Fear

Hi, my name is Erin....and I'm afraid of heights. (Hi, Erin)

The term is called acrophobia and it is described as "an extreme or irrational fear of heights." I wouldn't go that far to describe my fear, as I have not ever experienced a panic attack while being up high, but I have come close. I am not a wimp. And I wouldn't call my fear irrational either...I genuinely am scared to death of being up high....partially because of the falling factor.

This has come up recently in my life because the cold is coming and that brings snow (some of which we were exposed to yesterday!) and lots of people in New England ski or snowboard. My husband is one of them, a snowboarder. Thankfully, he has never pushed me into going because he knows of my fear. I'm more content being a snowbunny OFF the slopes...fire, layers, a warm totty...you get the picture.

Others, however, are not so understanding, even after I explain my fears. When someone asks if I ski/board, and I tell them "no", and why, they say, "oh, you will love it, just try it"...or, "you've never been skiing with us, we're fun." It's not a matter of never trying it (I have) or not wanting to have fun (I am fun...very fun) it's that I do not want to hyperventilate on the ski lift, or get to the top and not be able to get down. It's the same when roller coaster season comes around...I love going to amusement parks, I'll even stand in line with the group, but I won't ride anything that moves quickly at great heights. Flying is one exception...I don't love to do it, but I'm enclosed and can close the blind so not to look down, which makes a huge difference. I will not be caught dead however in a helicopter or little prop plane...not enough "enclosedness" (I'm sure this is not a word, but oh well!).

I am working on this fear for the purpose of hiking the Presidential Range next summer in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire. Hiking is not so bad, as long as I'm surrounded by rocks or trees of some sort. And when I get to the top I need to be on some sort of flat land, away from the edge. Or at least with my loving husband who some how calms me down when my fear starts to take over. It's good to be loved:)