Did You Suddenly Become Afraid Of Heights Out Of Nowhere? AFF Training May Help
As we age, we typically get over the kinds of fears that cripple us when we are younger. However, some individuals become more afraid of heights out of nowhere when they get older, to the point where their life is practically crippled. Thankfully, it is possible to get over this with AFF, or accelerated freefall training.
People Often Develop A Fear Of Heights As They Age
A fear of heights or acrophobia is one of the more common types of "age-based" fears. That's because, as we age, we become more aware of our surroundings and the danger that we are in when in specific scenarios. We are also more in touch with how fragile our bodies are and how much damage a fall could cause.
Therefore, it isn't uncommon for people who once easily walked on high areas to suddenly become afraid of dealing with heights. That kind of crippling fear can strike at any time and make life very complex and difficult. Thankfully, there are ways to manage it.
Exposure Therapy May Help
Phobias like acrophobia are often very difficult to overcome without help. And while a fear of heights is more reasonable than other types of fears, excessive anxiety about even minor heights can make your life more complicated and make it difficult for you to live. That's why treatment methods like exposure therapy were created for people like you.
Exposure therapy is all about facing your fears and getting used to them. People who were, say, agoraphobic about specific situations are presented them in a safe and controlled manner. And while you can climb ladders or stand on chairs as a way of challenging your acrophobia, you may be able to shock yourself out of a phobia with AFF or accelerated freefall training.
AFF Training May Help
This type of training is given out to anybody who wants to skydive but who doesn't want to go through months of training. The term "accelerated" refers to the quick speed of training and the ways that you are let go to jump on your own. People with acrophobia can use this type of training to face their fears in the most literal and extreme ways.
For example, your early AFF training will have trainers holding your hands to help steady you as you jump. Then, they will let go as you must face your fear, pull the chord, and gently float to the ground on your parachute. This experience gives you a sense of protection and then of ultimate control in an environment which may initially scare you. And it may also slap the fear of heights right out of you.
So if you find yourself unable to fly or even climb higher than the first story in a building, accelerated freefall training may be just what you need to break that fear. Once you get your license to skydive, you can continue to break free of your fear by regularly jumping and learning to break away from the fear that was otherwise holding you back.