I seem to have height + child = phobia.

[Mmmmcoffee]

Apologies - this is probably going to be a bit long-winded!

I'm not a generally anxious person, in fact I'm pretty laid-back and don't tend to worry much. But in the last couple of years I've started to get really nervous when my 11yo dd is anywhere near a 'drop'.

Came to a head this summer, we went to a national trust house and I had a panic attack on the roof because she was standing near the edge. With safety railings up to her chest.

She's started calling it my "wobbly-legs", and is being really good at standing back, she thinks its funny. But it's getting worse and I don't want to end up not being able to take her places because I'm panicking.

Any ideas on how I can deal with this?

[Portofino]

I'm exactly the same! My sister thinks I am crazy! I'm forever saying (in a falsely calm voice) "please come away from the edge".

We had a open day at work a couple of years ago, and went on to the roof (16 stories up). DH lifted dd onto the wall that ran round the edge. I nearly had heart failure! And it still makes me sick to think about it now....

[Portofino]

Sorry - not much help - but i didn't want you feel alone! {grin]

[FaintlyMacabre]

I am just the same. I was fairly bad before having DS, but I think it has got worse. (He is only 22 months so luckily I still have an element of control over him).
Your story has made me go all sick and shaky, Portofino. My DH would still be hearing about it 10 years on!

So, sorry, still no help, but you are definitely not alone.

[LynetteScavo]

I thought this was normal!

I'm not at all scared of heights myself, but if one of my DC goes near anything high (or seemingly high, like a glass balcony) I feel sick, and get very wobbly legs.

I thought it was just a mummy protective thing.

[Mmmmcoffee]

Well at least I know I'm not alone, I did feel a bit daft...

The odd thing is, I'm not at all afraid of heights, like Lynette said.

[Aimsmum]

Message withdrawn

[argento]

My mother was like that when I was a child - I think my dad used to deliberately wind her up by dangling us over things and encouraging us to lean over the edge

[Remotew]

I've had this since DD was born. I can remember letting her go on a perfectly safe dumbo aeroplane ride when she was 5. We were watching her my sister and I and I was crying until it stopped.

[Horton]

I've also developed something rather similar since DD was born three years ago. The bits about the glass roof and the standing on the wall 16 stories up have given me that horrible heart in mouth, sick, shaky feeling that the real life equivalents would. I am also not an anxious person generally and consider myself as sane as the next person!

I've never actually had a panic attack, though. Maybe you need some advice on how to deal with these?