Tortoise wrote:Any practical suggestions, big or small, gratefully received.
RonK wrote:Tortoise wrote:Any practical suggestions, big or small, gratefully received.
Get a copy of the TV series "Redesign Your Brain" with Todd Sampson. I think it's available from the ABC shop on DVD.
In series 2 he has to condition himself to perform a tightrope walk between high rise buildings.
The techniques he used should work for you also.
South_Aussie_Hiker wrote:Another thing is to consider that you might not make it to the top - but you will have covered some pretty formidable terrain to get there and given it your best shot. The once or twice I've turned back from a summit due weather or conditions or exposure, I've NEVER regretted that decision.
You need to look at it differently. If you get all the way there and the final 100m or so ends up stopping you, isn't it still a great achievement? I bet a lot of people would never be able to get a few km past the carpark.
Glass half full stuff... If you are fortunate enough to get the summit, then consider it a lucky bonus. If you pin all your hopes on overcoming your fear and making the summit, then:
1. You are setting yourself up for disappointment
2. Your fear of heights will be associated with success/failure, which will heighten your fear and prohibit good decision making
3. You're less likely to take things on face value (ie small achievable steps, rather than one huge insurmountable goal)
Good luck.
vicrev wrote:Being an ex high rise rigger,never look down while climbing......it worked for me....
Tortoise wrote:Any practical suggestions, big or small, gratefully received.
Mechanic-AL wrote:I recall quite happily walking through the clouds for a whole day on the Everest Base camp track a few years ago. As I sat munching on some lunch the clouds slowly peeled away to reveal the gut churning drop off that the tiny little ledge I was perched upon was skirting around. With in a 10 minute time frame I went from happily skipping through the mountains without a care in the world to trembling in morbid fear that I was certain to die if I just stood up!!!
Mechanic-AL wrote:That doesn't mean wimping out on a challenge though.
Zone-5 wrote:So I say respect your fear as it will keep you safe! Chance it without good experience and you may risk your own and possibly someone else's life in your rescue or remains recovery afterwards.
Be careful and trust what that 'little voice' inside is screaming at you to NOT do...
Overlandman wrote:You could try skydiving.
Orion wrote:Anyway, I think repetition and exposure to the exposure over time dampened my fears. A kind of desensitization treatment where I slowly realized that I was safe in those situations.
Orion wrote:Overlandman wrote:You could try skydiving.
Most people seemed to relax after about half a dozen jumps but I had to struggle with feelings of panic for closer to 25.
Now it's a very easy climb, at least in good weather.
north-north-west wrote:Orion wrote:Anyway, I think repetition and exposure to the exposure over time dampened my fears. A kind of desensitization treatment where I slowly realized that I was safe in those situations.
I'm going the other way. Twenty years ago I'd have done it easily without a second thought. But now . . .
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