Fear of Escalators

Mutter_2

Pretty stupid I know.
I have a terrible fear of heights. Any stress in my life and I nightmare of having to climb heights.
I've never liked the glass sided escalators but coped until recently when I had to take the lift instead.
Today I went shopping, could'nt face the escalator, thought at first get on with many in front of me, couldn't do it. Went to a dept. store and used the lift.
The only way to get me on that escalator was me sitting down. The thought of standing and maybe looking down terrified me.
The daft thing is, I spent 10 yrs running up and down the bloomin things 20 yrs ago, commuting to London. Had a bad fall, but surely that woldn'nt be back to haunt me?


I live a rural life and my worry is that this fear will become another, not wanting to tread on cracks etc, you know the sort of thing.

So, what to do. Should I go for Hypnotism? Or is that a waste of money?
Any money saving suggestions?

Anyone got over their fear and how?

belfastgirl23

I tried hypnotism for fear of flying and I think it worked. I'm still scared but manageably so...not panic attack scared just a bit uneasy. Which is a major improvement. It cost I think about £250 all-in for 3 sessions of hypnosis. I'd say worth a try if you have the cash.

tirednewdad

You not alone. My mother is also scared of escalators. She finds that it does not effect her shopping though as there is usually a lift in store if not a stair case available.

Mutter_2

tirednewdad wrote: »

You not alone. My mother is also scared of escalators. She finds that it does not effect her shopping though as there is usually a lift in store if not a stair case available.

I can cope locally of course. What though if I want to trot around London.Up and down the escalators of the Tube?
I'm not scared of the moving staircase, it's the height that gets me.
Going up, fine.
Looking down and stepping on, might as well be over a cliff. That's what stresses me.

Bronnie

I thought it was just me! I'm a capable person but I do know exactly what you mean! I get a terrible fluttery jittery feeling in that situation..edge of a cliff feeling and going down on your bottom ...I can absolutely identify with both, especially at the top of a long steep escalator or staircase.
Years ago, I took my 2 DDs to Clifford's Tower in York, which is accessed by a long steep straight flight of steps. They were clamouring to go to the top, so believing in mind over matter, up we went, little one was still at the hand holding stage. When I got to the top, and looked back, I was practically paralysed at the prospect of how we were going to get down again. In the end, I had to approach a friendly looking family, who led my little one down, whilst I walked down VERY slowly step by step, behind the husband, who effectively blocked the view down. I was so grateful to them.
Fortunately, I don't come across this very often in day to day life. I'm slightly better on stairs than escalators. I tend to sling my bags on shoulder or arm and keep both hands free to wrap around the handrail if necessary. Also, I find it much easier with somebody standing directly in front of me, as long as there's no jostling. It doesn't make it any easier for someone to take my hand or arm either, I'm better on my own. When I get that fluttery feeling, I try to take a deep breathe and think about it logically.In certain situations, (once coming down very steep steps down to a beach ), I have thought "Blow it!" and come down on my bum!
I do understand!

suki1964

I can just about cope with life with my fear of heights.

I cant do bridges, piers, fire escapes - anything when you can see below you - as well as esculators and outside lifts or glass ones.

As a londoner on the tubes I used to manage going down - less the esculators were broken and their were no stairs - then it really was a struggle. I was ok on stairs but the not moving esculators were HELL as they always appeared to shake or move. Like Bronnie I have to breath deep and try keep calm and like Bronnie Im not adverse to coming down bum first if thats what gets me down

Mostly I manage my fear. I have been known to do a complete circuit of the M25 rather then come back over the QE2 Bridge and Im not adverse to walking a mile or two up river to find a nice solid concrete bridge with high sides to cross. And Ive not let my fear take over my life to the degree that it stops me doing something. I have been on the London Eye and I have been in a hot air ballon (ok so I sat on the floor of the basket for that one) and Im sure if there were flames licking around my ankles I would hit the fire escape just as quick as the next person.

For me personally I try to keep on top of my fear. I deep breath my way through situations, I aknowledge my fear and take my time and dont allow myself to be embarressed if I need to get on my hands and knees or bum to get from a to b.

jfdi

The escalator one strikes me occasionally too - I just face UP the escalator & travel down backwards! I need to take occasional 'level' glances behind me (IYSWIM!) to see how close the bottom is - but cannot look straight down or I get vertigo!

Mutter_2

Hah ha, Bronnie, you know exactly how I feel. The tower thing I did at Lincoln Castle. Climbed inside, up the winding staircase, emerged at the top and had to exit on my bottom.
London Eye, had no problems with. But driving over a bridge in Newcastle last week, was dont look down, do not look down.

Those steps to the beach .. similar in the Peak District. No hand rail!!!
I went on a School trip, to care for the kids? faced with the steps, the children cared for me.!

I see TV programmes where some are terrified of snakes. Easy to stay away from a snake in this country, not so easy to cope with heights.

JoolzS

No advice, but another post just to let you know you aren't alone. I'm also scared of escalators (and glass-sided lifts) so I nearly always use the stairs or internal lifts - usually the stairs if I'm on my own because I'm also mildly claustrophobic and hate the idea of being caught in a lift by myself.

I can usually manage to use the escalator to go up, if it's only one floor, but I rarely use them to go down. The only time I can use them to go down is if my DH is with me and he stands behind me so that I can't be pushed.

Julie

Savvy_Sue

jfdi wrote: »

The escalator one strikes me occasionally too - I just face UP the escalator & travel down backwards! I need to take occasional 'level' glances behind me (IYSWIM!) to see how close the bottom is - but cannot look straight down or I get vertigo!

I was going to suggest this. also you can usually 'feel' when you get to the bottom because there is a slight level bit before you step off.

I'm OK-ish on escalators as long as they are moving, if they are broken then I find the ridges on the stairs sort of merge and make me wobbly. Also our local Sainsburys has a sloped travelator and that is HORRID to go down, I think it's the merging lines again!

naturally_2

I used to have the same thing but only about "down" escalators, and took the lift - which was odd because my friends at the time couldn't do lifts!

I got over it with a "needs must" situation where I commuted using liverpool's underground and there is no option. Thankfully the business helped: parking myself behind someone else made me feel safer, and staring at their back means you know when you need to get off when they move!

I hated the adverts - what a stupid place to have adverts, they were always placed so they were "straight" from the ground but on a horrible angle to the escalator IYKWIM so that's what did me in!

To the OP, your accident could well still be affecting you, especially since you don't appear to have conquered it. I have had hypnotheraphy before and couldn't recommend it highly enough!