Wish me luck!!

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

I am having a hypnotherapy session next Thursday to try and deal with my fear of chair lifts. I love our family ski holidays but I cannot explain how scared I am of the sodding lifts . This is only our 3rd year skiing (altho DH has skied since he was 4) and altho of course I get on the lifts, I am terrified to the point of tears on them. DC's are bound to be spending more time with us this year (and neither have been on chair lifts yet) and I am worried that I will pass on my phobia to them. It is so severe that I have been having panic attack moments since I booked the holiday a month ago .

Anyway........positive step forward! So please wish me luck because I so want to enjoy EVERYTHING about our holiday this year!

Good luck, positive vibes coming your way

I can totally understand your fear. We have just got back from skiing and I managed to avoid the chairlifts for the first two days. The night before I had to go on one I couldn't sleep and felt physicaly sick all the way up. I managed it and see them as a nesscessity (sp) to ski but I will never ever enjoy them. If its any consolation I didn't pass my phobia onto my dd's they justed laughed at me! Good luck.

MrsJS. I was really sorry to hear of your phobia. I am quite an anxious person and have a couple of phobias (one is flying - don't know if I will ever get on a plane again) but actually don't find chair lifts too bad. Try and think of the best bit..giving your tired legs a good rest!

If you are able to share what worries you here don't know if there is any way we can try and help you not to feel so worried. Do you worry about getting on/off or that they will stop?

The one piece of advice I thought I should share with people on this site is making sure you don't have any loose items of clothing when getting on and off. This time I came to get off a chairlift and suddenly noticed the cord of my hood was stuck in the chair....wrenched it free but by then had slightly missed the correct time to get off so my husband and I jumped with skis a couple of feet and landed in a heap - luckily no broken limbs!! I was so cross that they didn't stop the lift for us!

The only other drama we've had is that twice DH has fallen off trying to get on on the right hand side...If you are at the right hand side..turn to your right as you get on and grab the side of the chair then you will get on ok.

Gosh hope I haven't made you even more worried ...not my intention!

Oh you lot are wonderful . Thanks so much for your messages of support.

Getting on and off doesn't bother me (am v good and focussed at the getting off bit ).

I think my biggest fear is falling off and I have a severe fear of heights. It just seems to me that you are so vulnerable in the chair lifts. I am fine on the button/drag lifts - irrespective of how high or steep they get.

KC3 - I totally understand the sleepless night worrying about them. Its about me falling and also I am terrified of the kids leaning forward and falling out. I know, rationally, that such accidents rarely happen, but in my stressed state it is hard to remember.

I am pretty good at making myself do these things but its so horrible to feel so sick and stressed about it. I just really hope this hypnotherapist can help me. I have been working on myself this week trying to keep a very positive outlook and focus on the skiing and the family being together rather than those horrible things!!

Happywomble - you haven't made me more worried and thank you for the tips .

They are exactly my fears - either falling or wire snapping - which when written down it seems ridiculous!! The youngest dd(5) skied with us in the afternoon which was the worst experience on the lifts she would swing her legs, lean forward, want to lift the bar too early. She was also a nightmare on the slope going too fast and too close to edges - I found myself hollering at her ! Fingers crossed for the hypnotherapy.

Have you seen that Courcheval now have a system that some of the chair lifts have magnets on them so that kids wearing special vests actually "stick" to the seats.

"A new system is currently on trial in Courchevel that could increase child-safety on chairlifts. It comprises a magnetic orange waistcoat, which also offers back protection and high visibility on the pistes. Children started to test the system on the Pralong chairlift this week. The lift itself has been equipped with magnetic disks in the backrests of the chairs. When a child gets on the magnets are activated. Once the chair reaches the top, the magnets are demagnetised, so the child can ski off the lift as normal....Called Magnestick, the system has been developed to prevent small children from slipping through the drop down bar or falling off the lift."

What a fab system Caurnie....should have booked for Courcheval! Do you think they would consider that for adults too??