Cold sweats. Heart pounding out of chest. Loss of breathe. Darkness.
If you’re familiar with those sensations, and in that order; you probably have a case of claustrophobia on your hands.
However, you’re not alone in your misery; in fact there are others who share your pain and have publically spoken about it. But in all the claustrophobia horror stories, the one constant is that help is usually around the corner.
What is Claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia is an irrational debilitating fear of confined spaces that can cause extreme anxiety and panic attacks. It can occur in an elevator, walled rooms, flights and confined work spaces, like pipelines, boilers, mines, etc.
Although it can’t be stopped once it’s triggered, there are certain steps that can help you deal with an onset of claustrophobia:
Is it logical?
Phobias are usually irrational and illogical. In fact, in most cases there isn’t any actual threat. Therefore, if you can lay it down in your mind and try to find the logic behind your fears, your panic will gradually but surely temp down. It’s easier said than done, but remember nothing is impossible. Just rationalize your fear and it’ll go away!
If you’re an onlooker, it helps to recount your own instances of fear and how you got out of them, all the while reasoning with the claustrophobic person that the fear is not bigger than them.
Desensitize
Perhaps the cruellest but the most effective way to do away with your fears, is to face them upfront. Same goes for claustrophobia, but some of the leading psychologists believe that this is a once and for all therapy, that not only manages a single episode but it might cure claustrophobia altogether. This is also known as systematic desensitization. For instance, if you locked yourself up in a confined space, it will induce a claustrophobic attack but it will also help you realise that it isn’t something that you need to be afraid of.
Distract
Claustrophobia is nothing but your mind playing games on you. It’s all psychological, and if you can just distract your cognition to think about something pleasant and more productive, you can come over your fear in no time.
However, all things said and done, we understand that dealing with claustrophobia and overcoming it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Therefore, we offer confined space safety training for people working in closed spaces. We at Metro Safety understand the importance of workforce safety and thus provide occupational safety training across British Columbia to educate your employees on first aid and red cross life support lessons. Contact now to schedule a class with us and show your fear that you’re stronger than it!
