Today we're talking about a feeling that I'm sure everyone has experienced at some point: Fear. Whether in everyday life - between exam nerves, spider phobias,... or when climbing as a beginner or advanced climber - be it fear of heights or fear of falling.
Sometimes they are surreal fears. No matter in which area of life there are moments, situations or even ideas (i.e. something that may not have happened yet) that make us afraid... and while we are probably often afraid of things for no reason (without trivializing such fears now, everyone has their package of fears that he or she has to work on), when climbing our brain can recognize dangers that can seem threatening to our 'survival' at first and for everyone without much experience.
Why is that? Well... height, falling, trust in the belayer... there are so many things that initially seem to be against any instinct. Of course, it also depends on how familiar we are with heights and climbing. A person who has been climbing trees since childhood and has climbed up and down all the climbing frames in playgrounds will certainly be less afraid of heights than a person who was never confronted with such 'dangers' as a child.
...and why not? Fear is something natural and helps us to protect ourselves from danger. However, some fears can also block us and, in the worst case, restrict us in our lives. That is why it is certainly beneficial to confront them.
Climbing is a sport where sooner or later you have to confront your fears. No matter how much you climbed trees as a child, at some point everyone finds something that scares them. For beginners, it can be the height. Confidence in the climbing equipment. Confidence in the partner who secures you. Later, the fear of falling. The fear of falling rocks.... The list is long.
Facing your fears when climbing, but how?
First of all, and to eliminate all avoidable dangers (as far as possible), one of the most important things is good and functional equipment. What does that mean? Don't use equipment that is old or has been 'quickly borrowed from a friend'. You should be able to rely 100% on the suitability of your equipment. This helps to eliminate one of the (actual) dangers to your head... and while we're on the subject of heads. A helmet also protects against falling rocks and uncontrolled falls.
Also the rock itself harbors dangers, and where you climb should always be chosen with care. It is best to avoid unstable and brittle rocks and be even more careful, especially after heavy rainfall. How a place has been bolted, i.e. secured, is also important. You can usually find information on this in the climbing guide. In general, however, at the beginning it is certainly advisable to go climbing with guides or friends who already know a bit more about such things.
The material is safe. The rock is stable and the bolts and the top look good. So why should we still be afraid? That brings us back to the primal fears. Height, falling, confidence...
There is certainly no universal concept and each of us works differently. How we deal with it privately and also in courses... Acceptance and then: Baby Steps. The first step: accept your fears. That sounds logical, but it's not necessarily so. If you don't admit your fears to yourself, you can't work on them... and honestly? Even professional climbers can have a fear of falling in certain situations, even after years. Step 2: We are convinced that it is not helpful to confront your fear directly and completely. For example, in the case of fear of heights: the first time up to 30 meters and then being blocked in a panic and only being able to abseil down again with difficulty can, in our opinion, increase a fear even more. We believe, and from experience, that a slow approach is a much better way. Choosing a place that is not too exposed as your first trip to the rock and perhaps not climbing right to the top at the beginning can help to strengthen your confidence in yourself and your surroundings. Baby steps and taking small steps to test your limits and get to know yourself and your fears is our approach and a recipe that we also implement in our weeks and with our guests.
...and of course that doesn't mean that everyone who climbs is free of fears - not even us. Sometimes quite the opposite. But just as in climbing, you can also find ways to deal with your fears in everyday life, to recognize them, accept them and slowly find a way to 'make friends' with them, until perhaps one day you will no longer be afraid of let’s call it this 'problem'.
Whether in climbing or in everyday life, facing fears takes courage, but/and especially in climbing, what would life be without them? Don't we all need a bit of adrenaline sometimes?
On that note, have a good weekend and see you in the next BLOG-Post,
Cheers, Johanna