed my fear of heights. My fiancé gets me through all of my problems. I dont want to look like a coward but I am very scared. I was a mess at first but the more I did it the more I trusted myself and the safety gear. Archived post. Your true goal is not to conquer fifty feet of inanimate rock, but to expand your abilities through learning. Is there any specific method to prevent or deal with this? I know I need to keep doing it but this really inhibits my climbing and would like to know if there are any little things I can do to cope better. I used to be incredibly afraid of heights, to the point where I could not climb one of those 25 foot high rock walls at a fair. I'm new to urban climbing I never did it before , I explored some rooftops before. Hi all, I've got a relatively interesting (I think) fear of heights, as it's not like everyone I've met. But i really want to become an urban climber. MembersOnline • LoLoki10 She decided to use rock climbing as a way to get over it. To mitigate, consider starting climbing. My wife will make some mention of me being afraid of heights, and I'll tell her I'm not at all afraid of heights. Google if there's any entry level gyms or beginner courses in his area. Eventually you get somewhat desensitized to it. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. I just had to learn to trust in my gear. May 20, 2020 · Data collected in a survey amongst 4600 climbers and aspirant climbers, show that climbing reduces acrophobia , also known as ‘fear of heights’. g. Now I haven’t always been a fan of heights when I started out, I would white knuckle just standing in the basket of a scissor lift. Jun 13, 2022 · Anxiety at the bouldering (or climbing) gym, the fear of looking like a beginner in front of others, is something almost every first-time climber deal with. To agree with and add to everyone else, one very experienced pilot & DPE I know distinguished rather astutely between the abstract sense of being in the air while flying vs much the scarier "heights attached to the ground" (e. To the point where last time I tried I just had to climb down as I couldn’t I actually started rock climbing and while i wasnt really afraid of heights before, ill now do things like stand on the top rung and stuff like it got rid if any fear i had left. The home of Climbing on reddit. Not so much the height itself but the feeling of falling. Reply reply [deleted] • Don't go way over, that can lead to reinforcing the fear, instead start off with something completely comfortable and go from there. If you’re about to go climbing for the first time or if you’re new to the sport, you’ve probably already thought about the topic of fear. The experience sounds incredible, but I unfortunately have a moderate fear of heights that can, in some extreme situations, cause me to freeze up. " - Arno Ilgner, The Rock Warrior's Way I had a crippling fear of heights and despite climbing being not the easiest sport for me, having to work hard to become good (more like "okay" but that's not the point) and overcome what I initially thought was an insurmountable fear of heights has given me more spiritual and personal growth than anything else I did. Understanding how to manage your fear while rock Does climbing get more fun later on? By the time an hour has passed I have been sweating profusely from fear rather than exercise and my head is a bit light and ringy 😅 It seems so fun when I am not climbing and away from the gym, but when I arrive and actually have to climb it becomes total fear and misery. I have the hardest time with the transition to the roof from the ladder. I've been dabbling in urban/rock climbing to overcome my fear of heights, and I feel intense stress even after like 40-50 feet, like my nerves are shot as if I'd just been in a dangerous altercation, but afterwards i feel so calm like everything is cake in comparison. Started climbing back in March this year. So your main focus should honestly getting yourself use to the heights and most importantly learning how to fall in many different ways, whether it be awkward or Please understand that rock climbing is an extremely dangerous activity. MembersOnline • Professional_Sea2509 ADMIN MOD I much preferred the rock climbing bit with a headlamp, once the sun came up my fer of heights kicked in pretty hardcore. We are all here to help each other and gain knowledge. " I know that exposure to fear is generally helpful to overcoming it, but I worry about pushing that too far. I used to be scared of heights. Hang gliding/skydiving anything really! My fear of heights has drastically diminished through climbing. I have done some rope climbing up trees, and even though I'm not really scared of heights, I was freaking out because the rope wasn't a real climbing rope. Funny story: most climbers I know have a healthy fear of heights. Learn as much as you can about anchoring, backups and redundancy, harnesses and ropes as you The home of Climbing on reddit. Standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down can be difficult. If you weren't the kid climbing 20m trees at 7 years old, you were the one looking at him from the ground, in horror and awe. com) if OP wants to read about her experience. I get this feeling usually after the 4th clip (about 5-6m off the ground). In my head, I know I'm perfectly safe on the rope, but it's as though something instinctual kicks in, and my hands and legs begin to shake. Which is fair, considering that I’ve been injured multiple times from falling on routes. Link showing spur with bluff/rock band near top that had to be scaled. I’m not sure if it’s common to try rock climbing when you’re scared of heights but if anyone has been in my position and overcome it I would love to hear what you have to say!! I used to be pretty scared of heights as well, and climbing is what helped me get over it! It's definitely something you get used to after climbing for a little while. The fear of falling when bouldering can be embarrassing for some people, but it can also be the only thing holding them back from reaching the next level. Now I have no fear response whatsoever to heights, no matter how high. You get used to it. I used to be very scared of heights and it went away over time…though illness prevented me from climbing for 2 months and getting back, I‘m back to constantly feeling sick. I have a fear of heights. 10+ Pg-13 trad and can take the victory whipper on a steep sport climb without any hesitation. ) My wife has never really had an overt fear of hikes in all our years of exposed, technical hiking and paragliding, but bouldering seems to bring it out of her. With enough exposure, you MIGHT get over your fear of heights. Fear of heights is an evolutionary survival mechanism designed to protect us from falling dangers. I can handle things like riding on the inside of a plane or even riding certain roller coasters but tall ladders and rock-climbing? Jun 22, 2023 · Understanding Your Fear of Falling There are two important concepts to understand the fear of falling in the context of rock climbing: Fear of falling (basophobia) Fear of heights (acrophobia) Studies suggest that these fears are mainly an innate, genetically determined reaction that aims at protecting the body (1, 2). As someone with severe fear of heights, this movie gave me more anxiety than any horror movie I've ever watched. You climb, you fall, you repeat. One thing that worked for me when I started top-roping was 'practice falls' get to a height where you're just about uncomfortable and pop off. I'm looking for a book to help my partner with her climbing and fear. and it could it end up being a So you need to face your fears. 655K subscribers in the virtualreality community. Jul 9, 2018 · Is your fear of heights holding you back from tackling sweet alpine scrambles and difficult 14ers? Try these 11 mind tricks to conquer fear of falling. I do alot of rock climbing, and there is nothing quite like the feeling of lead climbing and being 5-10 feet above you last quickdraw. While bouldering it kind of goes away but once I reach the last move and the top, it all comes rushing back. Climbing things to height. As far as I can tell the typical evolution of fear goes like this:#1 - Start climbing, everything is new, fear of heights, hard to trust the equipment. Dec 17, 2019 · After getting just a short way up the wall or rock, I get really nervous about the height. I want to continue in this sport but I don’t know how to tackle this. Fear of Heights Anyone got any advise with dealing with and training to deal with heights. If you are tied in well with perhaps even multiple things you are tied into, then hell take a jump and see how it For most people, there's no "getting rid" of fear of heights, if that's what you want, because it's instinctual and amplified exponentially by the enviroment you grew up in. We fear what we don't understand and what we can't control. He started rock climbing and it seemed to work. I can’t imagine being hundreds or thousands of feet above the ground for fun. rock climbing, tall ladder, skyscraper windows, etc. You'll still be scared but clarity will exist within the that framework. However I dislike climbing indoors to some extent (I'm more of a boulderer so I don't get the same kick with long, non-explosive routes) which is why my fear might be more predominant. ) I've been working at extreme heights for 25 years and I'm still anxious the whole time I'm on the perimeter. See full list on foxintheforest. #2 - Finally trust the rope and your belayer. However, I ran a Rugged Maniac a few weeks ago and was terrified of climbing over wall obstacles that would be similar to the Inverted Wall/Slip Wall/Stairway to Sparta/Bender in the Spartan world. So i dont really have a fear of heights, i enjoy climbing church towers etc on holidays for the view. Not a firefighter myself reddit guided me here for whatever reasonbut I used to be a cable tech, I have been afraid of heights since I fell from a 2nd story window in training in the Marinesone of the things I had to do on an almost daily basis was climb utility poles and houses. I tried rock climbing as a way to start overcoming my fears. fear of heights is good. 71 votes, 29 comments. Granted, this is just my theory, based on my personal experiences with motion sickness and a fear of heights. Regardless of any advice you may receive while using this forum, it is your personal responsibility to make sure that you are fully trained to handle the great deal of risk involved in climbing and related activities. Obviously, a strong fear of heights can be a bit of a problem in bouldering. For myself, the immediate spike of fear still usually happens, but it's quickly dismissed and overcome. Jan 1, 2023 · I'm anxious about a lot of things, including public speaking, home invasion, and heights. I’ve been rock climbing the past year or so in an attempt to work on this fear, and as crazy as it sounds you really can get used to doing things at heights. For me, the more I trust the equipment the more I feel ok on scary heights. It's about getting to a place where that fear is reduced to a mild discomfort. unless it's an . I've never had a fear of heights, but I have an uneasiness about them. MembersOnline • hattnc ADMIN MOD Reddit's rock climbing training community. How do I suppress my fear of heights and how do i start as a beginner I would suggest to him that he takes up the sport of rock climbing. I am 1,88m tall and scared of heights (being high up somewhere brings a void to my peripheral vision) and this particular problem was set up by one of my best friends, who has actually the person who introduced me to bouldering! The fear of heights varies: sometimes I can get dizzy in a ferris wheel or in a cinema (balcony), sometimes I don't get anything when being in high altitude. I started indoor bouldering 2 months ago, knowing that I have a pretty big fear of heights and that it will be a challenge to overcome that. Best way I found to do that when not at work is rock climbing. It’s good practice for setting boundaries with your boyfriend! Looking trails up on All-Trails can help you determine whether it is one you want to do or not. I'm almost there. YMMV. In fact, I love climbing. There are departments in my region that make you climb the ladder truck to 105 at 60° with just the ladder belt, and there have been people stuck on it for more than 20 minutes making the climb "What really matters when facing a challenge? What matters is learning. In my experience, facing your fear. I have struggled from the fear of falling myself, and still do on particularly high or daunting climbs. I have not yet been through an academy. She’s been joining me on the wall for about a year now and gets almost paralyzing fear after a couple meters up. Hell if there is a 20 foot drop with guard rails I still get scared of heights, but when flying it’s nonexistent. Reddit's rock climbing training community. your stress level will get lower as you gain experience and get more comfortable with your abilities, surroundings, and most importantly, climbing partners. However, if your brain sees enough scenarios of "oh shit I'm up high" followed by everything turning out okay, it trains your brain to not Hi, I stick to bouldering due to a fear of heights. everyone has a fear of heights and if they don't they might be crazy. once you start to trust the system and you get more exposure to the heights you will not have that visceral response to being up high. Get someone you can overcome your fear with, and the rest is easy. 63 votes, 30 comments. I'm fine on airplanes and in helicopters. I have my guys do this so the crud doesn't scratch the paint (metal roofing) The thing is I am terrified of heights. From not being able to look out of a window to climbing really high walls easily. Reply reply Aurel577 • May 11, 2025 · Explore acrophobia's symptoms, prevalence, and treatment options. I'm sure it was nothing to rock climbers, but to a fat, old hiker, with healthy fear of heights, it was 'testing'. Try rock climbing in a safe environment. net Sep 28, 2022 · If your fear of heights is holding you back from even attempting climbing, the best solution is to seek the advice of a professional therapist. You take a fall and end up falling 20 feet until the rope starts to become taut and begins to slow you down. Advice for a rook? Pay attention. Rock climbing, even climbing walls. At that point, it's easy to live with. Apparently visualising heights is supposed to help some people, while others have just said to expose myself to heights more. Hey man, not currently a tradesman but I am definitely afraid of heights. There are a bunch of great films on mountaineering and they’ve opened my eyes to this very different sport / skill. I’d say channel those fears into risk management, and build comfort with tolerable levels of risk. I did a course on top rope, auto belay and bouldering and during the course I was able to rappel down but since then I’ve been getting more and more anxious when it comes to getting down. Seeing as we're climbing, however, i would imagine it's more the fear of falling from heights? Fear of falling is perfectly normal in climbing. There's multiple types of fears of heights. 12 votes, 16 comments. It's more a matter of developing an understanding that you can do the thing you are afraid of and survive. I‘d still advice to go with top rope to get used to the height. These things are I don’t have a fear of heights but if it’s anything like the fear of skiing down a steep hill (which I did have) the only way is to keep doing it. I'm heavy, but tend to look like someone 40 pounds lighter, so between the fear of heights and the weight, it makes for an interesting challenge and I like the spent feeling at the end. I have had a crippling fear of heights since around 4 - rock climbing and abseiling make me hyperventilate, have a panic attack, and just shut down. You'll learn to be safe and check yourself even though you're nervous. But at some point i found that i too got a bit scared, i felt my stomach turn if i looked down over the edge directly and started worrying about safety etc. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with effective strategies and techniques to conquer your fear and build your confidence in scaling great heights We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Try rock climbing and embracing falls. Meaning - take a course of action to get over your fear of heights. I have had a fear of heights since I was a child. You see, my fear comes from a physiological reaction. Also, climbing Everest or any high peak is very different than outdoor rock climbing. And yes we are scared of falling. I’d like to get to a point where I can do more intense hikes and light scrambles. A place to discuss any and all things Virtual Reality. 1. . nothing solves the fear of heights like constantly falling. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. That said there’s a huge difference between “being really high in the air on tiny metal points causes my knees to shake a bit” and “climbing a six foot step ladder makes me literally shit my pants”. This sounds like the thing not to do when you're afraid of heights, but the way I thought about it is that any fear is just between the ears, and facing that fear enough eventually dumbs it down. It’ll really push back any of the fear you have related to height and will likely build confidence generally. And I feel very uncomfortable at height . She wrote a short eight to ten post blog about it (cowardlyclimber. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, especially since it's probably rare in these circles. When you get to toproping, leading, trad, etc you will have to repeat the process over and over again. No one is truly afraid of heights, but rather they have a fear of sudden stops. Almost every other climber I know personally has said the same thing. Doing things at heights. after my years of climbing I still get a touch nervy when looking off the top of things and I don't have a rope attached to me. So far, I have learned that the most helpful thing I can say to her on the wall is "you can come down whenever you want. That said, maybe consider alleviating your fear of heights. The first time I went to the climbing gym I was completely gripped with fear and I was too scared to go to the top of the wall. At the current time this is an UNOFFICIAL subreddit to the IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) but it is advised to keep the same respect and leadership you would bring to a job site or Local. The human brain is a weird thing sometimes. When I started climbing I was (am) scared shitless of heights. Aug 2, 2023 · Two outdoor leaders explain how tackling a fear of heights changed their perspective, becoming an adventure of its own We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Climbing's fun as fuck. I now love climbing, and while I have to overcome a bit of fear on the wall, it hasn’t really transferred over to hiking for me. Just climbing them and walking around high up cat walks helped me. I took a few controlled drops leading, and a few slips bouldering, l realised that i knew how to fall safely and it wasnt that big of a deal. I have tried multiple times to overcome it to no real avail. Put your self in a position where it has to be Can I summit Half-Dome with a moderate fear of heights? Hi all, a few friends and I are headed to Yosemite in August, and we are very excited about climbing Half Dome. I get uncomfortable even putting Christmas lights on my house. I'm not consciously afraid of heights. Ive noticed I can rock climb something easy and not be scared until I reach near the top but as the climb increases in difficulty the fear starts kicking in sooner. To get started or learn more about your options, get in touch with Climb Above Fear today. I'm assuming that's pretty normal but in my case I freeze and panic. I can handle things like ledges of cliffs, I went to the grand canyon and had a great time, just taking everything in, but when it comes to even things such as a step ladder when I am at work, I get nervous, or if I'm leaning on a railing, or on a balcony more than two stories up. I'm not afraid of heights, but ladders sometimes wig me out. Everest is mountaineering, which is a whole other animal. However, just walking on a mountain that is thousands of feet up above the valley floor or something similar does not scare me. There are whole books on this, and getting over fear of falling is mostly making sure that you get exposure to good falls. Rappelling. Jul 16, 2025 · Indoor rock climbing is scary at first, but the more you do it the less scary it is. MembersOnline • thinkingwithfractals Reddit's rock climbing training community. " That fear is an ingrained response. You can also do falling drills, but again, I’d do them in top rope first, then advance to lead. So I don’t. With time, you learn to trust your gear. You as a human have a natural instinct that triggers that fear in response to heights. I think you've pinpointed the problem, thank you! Fear of heights is totally normal, especially for people who do not climb, and especially for anyone exposed to a fatal or catastrophic fall with no rope or protection. Hey Climbers! I’m a fairly new climber deciding to take up the sport to improve my upper body and tackle a fear of heights. Exposure to heights. Fear of heights or fear of falling from height? The two should be distinguished imo. For me, to get over my fear of falling, i had to fall. You just have to get used to taking falls and trusting your gear. Start with less steep hills and increase the difficulty a little at a time. So I do a lot of rock climbing, and had a conversation with some other climbers about fear of heights. I absolutely love climbing on rock, and that quite possibly makes me forget my fear of heights. if you aren't comfortable with your partners, find a way to fix the situation or quickly replace them for better partners. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. You learn to trust your experience. At a few points I got dizzy, eye-sparks, etc, as usual when my phobia kicks in, but I forced myself to look at the rocks and not the ledges Jun 9, 2025 · Struggling with acrophobia? Find out how to overcome a phobia of heights with therapy, self-help strategies, and book summaries from the Headway book summary app. Most climbing accidents are due to user error, not gear failure. Learn how this common fear impacts daily life and discover effective coping strategies. I had a fear of heights then got a job with Musco Sports Lighting and ended up using boom lifts to 100’+ and climbing multiple 80’+ poles. I was always volunteering to do the work at heights to force my self to get more comfortable. A couple years ago I had to boom out over the edge of a supertall from a lift parked on the roof and it was nearly a psychedelic level of fear of dropping something. Electricians and plumbers also use step ladders, but they don't deal with planks and such, as far as I know. The best thing for you is exposure. It's no debilitating or anything, but most of us aren't what you'd call comfortable with heights over 15-20 feet. You should I'm a pilot, like rock climbing, but am afraid of heights when my brain tells me they're unstable or otherwise are perceived as untrustworthy. I took up rock climbing a few years ago to try to conquer my fear. Simply put, I'm afraid of heights when I don't feel safe (so I'm fine in an airplane, but not on a roof with a low/no wall in front of me looking down). Get really comfortable. It turns out I’m not scared of heights- I’m just scared of the fall. For training purposes you will probably be harnessed in if you're deathly afraid. A reasonable fear of heights and falling keeps us safe, but what to do if it is strong enough to stop us from enjoying a great sport? Jul 2, 2025 · With this in mind, here are my thoughts and top tips on how best to access a climbing wall safely, successfully and enjoyably, when you have a fear of heights … It’s valuable to not “get over” your fear of heights, because with heights comes serious consequences, and your comfort with heights does not change those consequences. Over and over. Rock climbing is a great way to learn that you are in control. I enjoy climbing because I'm afraid of heights, and it gets me out of the house. A friend of mine had a fear of heights. Skinny bastard was better than me. take some rock climbing classes and get familiar with the equipment and climbing and rappelling from different heights. In rock climbing, this innate response is amplified by perceived risk and unfamiliar situations. It was the unknown that was holding me back bouldering and leading. In this article, we’ll look at different ways you can overcome your climbing anxiety. Surprisingly, via ferrata was easier than indoor climbing. She particularly hates loose approaches and topping out multi-pitch climbs. The more I went out the easier it got. Understanding Fear of Heights in Rock Climbing Before diving into techniques to overcome fear, it helps to understand why it arises. Maybe try something like that in your off time? Are people who do rock climbing unafraid of heights? Or is facing the fear part of the appeal? I am terrified of heights. Whether that’s a fear of falling, heights, or failing to succeed at a climb. It’s primarily the physical response rather than the mental, but if I stand on a cliff edge I get vertigo / jelly legs and feel like I I was deathly afraid of heights and when I was going through fire school was terrified of the ladder section of the course. Not only will it improve his strength, it will definitely help him conquer his fear of heights in a gradual way. If you’re on Reddit using the phrase “sensitive to heights”, this trade probably isn’t right for you. Welcome to climbing. It's just not often spoken about, and people will often be encouraged to continue climbing through that fear, which might only worsen and engrain said fear. Try to work on some dynamic problems so you get used to popping off the wall Reddit's rock climbing training community. Now, 8 years later, I lead 5. The problem is that I aren't really sure if that is a good reasons to do it. Either way go slay the dragon before it comes to your village. I too have issues with heights, but mine originated from getting vertigo, which left me feeling unsafe near heights and turned into a fear of heights as well. I've been on the road in a van for the last 4 months, climbing at least 6 days a week in some form. bjyaj qvpg vqt zson isv geru dnccnqau ydtwgh ljim nkzh