Rock climbing fear of heights reddit. And I feel very uncomfortable at height .

Rock climbing fear of heights reddit. 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. 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. May 11, 2025 · Explore acrophobia's symptoms, prevalence, and treatment options. You'll learn how to work with fear of falling, fear of heights and exposure, social fears, fear of failure and performance anxiety. But what about heights? I've had fear of heights since I was a kid. You see, my fear comes from a physiological reaction. You take a fall and end up falling 20 feet until the rope starts to become taut and begins to slow you down. " - Arno Ilgner, The Rock Warrior's Way 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. if you aren't comfortable with your partners, find a way to fix the situation or quickly replace them for better partners. I dont want to look like a coward but I am very scared. However, recently I froze on these climbing obstacles and ended up climbing back down after trying to muster the mental strength to get over them. The whole point of the activity is to climb higher than I'm generally comfortable with, but once you trust your belay line, it becomes less terrifying. While bouldering it kind of goes away but once I reach the last move and the top, it all comes rushing back. Edit: I just saw you already do that. You climb, you fall, you repeat. However what really helped me was indoor rock climbing with a harness. 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. The best thing for you is exposure. But what if I won't? 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. Can never get beyond the first 2-3 sets of stairs before looking down makes me too dizzy to continue. I had a fear of heights as a child but can now rappel down 100ft+ cliffs without fear. 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. 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. I'm assuming that's pretty normal but in my case I freeze and panic. I get a Reddit's rock climbing training community. " I know that exposure to fear is generally helpful to overcoming it, but I worry about pushing that too far. All in all, I'd say I love adrenaline pumping activities. Any ideas? Admittedly I’ve very inexperienced in mountaineering, but for rock climbing, I overcame it by practice and actually falling a few times. 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. Best way I found to do that when not at work is rock climbing. To help with my unease I went to a rock climbing gym where you are strapped in to the descent line and where the boulder climbs have super thick padding. Dec 17, 2019 · After getting just a short way up the wall or rock, I get really nervous about the height. 12 votes, 16 comments. Is this doable? Thanks in advance. How do I suppress my fear of heights and how do i start as a beginner For me, to get over my fear of falling, i had to fall. I rather not have to fly from one state to another if possible, just spend 2-3 months on the trail without tackling my fear of heights too much. Climbing's fun as fuck. Standing on the edge of a cliff and looking down can be difficult. I rock/mountain climb, have been 30 metres up a tree doing arboreal work, been on top of some very tall structures, skydived, etc, but an accidental fall is not something I intend to ever let happen. Your true goal is not to conquer fifty feet of inanimate rock, but to expand your abilities through learning. I can handle things like riding on the inside of a plane or even riding certain roller coasters but tall ladders and rock-climbing? Try finding a climbing gym where they have ropes set up to climb simulated rock walls. He started rock climbing and it seemed to work. 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. You'll still be scared but clarity will exist within the that framework. 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 Looking for a partial AT hike route that doesn’t involves any risk of falling from high cliffs. We did this on some easier routes a few times and it really helps you get over that fear of suddenly falling. I’m hoping these fears Aug 2, 2023 · Two outdoor leaders explain how tackling a fear of heights changed their perspective, becoming an adventure of its own The thing is, I absolutely love climbing, and before the fall it radically changed my fear of heights. Over time you start to trust the gear you have and the physics that make them safe. The human brain is a weird thing sometimes. Find an interested friend, go to your local gym, and get into top-roping (this is climbing where you're tied into a rope that's anchored to the top). The lesson from it was the fear was psychological and could be overcome, but vertigo and fear of heights affect people differently so you need to approach it in your own way. com Dec 17, 2019 · After getting just a short way up the wall or rock, I get really nervous about the height. 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. Reddit's rock climbing training community. For myself, I knew I wasn't truly afraid of heights after I tried rock climbing and repelling. ) 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. 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. With enough exposure, you MIGHT get over your fear of heights. I have not yet been through an academy. Go bouldering/rock climbing. 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”. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Exposure Therapy may help. She’s been joining me on the wall for about a year now and gets almost paralyzing fear after a couple meters up. Get some exposure to heights. Which is fair, considering that I’ve been injured multiple times from falling on routes. Try rock climbing in a safe environment. I have a fear of heights. Try out a rock climbing gym with 30'+ top rope routes. With time, you learn to trust your gear. Jul 16, 2025 · Indoor rock climbing is scary at first, but the more you do it the less scary it is. When I started climbing I was (am) scared shitless of heights. 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). 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've only been climbing for a couple of weeks but the fear of heights I experience is mainly fear of losing control. I grew up with a very serious fear of heights - I got “control” over it by getting my Jump Wings with the Canadian Airborne. There are a bunch of great films on mountaineering and they’ve opened my eyes to this very different sport / skill. This is especially bad for me on ridges. I also love mountainbiking and snowboarding and slacklining and windsurfing. 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. Fear of Heights Anyone got any advise with dealing with and training to deal with heights. I am not afraid of heights, my main fear tends to surround the possibility of the tree failing, or my tie in breaking. nothing solves the fear of heights like constantly falling. Start with less steep hills and increase the difficulty a little at a time. Fuji - I don't think it was your phobia that made you feel like that, more like altitude sickness. Its nerve wracking, but the best thing to happen to me on those days was to finally fall, or lose my grip. over time and some hard work, you will get better at dealing with heights im sure. 1. It’ll really push back any of the fear you have related to height and will likely build confidence generally. 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 have a mild dislike of heights as well. A bunch of us came along as moral support and the whole crew got addicted. I saw questions with fear of turbulence, fear of takeoff, landing etc,. Electricians and plumbers also use step ladders, but they don't deal with planks and such, as far as I know. She particularly hates loose approaches and topping out multi-pitch climbs. Jul 8, 2024 · Overcome mental challenges in rock climbing with practical tips and techniques for building mental resilience. I’d say channel those fears into risk management, and build comfort with tolerable levels of risk. These things are I don't think anything is wrong with you. I use my rock climbing harness. It's no debilitating or anything, but most of us aren't what you'd call comfortable with heights over 15-20 feet. You want to test yourself, throw yourself into something outside your comfort zone and see what you're capable of. I had a fear of heights but then had to take on a job that requires rooftop work because I was broke. 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 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. Practice on a safe hill with less consequences of a fall. I want to continue in this sport but I don’t know how to tackle this. Thanks! Also, climbing Everest or any high peak is very different than outdoor rock climbing. Thanks! 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). But if you're looking to get into carpentry, drywalling, or roofing, you should learn to get over your fear. 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 … Apr 18, 2023 · Discover effective strategies for dealing with fear in climbing, from understanding different types of fear to building trust, mastering techniques, and employing mental tools to conquer anxiety on the rock. To get started or learn more about your options, get in touch with Climb Above Fear today. 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. Skinny bastard was better than me. 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. MembersOnline • thinkingwithfractals 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. Exposure helps a ton. 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. Basically, your belayer can yell "Bang!" at any time and you have to just let go of the rock. Maybe try something like that in your off time? i dont have a short term solution but for the long term, you should start rock climbing or bouldering. 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. Some therapists can help. The home of Climbing on reddit. Managing to climb to the top of a route despite your fear is a very exilerating experience. g. And I am just scared that I won't overcome this fear. Does anyone have any tips about how to get over a fear of falling? Yesterday I went climbing with my boyfriend for the first… I've once climbed a crane, and I like rock climbing in general. Try to work on some dynamic problems so you get used to popping off the wall 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. 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 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. 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. Any tips or advice for training to ace these obstacles or getting over this fear would be much appreciated. I tried rock climbing as a way to start overcoming my fears. The climbers were asked to rate their fear of heights on a scale of 1 to 5. 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. Don't go way over, that can lead to reinforcing the fear, instead start off with something completely comfortable and go from there. I love being outside and I love climbing, I just sometimes get really nervous. a healthy respect for heights is a good thing. 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). When I was learning to lead, our instructor told us about a game called Bang. "What really matters when facing a challenge? What matters is learning. It covers everything you need to know about managing fear across lead climbing, top-roping, bouldering and trad. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The safety gear and routine of climbing to 30-60ft will desensitize you. The Strong Mind course is our flagship programme for fear management in climbing. 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. The staff will get you all suited up, and you can go "on belay" where someone is holding the brake of the rope system you are climbing from. 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. I was a mess at first but the more I did it the more I trusted myself and the safety gear. unless it's an I'm new to urban climbing I never did it before , I explored some rooftops before. We fear what we don't understand and what we can't control. Get really comfortable. Link showing spur with bluff/rock band near top that had to be scaled. . 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. 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!! Reddit's rock climbing training community. Take up rock climbing at a local gym. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I'm not consciously afraid of heights. Dedicated to increasing all our knowledge about how to better improve at our sport. 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 Apparently visualising heights is supposed to help some people, while others have just said to expose myself to heights more. What has really helped me has been rock climbing. Funny story: most climbers I know have a healthy fear of heights. and it could it end up being a For sport climbing, it's almost a non issue now from taking a bunch of whippers, but obviously that's less of an option in alpine 4th/easy 5th class terrain where trad placements are sketchier and falls are a lot more high consequence (especially on ice where leading is only a bit better than soloing). Best advice I have for getting comfortable would be to keep exposing yourself to heights. your stress level will get lower as you gain experience and get more comfortable with your abilities, surroundings, and most importantly, climbing partners. 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. rock climbing, tall ladder, skyscraper windows, etc. Whether that’s a fear of falling, heights, or failing to succeed at a climb. It was worse in my mind, so i needed to experience it. To mitigate, consider starting climbing. 3M subscribers in the climbing community. You get used to it. From not being able to look out of a window to climbing really high walls easily. 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. 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 know this sounds really lame but after becoming a new homeowner a few months ago, I've been climbing a lot to the roof or close to the roof to do stuff lately, like setting up wiring and installing security cameras/floodlighting. everyone has a fear of heights and if they don't they might be crazy. I haven't had problems with mountain trails I've been on, generally, but my fear of heights has always prevented me from ever climbing to the top of a fire tower (even though I've been up many peaks with towers). Apr 25, 2011 · The post should make for good reading for anyone who has been kept away from climbing by a phobia of heights. Obviously, a strong fear of heights can be a bit of a problem in bouldering. Speaking as a rock climber and a welder, you never really get over the fear of heights and falling. I can’t imagine being hundreds or thousands of feet above the ground for fun. But a great part of the sport Fear of falling is still a problem of mine when sport climbing for sure, together with my awfull reading skills in rock (ironically is one of my strongest point indoor bouldering). 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 get uncomfortable even putting Christmas lights on my house. Fear that the rope or knot might not hold, or my partner might fail to belay properly. This goes back to what others are saying about practicing falling. And I feel very uncomfortable at height . That said, maybe consider alleviating your fear of heights. That comfort then begins to extend to the engineering behind bridges and buildings. 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. You learn to trust your experience. 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. For some reason my fear of ladders is getting worse every time I go up, in the beginning I wasn't even thinking about falling, but then one day I climbed up to the That's awesome you conquered your fear of heights. You should keep that fear and take it to a climbing gym where you’ll have an opportunity to work on exposure therapy. Ive been rock climbing for 2 months. Everest is mountaineering, which is a whole other animal. I have a moderate fear of snakes, but i really want to start climbing outside, and yesterday tried a first excursion bouldering at a local park, and everything was good, until on the hike back a snake ran across my foot, and frankly freaked me the fuck out. r/rigging is a quiet sub, try r/bouldering and r/climbing, you might get better responses. Here's the complete guide to trusting yourself. it keeps you safe. 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. But i really want to become an urban climber. You as a human have a natural instinct that triggers that fear in response to heights. 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. My fear of heights has drastically diminished through climbing. I toss the rope over the roof (using a throw rope first) and anchor it on the other side of the house, usually to the deck railing (it's plenty sturdy to handle the dynamic load). 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. The problem is that I aren't really sure if that is a good reasons to do it. There's multiple types of fears of heights. Are people who do rock climbing unafraid of heights? Or is facing the fear part of the appeal? I am terrified of heights. fear of heights is good. If you’re on Reddit using the phrase “sensitive to heights”, this trade probably isn’t right for you. Learn how this common fear impacts daily life and discover effective coping strategies. I’m a climber, rock/ice, and it’s healthy and necessary to have a fear of heights. 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. Get comfortable with ladders and your own roof. My instructor said, that this is normal and that I'll feel different in a few hours of flying. It turns out I’m not scared of heights- I’m just scared of the fall. #2 - Finally trust the rope and your belayer. It provides focus and safety. 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. But if a 5ft step ladder scares you, then maybe it's not for you. It's a reality check that keeps you from doing stupid shit, in most cases. I came here to suggest Arno Ilgner's book The Rock Warrior's Way which looks at the mental aspect of climbing and how to improve your mentality for climbing. 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. I wanna sign up for Spartans again, however, I'd like to train more before signing up. A friend of mine had a fear of heights. Those that have been climbing for years, is there still a fear of gear failure and falling? 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. In fact, I love climbing. Try rock climbing and embracing falls. 30 votes, 29 comments. Best of luck in your endeavors, dream high but don’t rush. Hi, I stick to bouldering due to a fear of heights. 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. You take it slowly and learn to trust yourself and your equipment. So I do a lot of rock climbing, and had a conversation with some other climbers about fear of heights. Not only will it improve his strength, it will definitely help him conquer his fear of heights in a gradual way. It was the unknown that was holding me back bouldering and leading. I've only been climbing for a couple of weeks but the fear of heights I experience is mainly fear of losing control. I can't afford to go see a therapist right now, but I want to get rid of this stupid fear. Sometimes the fear is an issue and sometimes it isn't and it all seems to come down to confidence and belief in what you can do. So i dont really have a fear of heights, i enjoy climbing church towers etc on holidays for the view. But the training made jumping second nature and now I can control the fear. No one is truly afraid of heights, but rather they have a fear of sudden stops. 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 I'm looking for a book to help my partner with her climbing and fear. Thoughts started creeping in my head about encountering one while climbing, and the consequences. As someone with severe fear of heights, this movie gave me more anxiety than any horror movie I've ever watched. They all have auto-belays that safely lower you so you can go one time by yourself, rent gear, and try it out. Maybe try something like that in your off time? So i dont really have a fear of heights, i enjoy climbing church towers etc on holidays for the view. 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. Archived post. Google if there's any entry level gyms or beginner courses in his area. Jan 1, 2023 · I'm anxious about a lot of things, including public speaking, home invasion, and heights. 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? What are three simple ways to control fear of heights in bouldering? So this is anecdotal, not a therapeutic recommendation, but rock climbing worked for me in getting rid of the same type of fear of heights that you have. It was seriously the most difficult thing I ever did (getting over the fear). 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. Hi all, I've got a relatively interesting (I think) fear of heights, as it's not like everyone I've met. No fear of heights, but I have a very healthy respect of edges and a concern of safety and falling. 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. And yes we are scared of falling. Surprisingly, via ferrata was easier than indoor climbing. You'll learn to be safe and check yourself even though you're nervous. When it comes to climbing Mt. Now I have no fear response whatsoever to heights, no matter how high. 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. take some rock climbing classes and get familiar with the equipment and climbing and rappelling from different heights. Sep 16, 2018 · One of the most difficult parts of climbing is overcoming a fear of heights with rock climbing. See full list on climbabovefear. I'm sure it was nothing to rock climbers, but to a fat, old hiker, with healthy fear of heights, it was 'testing'. Rock climbing is a great way to learn that you are in control. Every climber deals with fear in the sport at some time. Granted, this is just my theory, based on my personal experiences with motion sickness and a fear of heights. 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’. The small ladder should help in starting to beat through the fear. I also hate blood but forced myself to go donate it and that also helped a lot with the fear. I have struggled from the fear of falling myself, and still do on particularly high or daunting climbs. I would suggest to him that he takes up the sport of rock climbing. I was never super afraid of heights or falling, but I finally overcame any of my fears by emerging unscathed after flipping upside down and falling 20 feet while lead climbing. Almost every other climber I know personally has said the same thing. That's not weird, it's pretty normal, and not something you need to "conquer" necessarily. I got into climbing because someone in our friend group wanted to get over her fear of heights and decided bouldering was the best way to face it. You learn that you are OK. However, just walking on a mountain that is thousands of feet up above the valley floor or something similar does not scare me. After a 10 year break from rope climbing i'm now just starting bouldering and feel the same as you, i'm M (45) and just doing indoor bouldering as it's winter here. vhjcos uvizw lwtikr fsjxk xwi vbnk yhjfs lwolao sxgah ahjp