Fear of slides (especially water slides) is more common than you think, mostly in children but also in adults. Often it is a combination of speed and height that causes you to feel uncomfortable on a slide. However, there are some tips you can apply to overcome your fear of slides in an easy way.
Afraid of slides
First and foremost, you need to figure out exactly what you are afraid of. After all, there is often another fear underlying your fear of slides. Ask yourself when you feel the most fear: When you are at the foot of the slide? When you are climbing up? When you are at the highest point? Are you afraid of falling or is it the speed of the descent that scares you?
In the case of indoor (water) slides, you may also be afraid of enclosed spaces, so your fear of slides is actually a kind of claustrophobia. If you figure out exactly what is at the root of your fear of slides (fear of heights, fear of losing control, fear of great speed, fear of water or claustrophobia, to name just a few examples) you can address your fear much more efficiently.
The second tip when you're afraid of slides
This tip builds on the first one. When you know what you are afraid of, address that specific fear first. If it is the height you fear, then you know what you need to work on first.
There are several methods and tips for overcoming vertigo. For example, you can tackle vertigo in small steps so that you are comfortable at higher and higher altitudes until your fear of heights disappears completely.
For example, fear of water is overcome by swimming in a quiet pool first, so you can get used to the water at your own pace. If you break down your fears into small pieces in this way, it often becomes easier to overcome them.
You also see that sometimes people relapse, but keep trying and it will often work out. If you want help then of course you can because often in 1 session of hypnotherapy it is resolved.
Own pace and calm...
Go to the (water) slide on your own and do everything at your pace. Often much of your anxiety comes from the crowds of people around you, and that is very understandable. When you feel uncomfortable in a certain situation, crowds and shouting people will only make it worse.
Try not to think about what could go wrong and enjoy the attraction. A slide is made to be enjoyed. In fact, there are not that many things that can go wrong and the number of accidents that happen on slides is extremely small.
Especially when you go to a large amusement park with impressive slides, the courses often have excellent safety measures.
Watch other people go down the slide. Sometimes it helps to just stand by the side and observe how others are doing. From a distance, the slide probably looks a lot less scary, and that way you can familiarize yourself with the attraction without having to face your fear right away.
You also see it quite often with flight crew who have to go down a slide during a drill. They then have to train for emergencies. Again, the same tips apply, and hypnotherapy can also provide a solution.
Do you recognize this fear or have another fear? Let us know.
