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Fear of height! Help!
I’ve been poling for about a year (actually 1.5 but I took some time off in between) and we started doing combos with aerial invert in the past couple of months or so in my class. I didn’t have this fear of height ( or maybe just fear of falling) before but as we do more aerial combos I felt terrified when I did them. Recently I had to do an aerial invert to start a combo and I had to look down for my Butterfly and that’s when I freaked out! I ended up doing Angel instead and just held onto the pole for dear life. Good thing my grip was secure enough thanks to Mighty Grip. I feel like I can’t progress in pole dance if I feel terrified of heights. My aerial wasn’t even that high, just one climb. Does anyone here ever experience such fear? If so, how do you overcome it? Thanks for your feedback.
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6 Replies
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Nope! No such experience myself. No fear. Well, since I bought my 5″ thick crash mat!
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Hey!
Yes, I have something of a… “healthy respect” for heights, especially when I’m upside down. I’ve also got a thing about being upside down.
In this case, I think the best thing you can do is take it slow, remember to breathe deeply, but to learn to get used to it. As you said, you weren’t previously having this issue, so it sounds like a natural, human-type response to being at height. Same thing as you get when people take a Theatre program in school and get up on the catwalks the first time: They throw themselves to the “ground” because they can see where the real ground is through the grating, and their brain just FREAKS OUT. It takes time, and patience, to get through it… but you definitely can get through it!
As I said, take it slow, do what you can, deep breaths. Push your limits as far as you can, but if you feel you need to take a minute (or just not push that limit again for a class) then do as you must. You’re teaching yourself something new.
Breathing is really important. -
This is one thing I have found fascinating…..thee are a TON of polers who are afraid of heights! I used to be especially on ladders (not so much any more). This one really is just time and practice. My first years were on an 8 foot pole so when I got to a studio that had taller poles I froze! Have a solid escape move/moves that no matter what kind of problem you get into you can get into this move and get out safely. Once you become more confident in your grip this fear will subside. I promise!! (then you will have to fight to get your body to let go of the pole…..it is a mad mad circle)
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@WebJunk, where did you get that awesome crash mat? I don’t have pole at home now but we’ll be moving to Albuquerque area in Aug and would love to have it at home.
@Runemist34: I need to work on that breathing. I got into panic attack and all grips seemed to get loose which didn’t help at all.
@ chemgoddes1: my instructor doesn’t really teach us any escape moves so I just try not to let go any of my grips in any situation. I wish there’s an instructional videos or something for that.
Thanks all for the advice!
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I am scared of heights. Im not very afraid at ten feet (technically 9 ft 8 since thats my ceiling ht) but im not crazy about working higher, lol. Good advice here. It does get better. I focus intently on what i am doing. For everything you really do need an ‘escape’ which really is just the exit out that you want to do, OR your bailout sometimes will be just holding your position and sliding to the floor or getting feet/legs/hands on the pole and coming into a position to either slide down or get upright.
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Lucy:
I got mine through Amazon a few years ago when the price was lower:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQ49OYI/
They come in 2″, 4″ & 5″ thickness. I have the 5″. So far its only been really “tested” once and not by me but they had a softer landing. The only issue I have and it might be because of how thick mine is, is that it can be a little difficult to walk on. Could also be my weight because I have had friends over who weigh 2/3 of me, who have no trouble at all walking on it.
What I like about crash mats in general is not the protection. Its the peace of mind and confidence it gives. One girl I was teaching a bit was scared to do anything more than inches off the ground. When I put the mat in place she started trying things, never really fell and got even more adventurous. Now she has taught me a few things including what I was afraid to try. My opinion for what its worth, is you more need a “confidence mat” than a “crash mat.” I myself would have ordered a 10″ thick mat for the added confidence!Have to admit after reading what Chem wrote. I have no problem climbing up on very tall ladders. Its climbing down that gets me scared. But once went to a place that had poles over 16′ (they claimed they were 20 so maybe) and had no trouble on it to the top and yes down. So I have to strongly agree with her that once your confident in your grips that fear goes away. I’d love to try those tall poles again but I still am uncomfortable on 10′ ladders. Go figure!
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