Walking / Hiking - Stiles when you’re scared of heights

Wenfy · 2023-08-21T10:04:08+00:00

It’s just that really - how do you manage? I’ve thus far managed to avoid stiles by avoiding rural rambling / walking - but will be getting back into it soon as walking is the only exercise I can stick to. I find most types of stiles (except the clapper gates you can hop over) so difficult - I can climb up easily enough but then I get to the top and my brain switches off if there’s not a straight forward route down. Is there any way around this?

Original poster

Wenfy · 21/08/2023 11:05

Should add I have dyspraxia too. So a lot of the fear I have is about my capability to navigate stiles in addition to the fear of heights

OP posts:

Honeysuckle16 · 21/08/2023 20:18

I know exactly what you mean, Wenfy. Some stiles are very tall and can be awkward. Firstly, bear in mind that a fear of heights and that awful vertigo feeling is a primitive instinct, there to keep people safe. However, once it’s given us a warning, we can use the developed part of our brains to take appropriate precautions so that we don’t come to harm. In effect, we can say, ‘Thank you instinct, I’m aware that I’m going up high so I don’t need you any more, I will take care of myself.” Then push the vertigo to the back of your mind and get on with what you need to do. Avoid looking down, just look at the stile itself.

When climbing over the stile, especially at the top when you might need to turn around, use the principle of keeping 3 points of contact. That is, you have 2 hands and 2 feet available to keep you safe but only move 1 of these at once, keeping the others still. There’s usually a tall hand guide to hold onto, so hold on with both your hands then move one foot at a time. Adjust your hands to hold onto the stile as you descend.

The first one is by far the worst! If you can, enlist some help. Hope this helps and please forgive me if I come over as condescending - definitely not intended.

Original poster

Wenfy · 21/08/2023 21:01

Honeysuckle16 · 21/08/2023 20:18

I know exactly what you mean, Wenfy. Some stiles are very tall and can be awkward. Firstly, bear in mind that a fear of heights and that awful vertigo feeling is a primitive instinct, there to keep people safe. However, once it’s given us a warning, we can use the developed part of our brains to take appropriate precautions so that we don’t come to harm. In effect, we can say, ‘Thank you instinct, I’m aware that I’m going up high so I don’t need you any more, I will take care of myself.” Then push the vertigo to the back of your mind and get on with what you need to do. Avoid looking down, just look at the stile itself.

When climbing over the stile, especially at the top when you might need to turn around, use the principle of keeping 3 points of contact. That is, you have 2 hands and 2 feet available to keep you safe but only move 1 of these at once, keeping the others still. There’s usually a tall hand guide to hold onto, so hold on with both your hands then move one foot at a time. Adjust your hands to hold onto the stile as you descend.

The first one is by far the worst! If you can, enlist some help. Hope this helps and please forgive me if I come over as condescending - definitely not intended.

Thank you this helps. I often do panic and try to jump off which then makes my reaction worse the next time. I’ll def try the 3 points of contact rule

OP posts: