Heights

[xlr8r]

hi folks, Recently I have noticed that I am totally useless with Heights. I never had a problem in the past and now all of a sudden I get panicy going out on a balcony 4 stories up for example. How can I over come this fear that I want to get rid off?

[Quizmonster]

You refer to 'in the past' and there is no doubt that this is - or can be - an age-related thing. As a young man, climbing was my hobby and most weekends would find me dangling from a sea-cliff or mountain-crag somewhere. Now I get acrophobia if I find myself on a too-high bar-stool!

I can assure you of one thing...it will affect you only if the structure you are on is attached to the ground...ie a balcony, cliff-edge, outside lift etc. I guarantee you could sit totally unperturbed with your legs dangling from a helicopter at 500 feet.

That's been my experience at least. Once the fear had developed, it has never gone away.

[Kit]

Lucky old you, QM - I get the heebyjeebies whether attached to the ground or not (and if not exactly a spring chicken, I'm certainly not an old boiler!) The thought process goes like this: "Blow me, that's a long way down. Gosh, wouldn't it be terrible if I fell?" and somehow my imagination works on my central nervous system to simulate just how it would feel if I did. A kind of virtual fall, if you like. For the same reason I can't watch people bungee-jumping - I get collywobbles on their behalf. I have no idea whether bungee-jumping does actually feel that bad; having experienced it second-hand, no way in the world would you get me up there! Sorry, xlr8r, no advice - but lots of sympathy....

[Fluffyudders]

I always used to have a problem with heights, but not anymore! I solved my fear with a trip to Alton Towers. I had always been terrified of rides and had never even been on one that went upside down. Some friends dragged me (and I really mean dragged) on the then newly opened Oblivion ride, which is a straight vertical drop. I was terrified at first, but once I'd made the drop I was fine. I can't help with the age thing though: I was afraid of heights from birth, and only 17 when I fixed the problem. Good luck though!

[bernardo]

Dangling out of a helicopter?! I prefer to remain on terra firma. The more the firmer, the less the terror.

[coggles]

Me to, Bernardo, but the strange thing is, I love flying (in aeroplanes of course) unless it is just a short flight in a smaller aircraft and I have to walk up steps to get in, (as opposed to just going from the terminal/gate straight onto the plane). You can bet your life that the queue to get on moves smoothly until I get to the top of the stairs. That's when someone loses their boarding pass and I have to endure hours, ok, minutes, trying not to look over the side of the stairs. Still, good excuse for a G&T once on board...

[Quizmonster]

Yes, I can vouch for the truth of 'heli-dangling' being fear-free, Bernardo, having done it many a time during military service. So, too, was hang-gliding when I tried it a few years ago. There is no doubt whatever that being free from "the surly bonds of earth" is a key element here.

I suspect that being 'outside' - as in both situations above - is important as well, so may not apply to flying in an aircraft with some people. Take me to within fifty yards of a cliff-top, however, and I'll end up lying on the ground clutching at clumps of grass! (Who are these idiots who fall halfway down Beachy Head by accident?)

[Toglet]

As my pedantic Father taught me - I have no problem with heights...it's DEPTHS that scare me! (Don't mean to shout, just can't do bold)

[answerbok]

xlr8r, 'heights' is a problem caused by lack of self confidence. I used to have loads, and did heights easily. Now i have less and don't. This is the top and bottom of the issue as i see it. Anyone know differently?

[Quizmonster]

Toglet, Assuming you're serious about bold print, here's how to do it. Immediately before typing the word or phrase to be emboldened, type a left-arrow (that's one of these <) then a letter b then a right-arrow (that's one of these >). After the bold word/phrase type another left-arrow, a forward slash (that's one of these /) another letter b and another right-arrow.

And there you have it! For italic, replace the letters b with letters i and, for underlining, replace the letters b with letters u.

[Toglet]

Thank you Quizmonster. Yes, I was serious (hang my head in shame)....has it worked....?

[Toglet]

Yes!!!!

[parkhead]

I am also terrified of heights to the extent that it has taken me 5 years to venture into my loft and then I thought my heart would leave my chest it was beating so hard. My fear is not so much the height itself but that I get an ulmost uncontrolable urge to throw myself off the edge and I just know one day I will not be able to stop myself doing this.

[Quizmonster]

Parkhead, There's a well-known quote from Nietzsche that says: "When you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you." That eerie feeling is what you - and many, many others - experience with heights. Don't worry about it...you won't one day hurl yourself over any more than 99.9999% of others ever do.

[Quizmonster]

Toglet, well done...now don't get carried away or you'll want to know how to do colours next!

Seriously, if you click http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/basics.html a link will take you to a website with some tutorials on how to use these basic html codes. Enjoy!