Confessions of an Acrophobia

It had always been a problem for me to do any form of high elements activities. In particular, I was afraid of doing activities like abseiling and flying fox. When all my friends are eagerly volunteering themselves to do these activities, I try my very best to escape these activities. Though I might be seen cheering for my friends, I would not dare to go up there to participate.

Although I tried my best to escape these activities for each camp, there was a particular time where I was spotted standing in a corner by a teacher. She approached me in a friendly way and was eager to know why I was away from my group of friends. After I had explained to her about my phobia, she insisted that I should experience it to see for myself if it was really scary.

My teacher then went to the place my friends were standing. She then asked the girl who was eagerly waiting to try the abseiling next to give me a chance. The girl gave up her chance to me. My teacher then explained to my friends about my phobia. Upon hearing it, my friends immediately started cheering for me. One by one came forward to tell about their experience. They also ensured me that there were no chances of me falling down as the instructor would be holding on to the other end of the rope.

Keeping their words of encouragement in mind, I climbed up the flight of stairs where the instructor was waiting for me. The instructor being a kind person, he slowly explained to me how to slowly go down. When I was going down, I could hear my friends down there cheering and screaming my name. Though I was feeling very nervous and trying to avoid looking down, I preserved throughout the journey down. When my foot finally touched the ground, I let out a sigh of relief. My friends were all crowded around me, one by one asking me how I felt.

I found this experience very unique. I thanked my friends for cheering for me and encouraging me to try. I also thanked my teacher who was waiting for me to share my experience. Though I was able to go up there because my teacher insisted I should try, I was unable to volunteer myself again. I then realized that my fear has restricted me from doing high elements activities and looking down from high-rise buildings. I have taken this weakness of mine more as a motivation rather than a discouragement. I try my best in most scenarios to do these activities to get out of my fear.

(446 words)