[Zosima]

I have searched for this particular subject but was not able to find anything.

My question goes to anybody who has or had a fear of heights/fear of falling, to those who have overcome it, and in general to those of you who have to deal with this as part of your job (as in parachuting, climbing…etc).

I’m mostly interested to hear how people have coped with this; or if you have no fear, what your mind set is going into situations that would be very hard if not impossible for people who fear heights.

I have spent some time analyzing my fear and I have come to the conclusion that it is strictly related to falling and not to heights; if you can even make such a distinction. I have never parachuted – I cannot be 100% sure – but I think that I would have no fear doing it because I know that I have a parachute, equipment that would allow me to land safely and not to plunge into death. This I think applies to everything else, I can deal with heights in any form, as long as I’m using equipment or relying on infrastructure (such as railings) that I know (or maybe “think”) will not allow me to fall. Most of the time, I would say close to 99% of the time, I can be looking down high places, and as long as there is a railing or I’m sure of the fact that I cannot possibly fall I experience no fear. This completely changes at such small heights as 6 feet if I’m forced to walk on the edge of something, and know that there is nothing holding me back from falling.

As I’m considering a career in the Army, this might prove to be an obstacle, and is something I wish to overcome regardless of how big or small of an obstacle it proves to be.

Any thoughts, tips or comments would be appreciated.