Growing up I was taught not to fear anything or anyone, except for God. I felt like I accomplished that until one day I met my match. I don’t want anyone to judge me because I’m 6 foot 6, but my biggest fear is HEIGHTS. I found that out one day when I parked my car on the 7th floor of a parking garage. I looked over the garage to point out a place where I wanted to go but once I looked down I became dizzy and light-headed. Right then I knew I was afraid of heights. 
The crazy thing about me being afraid of heights is that I love roller coasters. I can ride roller coasters pretty much all day but the scary part is when I’m at the top of the ride and it pauses for a second, I’m not able to look down. Many people have fears but a 6 foot 6 basketball player being afraid of heights is very rare, well to me it is at least. I can dunk, jump high and hang on the rim fine and that’s pretty high for most people. When I walk up a couple flights of stairs, look out an air plane window or drive up a mountain and look down, I’m prepared to throw up or feel sick. I hate having a fear but it’s something I’m unable to control. Sometimes I try to overcome my fear by looking down from a parking garage where it all started. Most of the time I back up very quickly but sometimes I can look for a couple of seconds without getting dizzy or light headed. I have plenty of people tell me that I’m too tall to be afraid of heights but their opinion doesn’t really matter to me. Heights are something that really makes me think twice. Should I look over? How high am I right now? These are questions I ask myself. As I get older and more confident, the fear gradually goes away, but as of now I’m still afraid of heights.
Antonio Stabler
Its funny to see how many tall people are scared of heights! I'm scared of heights as well, not so much rollercoasters though. If I have to stand on a ladder somewhere or i'm at the top of a mountain, I think that's pretty scary for most people! Its the fear of falling for me more so than the fear of the height but great post!
ReplyDeleteTone, I have the exact same fear my brother. I can ride roller coasters all day and have been riding them since I was 10 years old but If I reach a place that is too high and I'm not harnessed in I can't stand it. My knees get weak and I get a sick feeling in my stomach as if someone is getting ready to push me off. This summer I went to New York City and visited the Empire State Building. It is one of the tallest buildings in the entire world and when I got up there I had to stand at least 5 feet back from the ledge. I feel your pain and hopefully well be able to get over this fear one day.
ReplyDeleteYes, i have recently had that same feeling. But your a brave man for visiting the Empire State Building in New York. There's no way i go to the top, unless it was for a lot of money. However, thanks for reading and commenting on my blog. I really appreciate it.
DeleteI find it odd that many people tell you that you're too tall to be afraid of heights. To me, it makes perfect sense that a lot of tall people are afraid of heights. I mean, a person that is 6 foot 6 sees the ground as a whole foot father away than someone who is 5 foot 6. I am also terrified of heights (even thought I'm short); I hate that dizzy feeling you get when looking down at the ground from a high place.
ReplyDeleteI'm a whole foot shorter than you but I understand your fear of heights. I've always been joked with that it's a fear of falling not a fear of heights. The joke has never made me feel any better about the situation. Heights truly are scary! I'm also afraid when I look down stairwells and I'm really high up; I'm even more freaked out when the stairs are narrow and there feels like a huge chance to slip down them.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that you are too tall to be afraid of heights. I am also afraid of heights, but then again I am also shorter than you. Being afraid of heights is a common thing in my opinion. There are alot of people that are afraid of hieghts in the world. I am one of those but unlike you my fear of heights affects me riding roller coasters. I do not like roller coasters at all. I have only been on two in my life time, one of which was by force. Don't be ashamed of your fear of heights there are plenty others that share that fear.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your comment. That really helped me a lot. Hopefully we both over come our fear of heights very soon. By the way roller coasters are great, your missing out. I hope you keep reading and commenting on my blog though. Thanks
DeleteI am on the exact same page as you. While I'm not a 6'6" basketball player, I'm tall for a girl but the idea of going on a ladder or looking out the window of an airplane? No thank you. But at the same time, roller coasters are my guilty pleasure. On the intial hike up though, my eyes are glued shut waiting for the first drop to be over with. I found out about my fear when I took a cable car to the top of a mountain in Germany... If you're afraid of heights, I would suggest never getting on a cable car. Or going to the top of a mountain.
ReplyDeleteI can agree with you 100%! I am 6'0 and afraid of heights. I have to get myself mentally prepared to get on the first roller-coaster or to look down when I am very high up. I don't feel sick, but I do feel dizzy and my mind starts to wonder. The thing that really gets me is what if I fall? I really am beginning to think this is a tall person thing so don't feel bad, we are in the same boat!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Colton's statement. If anything heights would seem more frightening from your point of view over someone who is smaller. I too get a weird feeling when I am on top of a tall building or looking out from a long ways up. The weirdest part is that i love roller coasters as well. I love that feeling of adrenaline you get from scary rides. I wouldn't say i am afraid of heights but it does give me a unique feeling that i don't get anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteI can absolutely relate! I can hardly look at photos people have taken at the Grand Canyon without cringing. I only rode my first airplane last year. I can ride roller coasters, but only SOME...like, I could ride Top Gun at Carowinds (it's no longer called Top Gun, but I can't think of it's current name) but I would NOT be able to ride the Intimidator!
ReplyDeleteOne time at Carolina Place mall, I saw someone cleaning the top of the skylight windows and almost fainted. It's embarrassing. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is nervous around heights, especially since you are tall! I am little and my friend tease me for being a scaredey cat.
I can relate to your fear. Heights freak me out. You are braver than I am in the aspect that you appreciate roller coasters. The feeling of falling causes me anxiety. It might just be human nature to react to heights as a self- defense mechanism. The human body has strong reaction instincts designed to keep us away from life threatening situations.
ReplyDelete-Shannon Fowler
I understand where you are coming from being afraid of heights, but I do find it interesting considering how tall you are. You jump in the air all of the time so there is no need to be afraid. Being afraid of things is mental, trust me I know. But you will over come your fear sooner than you think since you already like to ride roller coasters and such. It's ok though for the time being. We all have fears and yours just happens to be heights.
ReplyDeleteMost people feel like it's very interesting because i am tall and yes it is mental. But however a mental mind state can take over your mind and body uncontrollably. I feel like i replied too you on my last blog. Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog again. I really appreciate it.
DeleteBeing afraid of heights is a very common fear and not one you should be ashamed of. Throughout my life my fears have only gotten worse. I hate elevators and any place I may feel trapped, otherwise knows at claustrophobia. I think you trying to get over your fear is a great step, little by little you may change and be able to stand on that really high mountain or look over the parking deck.
ReplyDeleteA fear is a fear, no matter how big you may be, how fast you may be, or even how strong you may be. I admire you're courage to write about something that seems to be a bit of a struggle for you personally. Although we as humans all think we are perfect, each and everyone one of us have some form of a fear whether we have found our fear or not each of us have one.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this blog, I can only conclude that the highest point you are comfortable with is the rim of the basketball goal. Being 6'6" is already well above the normal height for the average american man, but doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a fear of heights. It actually seems like you would have a greater chance at being afraid of heights since you're higher up than most people. It's funny that you aren't afraid of roller coasters though. I sometimes get anxious when I'm in the air or high up from ground level, but that's the feeling I love most. Regardless of the situation, it is great that realize your fear and accept that you have one, as many people have trouble doing so.
ReplyDeleteAt the height of 5'3 it's pretty typical for me to be afraid of heights, however, I can't ride roller coasters because of that reason! My fear of heights/really bad vertigo sadly has prevented me to ever ride more than one roller coaster in my life. I really like the idea of the rush, but after passing out on my first ride I find it best to leave the coasters for my friends!
ReplyDeleteI am on the same page with you on this. I am deathly afraid of heights. Only for me people expect it considering I am only 5 foot one. The first and only time I rode a roller coaster I almost passed out once I realized hoe high up I was. But everyone has their fears, my brother is 6'3" and runs when there is a spider. So whatever your fear, its your business cause everybody has one big and small. You just happen to be a tall guy who is scared of heights, no matter how tall you are, nobody wants to fall off of huge building! Heights are scary and nobody can convince me otherwise.
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