• some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    19
    ·
    3 days ago

    My irrational fear of heights would cause me paralysis on these stairs. It happened in a train station that had plexiglass walls around the stairs. It felt too open and I crouched uncontrollable fear as my partner tried to console me. A cop came to see what was wrong and d that was the thing that motivated me to push through and make it the rest of the way.

    • ickplant@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      3 days ago

      I feel you. I also have that fear, and one time we went to a local opera house that has very steep balconies. When you are walking down the stairs to your seat, it seriously feels like you can fall to your death if you wobble or trip. I needed my husband holding my hand and his constant reassurance just to make it to our seats. Didn’t get up the whole intermission and then high-tailed it out of there. Never again.

      • some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        2 days ago

        I walked out of a concert because we were at the top of those stairs in a huge arena. Just felt like I would fall forward out of my seat for no reason, which is completely ludicrous but that didn’t stop my unease. The seats sucked anyway.

      • MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        3 days ago

        I feel that way in some sports stadiums. Like… I can intellectually recognize that hundreds of thousands of people use these stairs without incident every year. But it does not feel that way in the moment.

    • MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      3 days ago

      I have to do a double-take every time I try to go on a boring, run of the mill down escalator. (I’m perfectly fine going up.) It’s like I’m waiting for vertigo that never quite comes, just threatens.

    • toynbee@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 days ago

      It’s not irrational at all. Falling from heights hurts. I’m afraid of being hurt (including from heights). It makes perfect sense.