Fear of falling bouldering. I can climb V2’s, but even though I top rope 5.

Fear of falling bouldering. I find that I'm climbing a couple grades lower on slab problems compared to overhanging ones. I'm fairly strong, and have a good grip strength, so I love the cave and overhang, but I'm terrified of slab. It’s a built-in survival mechanism activated from the day we’re born. Why do we fear falling? There are many reasons why people are afraid of falling, and often this fear is Fear of Falling I recently got back into bouldering (I’m somewhat of a mix between a beginner and an intermediate climber) when I discovered a bouldering gym 10mins away from my home. The difference is that Acrophobia deals with the fear of . At its most extreme, it ends a climb, resulting in a panicky shout of “Take!” or a Conquer your fear of falling in climbing! Learn how to understand, practice safe falls, and shift your mindset for a more confident climb at BKB. I read up on the psychology of fear of falling (aka basophobia) and fear of heights to overcome my fear. How To Overcome Fear Of Falling Rock Climbing | Find Your Bravery In Bouldering------------------------------------------------------Reddit Write-up: https:/ Im scared of falling. Overcome Your Fear of Falling Off Boulders A new video from Dave MacLeod gives great insight on how to boulder safely Gripped July 31, 2025 How to Overcome the Fear of Falling ft Hazel Findlay Hannah Morris Bouldering 138K subscribers Subscribed Unless you have a specific fear of heights, your fear of falling can be overcome and you’ll be climbing the walls in no time. While bouldering it kind of goes away but once I reach the last move and the top, it all comes rushing back. I could feel I was about to fall but I recently had a pretty bad bouldering injury too - still recovering - and I really wish I had practiced falling like you're all suggesting. I've always been scared of falling and hurting myself because of weird/awkward positioning when I fall, no matter how soft the mattress underneath is. Understand the fear Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is typically done without the use of ropes or harnesses. These days I prefer lead climbing because I got over my fear of falling There are whole books on this, and getting over fear of falling is mostly making sure that you get exposure to good falls. I've just started climbing (last week), and I'm pretty scared of heights anyway, but I am really afraid of falling when bouldering, I keep thinking maybe I'm going to hit something on the way down and land funny, etc. If your in a position where you might fall on your head, you should probably only execute on the move if your very confident of success. Is there any specific method to prevent or deal with this? I know I need to keep doing it but this really inhibits my climbing and would like to know if there are any little things I can do to cope better. I fall a lot, and I mean a shit ton, and because of that I’m pretty comfortable with falling. It's the reason why I exclusively rope-climb, but I'm not necessarily suggesting you do this because it seems like you enjoy bouldering. The more you fall, the more you become comfortable. I have slipped off countless footholds and my pride takes the brunt of the fall damn near every time. I feel scared of any move that involves momentum, and going higher than about two-thirds of the way up unless it's a VB ladder. Climbing is about desensitizing our fear through repeated safe exposure until we can physically perform at our limits. And when you realize after a time that you're getting scared again, you do that process again. However, in the controlled environment of Just looking for some advice on how to get over fear of falling in bouldering post-injury. It’s instinct. Keep doing it even though you are afraid. But I feel that it’s totally different when you fall down totally unprepared. The only issue was, once I got up to a certain height, I was Falling is an integral part of climbing, but it's also a consistent source of fear and limitation for many climbers. Had an injury falling on my butt, and now every time I'm near the top of the boulder and exhausted/making a hard move I have a fear of falling and just jump down. He was super supportive and encouraging, and even helped me figure out how to solve it. BUT. theres certain courses i know im strong enough to do but the mental barrier that comes with the fear of falling is too Legitimate fears are based on genuine physical risks that come with bouldering, such as slipping and falling from a high height or attempting a difficult route beyond Beating fear of falling (in 5 sessions) 26 July 2009, 1:19 pm I’ve talked before about fear of falling - how climbers underestimate how much it’s limiting them, and that the only way to beat it is to attack it head on with falling practice. If you would like to overcome your fear of falling when bouldering or simply learn how to manage risks when bouldering, this video is for you! You will Learn how to fall bouldering safely with three techniques to reduce injury and position crash pads correctly. The second skill is an ability to err on the side of caution, even when this means sacrificing the flash or onsight attempt. Check out our top tips! 10 Actionable Tips To Beat Fear Of Falling For Good *1,000 subscriber special*To say thank you for a thousand subscribers, I wanted to make the most useful v Looking for some tips on how to feel safer when climbing on slab. You basically do it on purpose, you do it from easier heights and you try to push for more. Discover techniques to fall properly, manage fear, and build confidence as a beginner climber. Recently I've been prac The fear of falling is innate in humans. New fear of falling/re-injury is limiting my progress, any advice on regaining confidence on the wall? Discover effective strategies for dealing with fear in climbing, from understanding different types of fear to building trust, mastering techniques, and 48 votes, 73 comments. In his book Nine Out of Ten Climbers Make the Same Mistakes, Dave MacLeod describes the fear of falling as the most significant thing holding back most Dude, that's rational fear. I still have good days and very bad days and the fear prevents me from improving to higher levels than a V1. I’m trying to improve my bouldering skills, but I can’t seem to push myself to try moves where I don’t have solid footing, or feel very secure with the holds. Tell anyone to jump off the top of a thirteen metre wall If your fear of heights while climbing is preventing you from enjoying your favourite hobby, Climb Above Fear can help. I mean falling/heights is a fear that 99% of us have for survival. I've made it to the top of a few routes and jumped down, which is still fairly intimidating but obviously fine because of the pads. Practice controlled falls onto crash pads or soft surfaces to familiarize yourself with the sensation and build trust in your ability to land safely. You might wanna hang on to that, as it keeps you from dying. It covers everything you need to know about managing fear across lead climbing, Understanding Fear of Falling (and How to Work With It) Falling is a natural part of climbing—but let’s be real: it can feel terrifying. In your mind you’re going to want to stay away from that climbing wall as much as possible if it means you might you’re going to be on average around 3 meters higher than the floor. Whether you’re a beginner on your first lead route or a seasoned climber pushing your limit, the fear of falling is one of the most common mental roadblocks in climbing. It’s a challenging process that could break your self Fear of bouldering can return or grow stronger after experiencing an injury, taking time off, or other reasons. It doesnt work. Hazel Findlay TEACHES Overcome Fear of Falling Alex Megos Patrick Matros TEACH Training for Climbing In this episode Dave shares his special method for helping climbers that suffer from a fear of falling. Whether you’re a beginner on your first lead route or a seasoned climber pushing your limit, the fear of The only way to master your fear of falling to climb safely is by falling properly and consistently. I just transitioned from bouldering to lead climbing, and I am still getting used to the height difference between the two. Even lead climbing I find less terrifiying than bouldering ( provided the distances between fixed Falling has always been a terrifying experience for me. He is more experienced than me and was watching from below. It's an instinctive response designed to keep us safe from harm. Because we have a lot of deleted posts on this subreddit, here is a backup of the body of this post: i recently got into bouldering at a gym and its been amazing and a great workout but the one thing im struggling with is the anxiety i get once im more than 8 or 9 feet up. The walls at this gym are 4-5 meters high and for the first time, I was afraid of reaching for higher holds. I’ve struggled with the fear of falling and continue to climb particularly difficult or high-altitude routes. How do you get over the fear of injuring yourself again? Practice Falling Falling is an inherent part of bouldering, and learning to fall safely can help alleviate your fear. I know the correct way of falling. I boulder a bunch and I've learned to fall from the top. But that’s not what you should do! According to the best psychologists, introducing yourself into the presence of your phobia is the best See more To get to the point, mostly what's holding me back is my fear of falling. Are you afraid of heights or afraid of falling? This article shares seven important tips to overcome the fear of falling. I think it's cause on overhangs I'm usually falling straight down onto the mat, whereas in slab climbs I'm scared a foot will slip unexpectedly and I'll hit every hold and volume on the way down. Fear of falling can be a serious hinderance to climbing performance. I double check having a mat underneath me and if there's Falling on lead, top rope or even when bouldering is intimidating because it is unnatural. Is it the height that we are afraid of or is it the fear of falling that we are afraid of more? Read on to learn more about how to face the fear of falling. How do I combat this? Bad landings, bad spotters, a fear of falling that makes you more likely to fall—don't make bouldering more dangerous than necessary. Exposure is Does anyone have any tips about how to get over a fear of falling? Yesterday I went climbing with my boyfriend for the first time and I was determined to finish a boulder problem. Rinse and repeat. A reasonable fear of heights and falling keeps us safe, but what to do if it is strong Returned to bouldering after a significant injury. Fear of Falling often prevents climbers from getting the most out of their current I mostly climbed top rope because it feels safe, when I boulder high and felt like there was a chance I could fall I would get scared. But when it comes to bouldering, I find myself so afraid of falling from high that I don’t dare to try. My trick is to do full sessions of falling. I have been climbing for 2-3 months, going to gym once a week. I used to climb V3-V4 grade, and now I can barely do a V2. In reply to MissyClimbs93: Hello. Understanding the Fear Fear of falling is natural. About 5 weeks into rehab. I've been indoor bouldering once a week with friends for a few years. Without protection, I knew the exact distance of any fall I might take, with the promise of padding meeting me on the ground. Learn how to safely take your first falls while indoor bouldering. You can practice falling by climbing up higher and jumping down and landing safely over and over. Falling is a natural part of climbing—but let’s be real: it can feel terrifying. I had Sports psychologist and climber Madeleine Eppensteiner shares her tips for overcoming the fear of falling on sport climbs. I really don't trust my feet. While it is embarrassing for some, the fear of falling while Bouldering can be a major obstacle to their progress. Ropes on the other hand take away most of the fear for me. After some A Quick Introduction into the rather complex Topic of Fear of Falling, Fall Training and Dynamic Belaying. I've taken dozens of 10m surprise whippers high up on sport routes with almost zero lasting consequences, but I broke my heel from falling 2m after spinning awkwardly off a wet smear and missing the pad on a warmup problem. This is a strategy Dave developed himself and is Fear of falling is one of the greatest obstacles in climbing. Mid-thirties, post-injury bouldering = lingering fear of falling badly from high up Bouldering falls are much more dangerous and hard on the body than sport climbing falls in general. I started bouldering last October, and about a month in fell from the top of a wall and injured knees & ankles, bruising bones. I have a problem though, I am afraid of heights, or more accurately, I'm afraid of falling. This The point of bouldering is to have fun, and if your fears are interfering with your bouldering, then hopefully this video is somewhat helpful for you! Fear is basically impossible to get rid of, and it’s completely natural. But the best way to build confidence in falling, is just falling more. Holding back all types of climbers: trad climbers, sport climbers, and boulders. One, as you've pointed out is overcoming the fear of falling and perceived (real or imagined) sense of risk so that you can maintain focus and climb thoughtfully when topping out. Are you intimidated by the height of the bouldering wall? You start gripping the holds harder than needed? Your palms start sweating more than From understanding the root of your fear to gradually developing your mental skill set, this Masterclass will help you overcome your fear of falling in lead climbing Learn how to overcome the fear of falling in climbing with practical strategies and mental techniques. I moved on to just top roping and i found a partner who was also only interested in top rope. Being As someone who has had a serious injury falling while bouldering, I would encourage you to change your perspective. I know how to fall, but you don't always have time to think when you're falling, so getting in muscle memory and instinct sounds so helpful. I read about how to increase my confidence when climbing the wall. If you're afraid on easy problems too then it might be worth sticking to stuff that you know is well within your boundary, and push it gradually - if you In my opinion there are two parallel things to work on here. I had a friend who coached me into a whole year of taking falls while climbing instead of taking. Slowly building up to full heights. Basophobia, on the other hand, is a natural fear typical of most humans and mammals. I can climb V2’s, but even though I top rope 5. In this article series, Arno Ilgner, author and founder I really dislike bouldering, and because of the fear of falling from a height i didn't do much progress at all on the bouldering wall. Bouldering, at first, which never brought me more than twenty feet off the ground in my early and tentative ambition. Getting over the fear of falling is a big part of climbing confidently, though it'll also improve once you know your limits (and get a better feel for trusting your feet, etc). About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket © 2025 Google LLC I'm not too scared of falling when I'm roped up, including leading, but I'm so badly scared of it while bouldering that I just can't get into it at all. However, the other day I had my first proper fall. I was terrified of bouldering falls when I first started climbing (mostly on toprope), but switched to mainly bouldering when I switched gym memberships- it took me months to get used to falling, and there are still angles that freak me out (overhang to slab moves where I Hi, I stick to bouldering due to a fear of heights. When you’re climbing at your limit, about to A new video from Dave MacLeod gives great insight on how to boulder safely The post Overcome Your Fear of Falling Off Boulders appeared first on Gripped Maga Fractured my ankle after bad bouldering fall. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket © Sprained my ankle from boulder fall - how to get over fear of bouldering? I have been climbing for 1. What happens is that when I reach a point in the problem that How do you overcome the fear of falling when bouldering? By learning how to fall correctly. Obviously, a strong fear of heights can be a bit of a problem in bouldering. But here’s the good news: fear of falling The title is pretty much all I want to ask. The fear of falling is common — but you can get past it with the right mental training tools and support from your climbing community. Ive given up with bouldering and moved onto ropes mostly. So. The climber uses only their hands and feet to scale the rock face. Practice taking bigger and bigger falls, with at least one fall just outside of your comfort zone every time you train. If you struggle Remember that regardless of whether you are toproping, lead climbing or bouldering, the basic psychology for dealing with the fear of falling is the same. Learn how to overcome the fear of falling in climbing with practical strategies and mental techniques. Or any other tips to help get past a fear of falling/hurting myself on a jump down? At least the gym has some good traversing I'm working on but I really want to get back into proper 'problem solving' session. Ive tried practice falling. When you get to toproping, leading, trad, etc you will have to repeat the process over and over again. Just wondering and be honest, does anyone stick to bouldering simply out of a fear of falling while climbing on a rope? Edit: I climb all types of climbing (sport, trad, bouldering) myself, I was just wondering because this has come up in the gym over and over lately. It’s valuable to not “get over” your fear of heights, because with heights comes serious consequences, and your comfort with heights does not change those consequences. 5 years, mostly indoor sports climbing as I do not like bouldering as much. Sport climbing is the joy of reaching highpoints, getting to know our Any tips for getting over your fear? Hello, I've been bouldering for a month now in an attempt to get fit and I love it. I used to prefer bouldering because of my fear of falling (which only really kicks in above 4m). And then, counterintuitively, I started climbing. The Strong Mind course is our flagship programme for fear management in climbing. As a climber, I am no stranger to fear. The most commom symptom I get from heights is a tickeling/tingling sensation on the floor of my feer or palms of my hands. This can be frustrating at I've been practicing falling from higher up so the sudden falls at high heights don't scare me as much. I think a fear of falling is a part of the sport in a way, since it adds to the challenge and the feeling of accomplishment (in addition to the physical component). Build confidence and unlock your climbing potential. It’s not weakness. If this happens, you can always come back to the fall practice to help The Fear of Falling Bouldering is a form of rock climbing that is typically done without the use of ropes or harnesses. I (39F) am slightly afraid of height as much as everyone does. I might get this when looking down or doing a risky move. The climbing is done on shorter walls or boulders, and the goal is to reach the top of the wall or boulder without falling. If you have no fear, and then do fall unexpectedly or painfully, I think it'll be a harder hit, figuratively. Dealing with fear of falling after a big fall that resulted in a broken ankle? Ok so i can consider myself a relatively bold climber, i have always been pretty comfortable climbing on lead even as a beginner and this evolved into me climbing some bold routes with bad protection and big run-outs, also a few relatively hard free solos for me. By understanding the psychological roots of the fear, gradually exposing yourself to controlled falls, and having a trusted spotter watching you, you can climb with confidence and fully enjoy the world of bouldering. I started indoor bouldering 2 months ago, knowing that I have a pretty big fear of heights and that it will be a challenge to The fear of falling in bouldering is a common hurdle that, with patience and practice, you can learn to manage. Slipping off and demonstrating to yourself that it is not so bad is the best thing that can happen to you - experience is the only thing I have found that fixes fear. 11bs, I can’t seem to get through this bouldering plateau. Bouldering is often considered to be a dangerous sport due to the height at which climbers can fall. I used to highball boulder – meaning I would climb tall boulders where the risk of falling meant serious injury – My advice to anyone struggling with the fear of falling is to listen to yourself and to question where it comes from. I've also struggled with extreme fear of falling when bouldering. refgbt krqqlxds ugrli xdud zbpok earw yftszo rhifso xvslq efsxa