How can I get over my fear of heights?

Question

I can ride roller coasters, repell, fly, do pretty much everything, but I'm constatnly afraid. How can I get over this?

Answer 1

I am afraid of heights too. I do enjoy going on roller coasters, flying, climbing and the like. But looking over cliffs, being unexpectedly close to a ledge, stepping down on uncertain terrian from an akward distance get to me. What has helped me, besides exposing myself constantly to the same obstacles, is casual cliff-jumping.

You might have the opportunity but I am close to several small waterfalls with deep pools at their bases. Go with a group of friends and take some small twenty to thirty foot jumps into a deep pool and relax. Push yourself a little. Make at lest 5 jumps an hour the first time. Next time push a little further. Keep visiting the pool until you can associate a cliff edge with fun and exhiliration.

It has helped me a lot.

Good luck...

Answer 2

Try this - close your eyes and imagine that you are looking over the edge of a very tall building. Now you feel afraid so ignore that and see if there is another feeling there, the feeling of wanting to leap out and fly.
I heard that this is the reason some of us have a fear of heights and thought it was bunk until I did this little experiment and discovered it is true.
I don't know where this comes from and I can't see a way to get rid of it.
I spent many years afraid to fly until I had the opportunity to write as story on flying lessons as a reporter for a small newspaper.
I was so fascinated about doing the story, I put my fears aside.
I discovered it is totally different from the usual fear of heights because there is no ledge or edge - interesting isn't it?.

Answer 3

Imagine this:

You hate carrots, so every day, you force yourself to eat a plateful of carrots in some way or another: carrot stew, saute of carrots, carrots au gratin, stewed carrots, raw carrots, shaved carrots over mashed potatoes, etc etc etc.

At the end of the week, month, year, etc, has your position about carrots changed any?

Most likely answer: not a heck of a lot.

How is forcing yourself to do something you don't want to do going to assuage the fear that tells you 'don't do that'? The more you do what the fear tells you not to do, the more the fear feels as if it is not being heard, which makes it only shout louder.

Phobias, fears and whatnot, are basically emotional parts of ourselves that say 'back the f^&& away and leave me alone'. The fear is basically your mind calling for a time-out, because it needs to pull-back and reset its emotional clock. The fear is saying that the emotion is still too close and recent for you to deal with.

Imagine trying to go running on a leg you just broke. The more you try to move around on it, the longer it takes to heal (especially if, in your doctors-dont-know-squat mode, you end up re-breaking the leg and/or making it worse). A fear acts the same way.

You can't get over a fear in the same way you can't get over a broken leg; by forcing it. A fear is asking for the same respect as a broken leg. The sooner you listen to it, the sooner it will begin healing and go away.

Answer 4

Stand at the top of a building and look down.Do this very often until you are used to it.Then you might overcome it.You can also do that by looking down when you are at the seventh floor of a shopping mall,but the sensation is different.lol.i want to overcome my slight fear of heights too.another thing,when you're on a roller coaster,don't think about the height and constantly reassure yourself that you're not afraid of heights.repeat it over and over again.

Answer 5

Am afraid as well but not as much as you listed. I hv reduced it as well a little bit now. Try not to think that u r unsafe when u actually indulge in such activities. Try to hv somebody (friend or someone who will helpu) nearby and explain abt ur fears and help u in case u r in the extremes. Lock urself well and tell urself that it is absolutely safe. Hold on to the support provided very tightly and enjoy. If still doesn't work, try closing ur eyes for few rides.

Answer 6

You are lucky that you go into roller coaster rides I can not stand going in them because I am also afraid of heights. My brother made me go into space mountin at florida 8 years ago I was very mad at my brother and I never again want to go int any roller Coaster again

Answer 7

If you can do all of that then it sounds like your fear is normal. I was afraid of heights so I took up free climbing and overcame it but I think our survival mechanism never totally releases us from fear I choose to think of it as respect more so than fear when you loose your fear altogether death will soon follow at least among rock climbers and mountaineers.

Answer 8

I always walk on top of tall bulding. Therefore fear of heights should not be the main factor. But the fear never go away. Believe me i fall twice from the ist floor.

Answer 9

I am the same way....I wouldn't worry too much about it if it isn't holding you back from doing those things. I don't think you can really get over it unless you constantly "practice" or you make yourself do things that you are scared to do. I am so scared but I would never let something get in the way of me having fun so I don't let myself think about it and just do it.

Answer 10

I hate heights also my hubby wants me to go skydiving. I've only been like this since having children. I hope someone else can answer you question cos I'm not going to try to jump out of a plane for anyone.