Conquer Your Fears of the Great Outdoors
Conquer Your Fears of the Great Outdoors
Everyone has irrational fears, be it of heights, water or creepy insects. A phobia is a normal response to a perceived danger but when it becomes overpowering, people lose out on enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors. By slowly getting acquainted to the scary things outside, a person’s anxiety can be turned into excitement, satisfaction or, to the benefit of the family, at least mild tolerance.
“When fear become debilitating, people miss the valuable memories with friends and family on outdoor trips”, says Greg Lynch, founder of the Scenic Travel Canada website and a travelling enthusiast. “Escaping to the cottage or lake should be about having fun doing things that aren’t available in the city.” Lynch, who takes part in adventure travels in Canada for both business and pleasure, says that avoiding the things that scare us only exaggerates the fear and makes it more difficult to conquer.
Overcoming a phobia is hard so setting small goals is important. People may never be totally cured but getting to the point of contentment opens up a world activities and places. Don’t let fear hold back on the scenic wonders beyond the urban borders.
Instead of shelling out big bucks for a therapist, try some of these techniques to get over the anxiety of the great outdoors:
Understand that fears are natural but irrational and that the sufferer is in control of the situation. Hikers can decide how high to climb, divers can choose how deep to dive. Use logic and reason to answer, “What’s the worst that can happen when you decide how far to push the limit?”
Don’t hide the phobia. Tell others in the group of any apprehensions. After the first round of mockery, tell them your limits and what behaviours will and will not be accepted. If the joking turns into harassment, go with a more understanding group.
Avoid unnecessary pills. Medication may help short term anxiety but it doesn’t alleviate the long term fear. Side effects may include drowsiness and apathy which are not good during a physically demanding activity. Even worse, pills may lead to a convenient addiction.
Create a list of interesting things to do and then rank them in order of ‘scariness’. Attempt the smallest and least-scariest ones first then progress to the ultimate goal. For instance, if the thought of being stranded in a dark forest is preventing an extended backpacking trip, start off by spending a night in the back yard in a tent. Progress to camping in a crowded campground, then staying out in the backcountry for a weekend. Small successes build confidence.
Find and trust a buddy who is experienced, doesn’t have the same fears and who’ll provide support even after a few failed attempts. Make sure to respect their time and patience by showing measurable progress towards the ultimate goal.
Understand the fear of others. Encourage people who are struggling. Don’t rush, push and mock them too much. But equally, don’t let the sufferer languish too long in fear. If needed, demonstrate how non-threatening the situation is or provide support for their first attempt.
An irrational fear shouldn’t stop people from enjoying a relaxing and memorable outdoor excursion. By starting off small, people can build their tolerance to the point where they are confident and comfortable in the great outdoors.
Scenic Travel Canada is a website that helps travelers and nature-lovers to discover Canada. There’s a Canadian adventure that caters to people of all fitness levels. From cycling in the Rockies to the paths along the sandy shores in the Maritimes, you’ll be amazed at the beautiful Canadian scenery that awaits.
Article from articlesbase.com
Categories: Canada Outdoors Tags: Conquer, Fears, Great, Outdoors
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