Extreme fear of heights & it' only getting worse. I can't take it anymor!
Question: My fear of heights is getting worse and more extreme. I can't go in tall buildings, I can't drive on the freeway anymore especially if I have to go on an overpass, I can't fly. My world is becoming smaller & smaller in the things I can't do because of my phobia. I've tried hynotherapy several times, I've tried anti-depressants. I freak out and it's making my life miserable. Isn't there anyone that has success with this? I can't go on living like this!!!
Answers: My fear of heights is getting worse and more extreme. I can't go in tall buildings, I can't drive on the freeway anymore especially if I have to go on an overpass, I can't fly. My world is becoming smaller & smaller in the things I can't do because of my phobia. I've tried hynotherapy several times, I've tried anti-depressants. I freak out and it's making my life miserable. Isn't there anyone that has success with this? I can't go on living like this!!!
I have similar difficulty.
But I overcame it. What I did was convince myself that I was going to die if I did the thing that terrified me. Then I said, "Time to die." When I truly believed that I was going to die, and ACCEPTED it, it calmed me enough to do the scary thing. And I did the thing, convinced that I was going to my death.
This was the only way for me to overcome my phobia. I tried different things too. But in the end, the only thing that worked for me was the mind game, and doing the thing. I suppose it took some of the joy away from whatever demon was giving me this problem, so he eventually got bored and stopped bothering me.
Sounds crazy alright. But it was the only thing that worked for me. Well, that AND prayer.
Good luck to you.
The problem is not heights its you. your using the fear of heights as an excuse to cover up another fear, or anxiety you have that you dont want to deal with. You blow it out of proportion, because internally something is wrong, and your trying desperatly to figure it out. I would suggest relaxing, calming down, taking a hot bath and to think for hours. Go over yourself and your thoughts. Try figure yourself out, and get control of your head. It takes time and practice but control will give you power.
I have a similar problem with large crowds or people and strangely enough slopes- i can't ride a lot of escalators because the angle scares the crap out of me.
Here's what i was recommended and sort of helps, desensitize and take control of the situation.
the desensetizing dosen't always work, doing it over and over again until you don't notice anymore.
Taking control usally does. Ask your self what do i need to do in order to feel incontrol.
using statements like i can do this i am doing this usally help me get through the white knuckle part and then afterwards i have a quick cry and all is better
you might try jumping on a trampoline or something that gets you up and lets you fall safely
sorry Laura, i disagree. a fear of heights is not trying to cover up another fear...otherwise we would all be covering up something.
it sounds like (and i am no doctor) but it seems like GAD....general anxiety disorder...well, it IS GAD. im about 99% sure...which is no big deal, i have, it. and a lot of people i know have it. basically something happened in your life that you did not deal with correctly....and it triggered a fear. a ridiculous one, but a fear never the less....i for one, am afraid of my own health...im 22, and have had every kind of test and cat scan over the last 8 months.....the doctors, they all say the same thing "your as healthy as a horse, and this is all in your head".
its true weather or not i'd like to admit it. so try to take this. there is really NOTHING you can do to change the buildings, bridges, and airplanes in the world...but there is one thing you can do. slowly learn to live with it. here is my example for you.
find a small bridge on a non busy street, preferably one with a walk way...and one that is fairly tall....at least 10 ft....(you could do this with a ladder too)
now what your gonna do is go on a walk, and when you get to the bridge, only take a step or two onto it. every day, walk back to that spot and try to go one step farther until you cross the bridge....eventually you will be fishing off of it....God would catch if you fall.
hope this helped you some what.
i have the same problem. therapy helped me a bit tel now.