A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes:Right well i wrote up a while back maybe about a month or so ago about my friend having a panic attack when we were in a cave. Just to let you know what happened we got abit lost and she started panicing and everything, she eventually ended up in tears cause of it but i think she would have been find if her hubby was with her in there and one of you said he may be her safety net. Thats basicaly what my last post was.Now shes asked me if i'll go down with her again to help her get over the fear, she said she wants me to go down with her on my own because she knows her hubby won't always be able to do these things and she's like the oppertunity to do things with others without having to have him go down with her or go to these sorts of places with her ALL the time. We hve arranged to go next week. Althought my bf, her brother and her hubby will be there they aren't coming with us. (i personally love going to these sorts of places and i think she would if she could just over come the fear) So what can i do to help her get through this? What if she starts panicing? What if she starts getting tearful again? Shes determined shes going to get through this but i don't think it'll be that easy for her nd i've never been in this situation before! Could i have some advice please? Any tips,techniques or solutions would be great. Reply to this Question
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reader, anonymous, writes (6 October 2007): (smile) It's called "spelunking", Phil, and many people love it. There are some really interesting things in some of those old caves. Biologists love to spelunk. There are some interesting life forms down there, even if microscopic. Anyway, I would say that Anon's friend does have some claustrophobic problems. Most people do. But, it seems she wants to defeat her fears. That is a pretty good reason for doing anything, in my opinion. I would go with her and do the thing all over again, anon. Hopefully , she will overcome her "phobia". That seems to be what she wants to do. It may mean more than just a 'fear of caves' for her. She may be looking for some personal courage and independence. Hey, that's OK too.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (6 October 2007): I've been in the same situation as you quite a few times whilst training novices at scuba diving, when the trainee gets panicky. Some want to get back in straight away, to overcome the glitch, while others came up coughing water and saying "Never again!"
The main thing is she wants to do it, to prove to herself that she can. That's a good start.
I don't have the faintest idea of what caving is about except for going into a big hole in the ground, so she probably finds it a bit claustrophobic, just like novice divers do when they put the face mask on. But if you're her instructor you shouldn't be getting lost! What divers do is to take a line reel with them into enclosed spaces, like wrecks for instance, so they can find their way out again. Perhaps if you did the same it might help overcome her fear of not being able to get out again. Put the line in her hand and she'll know that's her contact with the outside world.
Phil
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