Get a pilot's licence. You'd be surprised how many pilots got into it specifically because of this.
Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
11–20 of 33 posts
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#12Go ride a rollercoaster or 5.
I did it the other day, it was intense. The hardest part is the anticipation. Once you're stuck and experiencing it and realize there's no backing out you just let it happen. Also you're experiencing a lot more than heights so it makes it easy to get over that part. Do that a few times and you'll condition yourself. That's what I'm going to do.
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#13If you’re receptive to hypnosis you might give it a shot.
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#14Get a pilot's licence. You'd be surprised how many pilots got into it specifically because of this.
Didn't make a difference for me at all.
I'm a pilot, did some basic aerobatics, no problem at all.
Paragliding did scare me a bit at the beginning, but I got used to it after a while.
Standing up on the roof of my house is still giving me problems.
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#15hypnosis is pretty good for fear
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#16I woke up 13 years ago and decided I could never go on a plane again. Before that, I used to fly often for work.
13 years and I've not been able to visit any countries that I'd love to visit. It's shit. There is no advice that can help me.
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#17Heights don't scare me. It's the risk of falling from greater heights and being less in control of mitigating that outcome. Like others have said in the thread, trusting the gear makes most of the difference. I'm always iffy on a roof unless I have a harness, because well, it's not that hard to fall off!
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#18Can you give us more details of what situations you have difficulty in or want to conquer? When I was younger I enjoyed working at height, now I am in poorer shape and am nervous in more situations. Try acclimation, slowly pushing the envelope. Make sure you understand, not just on a theoretical level, that if you can feel confident at three feet, thirty feet only requires a bit more care, nothing more. And remember,…
Sure, and I appreciate your interest for context. I’ve recently relocated for work to a beautiful city in the mountains and I am regularly in areas where I see grand vistas. This is very different from where I grew up which is incredibly flat. So in the face of these vistas, which include huge valleys and drop offs (unavoidable, as these views are often from the main highways!), I often have feelings of lightheadedness and falling. I believe this is vertigo. I don’t want to avoid these views - I want to conquer the feelings to I can enjoy them the same way my family does! Appreciate all the comments to this post.
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#19I woke up 13 years ago and decided I could never go on a plane again. Before that, I used to fly often for work. 13 years and I've not been able to visit any countries that I'd love to visit. It's shit. There is no advice that can help me.
How about take a ship?
Re: Ask HN: Any tips on overcoming fear of heights?
#20Can you give us more details of what situations you have difficulty in or want to conquer? When I was younger I enjoyed working at height, now I am in poorer shape and am nervous in more situations. Try acclimation, slowly pushing the envelope. Make sure you understand, not just on a theoretical level, that if you can feel confident at three feet, thirty feet only requires a bit more care, nothing more. And remember,…
Sure, and I appreciate your interest for context. I’ve recently relocated for work to a beautiful city in the mountains and I am regularly in areas where I see grand vistas. This is very different from where I grew up which is incredibly flat. So in the face of these vistas, which include huge valleys and drop offs (unavoidable, as these views are often from the main highways!), I often have feelings of lightheadedne…
Fun fact: I know a guy that has a phobia of flat open spaces.