Ever since I can remember, I’ve always been afraid of heights.
Even in closed buildings, just going up the stairs would make my legs shake. I’d feel breathless and sweaty, unable to move any further. I’d have to sit by a wall or be guided back down to the ground floor (and I never regretted missing the perfect view from the top). Elevators were even worse. I dreaded going up and anxiously waited for the moment the elevator stopped, stepping out only to sense how high up we were. It was dreadful. I felt petrified on bridges too. As a small child, I would scream on the tram whenever it crossed a bridge, shouting for it to stop. I didn’t want to fall into the River Danube. You can imagine how, back in the ’80s and early ’90s, fellow passengers reacted to that. The list of situations could go on—visiting castles, hiking up mountains, and so on.
Face your fears, mate!
Has anyone else experienced the same issue—acrophobia—or any fear that triggers panic, making it feel like the world is ending, and no one can help? It’s tough!
I’ve heard people say, “Face your fears, mate! You can do it; just close your eyes,” but it never worked. The trembling legs, short breaths, and frozen mind stayed with me for years.
During my studies, I learned techniques to reduce or even eliminate fears and phobias. My recent training to become a hypnotherapist is giving me even more tools to help address these issues.
See you in 5 minutes at the Eiffel Tower’s gate
I hadn’t worked on my own fear much before, but this summer, I had a breakthrough. We were on a family holiday in Paris during the Olympics, watching a great Hungarian handball game and doing some sightseeing. I made it clear—probably a hundred times—that the Eiffel Tower was a “no-go area” unless my family wanted me to have a heart attack on the spot.
While they queued for tickets, I stayed far away, enjoying the summer heat and Olympic vibes, happily sipping my mocha and having a snack. I figured I had plenty of time—they’d queue for the lift, go up to the second floor, take at least 5,000 pictures of the city and about 250 selfies, then come back down in about two hours. I chatted with some friendly strangers about their own Olympic experiences when suddenly, my phone rang. It was my partner, saying, “See you at the gate in 5 minutes; we got you a ticket.” The summer vibes, tasty mocha, and my brain froze instantly.
My mind raced, thinking of all the ways I’d explain to my family: “Why waste the money? Sell the ticket, or I don’t care! I told you a thousand times I wouldn’t go up there!”
When I arrived, my entire family was behind me, encouraging me. They said it was a must-do experience, a bucket list item. And they were right.
Let’s practice what I preach
There are no coincidences in life. Suddenly, it hit me: This is the moment I need to work on myself, to practice what I preach, using all the skills I’ve learned. I had to reduce my anxiety, fear, and panic.
What message would staying on the ground teach my children?
But what would I show them if I faced my 40-year fear and joined them?
With no time to waste, I jumped into the queue with them. I started with breathing exercises, held some emotional stress relief points on my head, did some EFT Tapping (Emotional Freedom Techniques), and repeated affirmations and visualizations.
The living proof that fears and phobias can be overcome
We waited for the lift for about 20 minutes, which gave me time to practice these exercises. By then, my personal safety limit was about three meters high—yet here I was, about to go up to 117 meters. My heart raced like a hammer drill, but deep down, I knew it would be fine. I felt nervous, excited, and tried to appear brave, though I kept my gaze on the floor of the lift to avoid panicking. But there was no need. Doing those exercises during a real-life event made them even more powerful; the healing effect was immediate and lasting.
That day, I was the proudest person on the second floor of that iconic building. I took all 5,000 photos and hundreds of selfies, feeling no fear, no shaking, no trembling, no anxiety, no panic—no limits. Only pride and happiness!
Now, I can confidently say, being the living proof, that fears and phobias can be overcome. You can reach your full potential and live a happier life.
