For individuals with a fear of heights, rock climbing can be a powerful tool for cognitive reframing.
As Hsiang Yee explains, the process involves a systematic confrontation of perceived risk.
Through mastering safety protocols and relying on the integrity of the system and a belay partner, climbers can shift their perception from anxiety to trust.
This reliance on technical assurance fosters a profound sense of self-efficacy, transforming fear into confidence.
00:00But if fear is something that you want to conquer, I find that the best way to get through fear is to understand why you're afraid.
00:07There have been any case studies where, thanks to these spots, I'm not scared of hide anymore. Has there been any case studies?
00:16So, there is. And that person is me.
00:21So, I firmly believe that the only way out of fear is through it.
00:27I remember the first time I tried climbing a very, very high wall.
00:33So, there are, in an indoor climbing gym, you usually see four kinds.
00:41First is boulders. So, boulders is around that height.
00:46So, maybe three meters, four meters.
00:50So, those we don't have a rope attached to us.
00:53You climb to the top, and then you climb down a little, and then you jump off.
00:56And then, there is auto wall.
00:59It works like this automated system.
01:02You know when you have your name tag, and then there's this little round thing that you can pull out, tap your card, and then it will automatically retract?
01:11So, that's how the auto wall works.
01:13You attach it to your harness.
01:15You climb up.
01:16And then, when you're done climbing, you just let go.
01:18And then, this pulley system lets you down.
01:22So, that's auto wall.
01:23And then, we have top rope, which is a pulley system on the top, a rope attached, one climber as the climber, and the other as a belayer, and then you climb.
01:33And then, the last one, which is my favorite, is called lead climbing.
01:36So, lead climbing is where you look at the wall.
01:40It's a very high wall, and there are no ropes attached to it.
01:43There are little clips on the wall.
01:46As you climb up, you bring your rope, and you clip it into every little clip.
01:50So, that's my favorite.
01:52Okay, that's your favorite.
01:53So, if you are afraid of heights, I would recommend you going into what you feel comfortable with.
02:00So, let's say you want to do something lower.
02:04I would go into bouldering.
02:05Let's say you want to do the climbs that require you to wear harness and rope.
02:10I would climb, but then I would, when I feel uncomfortable, when I look down and I think, hey, this is a bit too high up.
02:16But, I'm done.
02:17Then, I'll just tell my belayer, or I'll just let go.
02:20So, it's up to you.
02:22You don't have to push yourself to a point where you're uncomfortable if you don't want to.
02:27But, if fear is something that you want to conquer, I find that the best way to get through fear is to understand why you're afraid.
02:35So, I was afraid because I was afraid that being so high up, if I fell, I would hurt myself.
02:42So, I sat down and I observed a mechanism.
02:46I observed all the climbers going up and down, going up and down, and I saw how the system was safe.
02:52And because the knowledge of, the knowledge of, I will be safe, even if I climb high up, was repeatedly proven to me, it allowed me to face that fear.
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