Fear-confession & tips on dealing with fear

Fear: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights.

Well isn’t that appropriate, I didn’t even plan this but the second part of the definition of fear is exactly why I’m blogging right now an abnormal fear of heights
though I don’t think it’s abnormal but whatever.

Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.
Unknown

This week I’ve dealt with two fears.
Though one of them I didn’t deal with too well, I jumped & screamed like a little girl and perhaps tarnished my hard core reputation.

Second fear…high 2 story ladders!

I was taking pictures for Paul Bange Roofing, and didn’t realize one of the jobs I was going to was a two story building with a mansard roof on it.
I used to not be bothered by heights, used to scurry up 3 story ladders without any problems or fears.
What happened?
Oh, let’s see…
I got older wiser.
I saw guy doing road construction fall 80+ feet to his death.
Have had nightmares weird dreams of being on a ladder and it falling backwards but I end up smashed not like in the cartoons & movies where it always falls on something and they can hang there for awhile and make their way to safety.

So, naturally when I get to the job the first words out of my mouth are well ummmmm yea….let’s skip to the main point here.
I have to go up the ladder, there is no option.
I can’t take pictures from the ground.
I also can’t let three guys think I’m a wuss and can’t go up the ladder, especially since they know I used to do this all the time.
So, upward I go…
with one of them holding the ladder (thanks Don!) and the other 2 telling me it’s fine and reassuring me that my fear is ok.
I just get a bit freaked when the ladder is just barely taller than the building and the mansard roof part always freaks me out.
Alas, I made it to the top!

Ok, pictures taken…
now time to go down.
Oh damn, I have to go DOWN the ladder.
Why is it going up is always easier (and that was a bit unnerving).
But, again no option, no choice.
Down the ladder I go…thanks again to Don for holding it!
I.survived.
I.did.it.

Now, my whole point in this…
You’re going to face things that you fear.
How are you going to deal with them?
Scream & jump away like a little girl like I did with the frog or overcome and do what you have to do like I did with the ladder.

Here are some tips to overcoming your fear.
-Take baby steps. Identify your fear and take small steps to gradually work up to doing or dealing with that fear.
(example, I used to fear touching & picking up my daughters turtle, Tardis. Something about it just wigged me out. Now though, I can easily pick him up, feed him, etc. Of course this came on by the fact I had to change his water and she was out of town and I felt so bad for him being in funky water there was no choice but to pick him up. Isn’t he cute though? How could I fear him?)

-If you’re not into taking baby steps and want to face it head on that’s an option. It’s amazing what you can or will do when there is no other option, no choice. (as seen by my going up the high 2 story ladder and picking up Tardis–I had no option. It had to be done)
-Know the odds. Meaning, if you’re afraid of something know what the odds are that the particular thing you fear could happen in reality. If you slow down, remain calm and think about it the odds on whatever you fear happening are minimal. (except for me and the killer ducks I fear…I know they’re going to attack me every time I walk Chico)
-Use visualization. Visualize yourself going head on with what you fear and conquering it.
-When fear creeps into your mind, replace it with a positive thought.
-Know that overcoming a fear takes persistence.
-Be patient while you work on dealing with your fear. (Don’t be too hard on yourself, that’ll only make it worse).
-Accept your fear. There may just be some things you fear and always will and that’s ok too. (I’ll always fear frogs & ducks and I’m ok with that!)

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
Japanese Proverb

Question of the day:
Do you have any fears?