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Desensitizing yourself to falling... 30-Jun-2006 At 9:57:21 AM cath

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Hi Mtn Bear

I tried some desensitization to falling after recently experiencing this kind of head trouble after a scary fall on very run out bolts at Giraween, which involved flipping upside down etc.

I found that when I tried to climb (even easy stuff) I would only remember this image of the scary fall, and forget all the other 'safer' and shorter falls I've had in the past. I would then freeze up and be unable to climb at all. I found 'desensitisation' worked really well Mtn Bear. I did this on bolts...found a well bolted route and jumped off progressively higher above the bolts. Had a belayer I trusted completely, which helps...
I found this technique extremely useful, and the next climb I did, this image of falling badly had gone, and had been replaced by the more recent, better image of falling and being ok.
This seemed to generalise to trad climbing as well, and I was more relaxed climbing trad also after this.

Also, I know that some fear is a part of rockclimbing, but this was a more irrational fear, that was completely stopping any enjoyment.

I hope that's of some help Mtn Bear!

Cheers,
Cath