How can I overcome my fear of heights and flying?
337888
I never used to have any fears when i was young.  As im getting older i seem to have loads.  I tend to be too overcautious with life nowadays!  It seems mad but crossing a bridge and looking over the wall to see the ducks in the rivers water is more of now a nail-biting experience.  The only thing i can suggest is a slow step, by step to conquer the fears.  It hasn't yet worked for me, the river that is by that bridge i dread, brings alot of insecurities for me.  A friend died near their from hypertherma and think its a case for me digging up the griefing part of things..  You never know but there could be a reason behind the lift you dread to take to fifth floor.  Theres a lot of emotional tree branches that our brain tend to keep a lock onto...!  Release the locks with the keys you hold in your hand.
848225
(m)\n\nAgoraphobia is a fear of open spaces. It is also a fear of having a panic attack in a public place, of losing control in an area from which escape may prove difficult or embarrassing.\n\nSocial Phobia is an irrational anxiety brought forth by exposure to certain social situations, leading to avoidance behaviour.\n\nSpecific Phobia is a persistent and irrational fear in response to some specific stimulus, which commonly results in avoidance of/withdrawal from that stimulus. It could be triggered by an insect or animal (zoophobia), by a situation like being trapped in an enclosed space (claustrophobia) or it could be a fear of disease (pathophobia).\n\nFear of heights is one of the most widespread of fears. In some situations a fear of heights is quite appropriate and a matter of common sense. According to psychologists, there are only two natural fears – fear of loud noises and fear of heights.\n\nHowever, a morbid fear of high places, which is the definition of acrophobia, can be very bad for you. If you found yourself in a "high" situation, it would be much better for you to have your wits about you. Feeling an intense fear while inside a safe environment such as a skyscraper is not an appropriate response.\n\nAs with many fears, acrophobia often goes hand in hand with other phobias, a fear of flying in particular. As it is a fairly common phobia, many sufferers choose to live with it rather than try to get help, accommodating their lifestyle to the limitations. This can prove crippling to many aspects of life from holidays to accommodation, even limiting your possible career options.\n\nThe best methods for curing acrophobia involve gradual desensitisation, slowly exposing the sufferer to ever-greater heights while teaching them relaxation techniques that will enable them to maintain their presence of mind. Some of the methods that work best are NLP and timeline therapy.
193381
If you're nervous about flying, taking off for the first time can be a little traumatic. It's noisy and when the plane leaves the runway you'll have a sudden "sinking" feeling oddly enough. Your ears will "pop" shortly after take-off but if you chew gum that'll help. I don't think your fear of heights will be too much of a problem...it's kind of different in a plane but I can't explain why. Try and get a window seat because the views can be spectacular. Landing is noisy too and you'll hear bumps and other strange noises but they're all normal and when you actually do touch down it's kind of like putting on the brakes really hard in your car. Don't worry, you'll be fine....driving to the airport is actually more dangerous than flying.\nHave a great trip.
551951
yes. I believe you believe you can fly. As to the method which you believe you can achieve this through- that is an open question. Perhaps you mean by boarding an airplane/helicopter/blimp/ultralight/hang-glider... etc- Perhaps you mean by consuming mind altering substances- It may even mean that you propel yourself through magical means.. a la magic carpet, broom,wand, Icarus boots... etc... Maybe you have been genetically fused with a species that has been granted flight... Maybe you just close your eyes and imagine really really hard. Whatever your chosen mode I do believe that you might believe. I'll tell ya what I believe in... God. Peace n be safe in your travels... lol.
1120714
Give your self permission to face fear, even if it's scary.  Then forgive yourself for feeling fear and guilt if (when) it happens next time.  Old habits die hard sometimes.\n\nStart with baby steps.  Learn from mistakes.  Go back to the beginning if you need to.  You don't fail this way; you only learn.  Failure becomes a learning experience.  Success, step by step, is inevitable.   There's no rush; remember that.\n\nLove ya.\n\ndakotanroscoe
77868
My advice is to understand that fear is a strong emotion that arises from your perception on a situation and an event. Adrenaline is pumped in your body and signs of fear includes increased an heart rate and the tensing up of your body. Next try to overcome and conquer it by actually DOING the thing you fear and try to IGNORE your fear by focusing on the task in hand. As mentioned by darktwiztidangel, having a cocky or a HIGHLY SELF-CONFIDENT attitude also helps, a lot! Once you get over the thing you fear, you will realize that in most situations, the fear you place to a certain stimulant or situation are unnecessary to amount of risk involved in it. After facing your fears, keep doing it again and you will get used to it and you realize that the thing that you fear is not worth being scared about.
41646
face your fear.  First mentally.  Overcome the idea, then go somewhere high but safe with someone you trust.
401899
Just keep doing what your coach says you are doing right, until you are comfortable with it. Repitition is the key..just keep doing it until yuo have done it so much, that its as easy as breathing. Thats the only way to get rid of your fears!
198175
I have had this dream a few times and it always scares me. I don't know how to fly but somehow I manage to get way up high and I'm afraid of falling, but never do. This question stirred up some weird feelings for me, something to ponder.
176984
A psychologist would be more qualified to answer this for you. But I'll give it a shot.\n\nI dont know how to get over a fear permanently, but I have a few techniques that may help. \n\nFrom what I've read, a fear is only the reaction to what we dont understand. \n\nFirst, confront the fear, learn everything you can about what you fear and try to understand why you have it in the first place: Is the 9/11 event a factor? Did you, a friend, or family member have a bad experience? \n\nAsk yourself - is your fear really of the flight itself, or are you perhaps afraid of death or hijackers instead? I've even heard of someone who was afraid of SURVIVING in the event of a plane crash in a remote location. \n\nIf its something other than the act of flying in and of itself, then you more likely need to work on this other fear before you can learn to get over the fear of flying. \n\nThen reason with yourself as to why you SHOULDNT fear it. \n\nFor instance, in this case, remember that Driving to wherever you're going is ALOT more dangerous than the flight your taking. Its true - look it up. \n\nWhen flying on a commercial plane, your life is in the hands of only one or two people who have had extensive training, most likely passed their 4 years (or more) of education with flying colors (no pun intended), have lots of experience, and have few distractions. Plus theres hardly ever any traffic and almost no deer...  ;)\n\nWhen driving, your life is in the hands of everyone you pass on the road. All of them only took a few driving classes and most of those people barely passed their exam, and/or are distracted somehow; cell phones, rowdy kids, eating etc. Some dont even have a license, and some are drunk or on drugs. \n\nAnd this may sound stupid, but here it is anyway. Take as many flights as you can afford. Make them short trips to somewhere you've been before (just for more familiarity). The more experience you have with it, the more likely you are to think of it as routine and boring. \nExample: Remember when you first started driving? - it was probably pretty scary the first few times, then the more you got behind that wheel and made it safely to your destination, the less scary it was. I bet that now you dont even think about it anymore and its even become rather dull & boring.\n\nThere are common temporary solutions...\n\nDepending on how long your flight is you could take a sleeping aid. But usually, sleeping aids last for 6 hours or more. Not ideal for, say, a flight from Minnesota to Colorado for example. \n\nIf you want more of a short term effect... get a little tipsy - drink a few an hour or so before you get on the plane. Depending on how you react to alcohol, this could make you more tolerant, and uncaring or even unaware of the event occuring. \nOR it could make you less tolerant and more nauseous than ever - so be sure of your reaction to alcohol before attempting this. Or if you drink enough before the flight you may just fall asleep before the plane even taxis out to the runway. \n\nAs for the take-off part of it... know that it is actually one of the safer parts of the entire flight.\n\nTake a distraction such as a book, video game, or laptop. Or listen to relaxing music.\n\nHypnosis is an option to try, though it may be expensive. \n\nTry to get a loved one who isnt afraid of flying to go with you if possible, for moral support. Going it alone surrounded by strangers can make you more anxious and nervous. \n\nIn conclusion, just try to relax and remember your pilots know what they're doing.\n\nI hope something here was some help and eased your mind a little. And I also hope I didnt make you afraid of driving in the process!! Good Luck!
604427
Learn to ride Switch ,then you wont have the fear of landing backwards,So as you spin it wont matter if your spin is coming short or too much,you will fall but dont worry hopefully you should have found powder to build a practice jump start off small with not much speed and gradually build your confidence up everyone starts like that take no notice of people say go Big you will hurt yourself and that will be it for your Holiday.(Good Luck)
238344
There are several options open to you.  \n\n1. Your doctor could prescribe a medication to relax you.  You might not like this one, because you wouldn't be allowed to drive for 4 hours after taking the medication.\n\n2.  See a psychological counselor to work through your fear.  I'm afraid I don't have statistics on this.\n\n3.  Hypnosis.  Many hypnotists claim a high success rate.  I recently attended a seminar on Medical Hypnosis and was shocked by the outright lies that some licensed hypnotists tell in regards to their success rates.  It might be worth a try, but I'm much more leery of hypnosis for therapy now.\n\n4.  If your fear stems from previous bad flights.  Talk to someone about those episodes.  Explain why and what you felt.  Get it out of your system.  Then try to desensitize yourself.  Visit a small mom & pop airport.  Sit in a small plane on the ground (most small airports usually have a pilot or two that would let you sit in their small piper cub or cessna.  \n\n5.  Do somethings else that's really terrifying like bungee-jumping.  That will put all your other fears into perspective.
71068
Try rewarding yourself with something you want for going out in the world to do something you need to do. I love cheesburgers so I use that to get me out of the house. Ill go run the errand or pick up what i need and then go by my favorite burger joint for my reward. It may sound silly to many people, but to those who have dealt with agorophobia it will not. Step by step you can get back out there .
167142
Seeing a therapist would be the best way.  They will most likely use one of 2 techniques either slowly introducing what you are scared of in increasing steps. For example go in a room where u feel a bit uncomfortable, breath, relax do that for a while then go on to more claustrophobic settings.  Another method, which isn't for every one, is to enter into an extremely claustrophobic setting until you realize and internalize that you are in no real danger.
637543
I'd definitely pick to have my flying dream again.  I've had it more than once and can remember some of the details, but mostly, I could feel myself flying.  I'm kind of scared of heights...not so much of being high up, but of being high up and not secured to something.  I remember the actualy feeling of being in the air, looking down and getting light in my stomach.  I eventually taught myself how to fly.  It required a thought process, and if I stopped the process, I'd fall, though I never hit the ground.  It makes you feel like you can take over the world when you wake up.
1183476
Jump from places that are lower and work your way up to places that are higher. Its not a solution that will cure you quickly though. It will probably take you a year or more to get over it.
443985
Try different things. For some people religion is the ready-made, easy crutch they need to get through life, for others it's going out and climbing the Himalayas.\n\nMost people who feel without purpose are stuck in a rut in their lives, stretch yourself. Find something you think you could never do, like skydiving, and do it. Travel. Change jobs. Go on an adventure holiday. Go and get your hands dirty doing charity work, build houses in a third world country. Do one thing each day that scares you.\n\nYou only have one life to live and that's it, no matter what anyone says. If you have to drag yourself out of bed each day then there's something seriously wrong. Live life, don't let it pass you by.