Anyone here suffer from claustrophobia?

[TimberWolf]

I didn't think I suffered from claustrophobia, until I tried caving.

Try being stuck in a tight, wet crawl space about 22 inches high and 15 yards long, 300 feet underground, with a million tons of solid limestone above you, with your dithering instructor's boots stuck right in front of your face, and your own boots stuck in the face of some bloke behind, who is panicking, with yet another bloke behind him

I decided caving wasn't for me. I couldn't even put my head under the duvet for months afterwards without feeling decidedly panicky.

I submit that that isn't claustrophobia, but is "normal". I've seen documentaries of people caving, squeezing through passages that look as if you wouldn't be able to back out of,and are too tight to turn around obviously, and getting narrower ahead. Fine if someone has been down before, but add the unknown of what's ahead this becomes the stuff of nightmares. You could add other possible scenarios, such as being followed by a buddy who gets stuck, and there is no way you could shift him. I think it is a dangerous sport, so the fear fulfils a useful function. Much harder to get stuck in a lift.

[bogeyman]

I submit that that isn't claustrophobia, but is "normal". I've seen documentaries of people caving, squeezing through passages that look as if you wouldn't be able to back out of,and are too tight to turn around obviously, and getting narrower ahead. Fine if someone has been down before, but add the unknown of what's ahead this becomes the stuff of nightmares. You could add other possible scenarios, such as being followed by a buddy who gets stuck, and there is no way you could shift him. I think it is a dangerous sport, so the fear fulfils a useful function. Much harder to get stuck in a lift.

Perhaps. I have never never felt claustrophobic in a lift. If it got jammed I'd use the little trapdoor in the roof of the lift, 'Man From Uncle' style - oh wait - lifts don't actually have those little trapdoors in the roof in real life...

[Shimano105]

I'm very claustrophobic (permiedom feels similar) and caving would be my biggest ever fear. I'd rather bungee naked into a vat of acid.

[TimberWolf]

Perhaps. I have never never felt claustrophobic in a lift. If it got jammed I'd use the little trapdoor in the roof of the lift, 'Man From Uncle' style - oh wait - lifts don't actually have those little trapdoors in the roof in real life...

What's the harm being stuck in a lift anyway? The air isn't going to run out and they can't fall to earth. The only danger is fire that I can think of, in which case you are toast.

[bogeyman]

What's the harm being stuck in a lift anyway? The air isn't going to run out and they can't fall to earth. The only danger is fire that I can think of, in which case you are toast.

Clearly you haven't watched enough disaster movies TW!

[bogeyman]

I'm very claustrophobic (permiedom feels similar) and caving would be my biggest ever fear. I'd rather bungee naked into a vat of acid.

Funny you should say that (not the vat of acid bit) but I have been a climber for many years, and I have quite a healthy fear of heights.

I think the difference is that when you're 'outside' (on a rockface, say) then you are in control. You have a grip on the rock, roped if necessary - it's in your control. If you fall off it's your own fault.

I'd rather fall a thousand feet to my death than be held fast in some dank underground (and possibly be drown, to add to the fun) in some awful underground tunnel.

[TimberWolf]

Funny you should say that (not the vat of acid bit) but I have been a climber for many years, and I have quite a healthy fear of heights.

I think the difference is that when you're 'outside' (on a rockface, say) then you are in control. You have a grip on the rock, roped if necessary - it's in your control. If you fall off it's your own fault.

I'd rather fall a thousand feet to my death than be held fast in some dank underground (and possibly be drown, to add to the fun) in some awful underground tunnel.

I don't have a fear of heights as such, but climbing always struck me as a tad too dangerous for my further investigation, although I used climb anything going as a kid. Isn't it the case that it's harder to climb down than up? If so, a scenario exists where you could end up totally stuck? Not too bad if you have ropes perhaps, but some people don't use them

I've got a bit of a "healthy respect" for circular saws, but this manifests itself as my wanting to plan out how I am going to use it, where the lead is, where bits are going to fly off , etc.

[VectraMan]

Am I the only contractor who suffers from claustrophobia? It's pretty bad with me - I hate lifts. It's so bad it's actually cost me a few contracts over the years!

Right there with you. I'll walk up ridiculous amounts of stairs to avoid a lift, and I really get stressed by crowded trains/tubes too. Not sure it's ever really cost me any gigs, but it's part of the reason I'd never want to work in the city.

I think with lifts it's the not knowing what's going on that's the bigger issue. Lifts you can see out of, even on the sides of tall buildings, don't bother me at all.

[TimberWolf]

Perhaps. I have never never felt claustrophobic in a lift. If it got jammed I'd use the little trapdoor in the roof of the lift, 'Man From Uncle' style - oh wait - lifts don't actually have those little trapdoors in the roof in real life...

Are lift doors hard to prise apart?

[bogeyman]

I don't have a fear of heights as such, but climbing always struck me as a tad too dangerous for my further investigation, although I used climb anything going as a kid. Isn't it the case that it's harder to climb down than up? If so, a scenario exists where you could end up totally stuck? Not too bad if you have ropes perhaps, but some people don't use them

I've got a bit of a "healthy respect" for circular saws, but this manifests itself as my wanting to plan out how I am going to use it, where the lead is, where bits are going to fly off , etc.

Yes it is often harder to climb down than up.

Fortunately, most UK climbing routes are of the kind where you only have to climb UP. The downward leg being a gentle stroll along a ridge, or something like that, to the nearest pub (there are exceptions of course - e.g. The Old Man of Hoy, or the 'In Pin' on Skye).

If you do serious mountaineering then yes, coming down is far more dangerous because you are basically knackered and worn out from going up. Any serious Alpinist will confirm that.