Fear – the dictionary defines it in several ways – foreboding, dread, dismay, terror, fright, panic, horror, concern, anxiety and apprehension among others. These defining words apply to the most common reasons people fear something. Other types of fear are those described as anxiety disorders ending in the word phobia, characterized by a fear of a specific object, activity or situation. Arachnophobia, the fear of spiders; Ophidiophobia, fear of snakes; Acrophobia, fear of heights; and Glossophobia, fear of public speaking – are just a few of the many phobias that people suffer from or confront.
I wasn’t aware of my mother’s acrophobia until we went to the World’s Fair and took in the IBM exhibit. Being enclosed in a large egg-shaped structure, sitting high up with rows and rows of small benches, feeling like if you moved you would fall, and knowing you couldn’t leave until it was over, was a lot to take. My mom did her best to stay calm, but it was obvious by how tight she was holding my hand that she was frightened. Remembering it years later, I was surprised that she got through it without having a panic attack.
I can’t recall what triggered my first experience of acrophobia, but there have been several incidents throughout the years. I have been told that my fear is not of heights but of falling. I agree with that opinion. I can climb up to the top row of a stadium, but my fear sets in when I turn around and see how far I could fall. I see people bounding up the steps, not even holding onto the hand rail and wonder how they could do it so easily.
So, why is this article titled “Not Too Old to Learn New Tricks”? On our recent trip to Disney World, I watched our grandchildren go on rides I couldn’t imagine going on at their ages. A ride one of our granddaughters went on and loved when she was four, she wouldn’t go on again until this year. Not sure what changed; maybe she faced her fear and overcame it. It gave me pause.
For a few years, I had toyed with going on the Wild Africa Trek at Disney World. It is something you have to reserve in advance. In reading about what it entails, you have to walk several paths, and at one point, you have to cross two swinging bridges. I was led to believe they weren’t that high up. As it was a surprise Christmas gift from my husband, I knew I had to go. It was wonderful. My husband and I were having a great time, and then we got to the bridges. They were up quite high, the first being over the hippo pond, the second over the crocodiles. I watched as others crossed, and it was time to face my fear – after all, it was Disney World, it had to be safe. I moved slowly at first, but I got faster as my courage outweighed my fear. The second bridge I got across quicker, although still not a speed demon. No matter, I had done it.
There was only one ride left that I had refused to go on. I learned even my six-year-old grandson had gone on it, but it was too late for me to change my mind. On our way home, I told my husband that we needed to go back for just a day, so I could go on Tron. He told me it would still be there on our next family trip. True, but will I be able to face my fear again?
