Inversion Fear

scubagirl started this discussion · 10/29/2014

When I was 17 I was almost paralyzed after jumping into a shallow pool and hitting my head straight on. I remember not being able to move and my sister pulling me out of the water. I have no fear of doing tricks that require me to go back and invert. But anything fwd I get freaked out, even though it was yrs ago. I think it's holding me back from accomplishing a lot of tricks, tricks that I've been trying to get for 3yrs. Some of my pole sisters that I take classes with have told me I just have to get over it. Well....kind of hard when I remember the impact like it was yesterday. When you can see someone moving your body, but can't feel it, it's darn scary! Anyone ever been thru the same thing? How did you get over your fear?

21 replies

Lucca Valentine · 10/29/2014
This is going to sound effing crazy, and I def know that. But I got to a point going through some things that I was looking for ANY answer and this weirdly....helped...I don't know why, I don't know how, maybe it's just a placebo and I needed to believe so much it was helping it did. Whatever the reason, it helped. Tapping technique...you can google it, Most of the searches will have results for anxiety but it can be used for any fear... http://www.finerminds.com/personal-growth/dont-rock-the-boat/ That is def a terrifying experience you went through, and your brain is just trying to protect itself from a situation it associates with as being incredibly dangerous, so good for your body for doing its job! But it needs to be reset to reasonably accommodate for what is actually happening versus what it's past experience of that movement is. Tapping basically draws on acupuncture principles and emotional freedom techniques, and it seems silly but man it is effective...worth a try anyways! It's easy and it's free and it couldn't hurt ^_^
Lucca Valentine · 10/29/2014
I'll try to find a more thorough site...
Lucca Valentine · 10/29/2014
http://www.eftuniverse.com/phobias-and-fears/eft-clears-fear-of-falling-and-rock-climbing-on-extreme-hike This is at least a more relevant story to your purposes
AllysonKendal · 10/29/2014
Hugs, That sounds very traumatic. We all are hesitant about some things on the pole, all of us have positions where we feel very vulnerable and afraid... but your fear is related to an experience, it may be something you need to work through with a therapist (the kind is up to you...psychologist, hypo, eft, I'm sure someone else has a recommendation). I'm not really sure you you mean about "go back and invert" vs "forward" all inverting kind of seems like going back to me... Do you mean you're ok dropping back from CKR is ok? But basic invert isn't?Maybe practicing inverts from laying on the floor would help? I still think maybe some counseling could help. I'm happy you are doing ok otherwise!
Lucca Valentine · 10/29/2014
http://efttappingtechniques.com/fears/afraid-im-not-going-forward/ more thorough explanation, just substitute for your appropriate fear >_< It sounds insane...it feels silly...but there ya go ^_^
Runemist34 · 10/29/2014
I totally know what you're going through- I have a fear of being upside down, unfortunately, and any inverted time is a struggle for me. I prefer certain holds over others because they feel more secure, and I struggle even to strengthen the right muscles by inverting and holding. What I've found helpful is going slowly, and trying to be very aware of how my body feels, what it's like. It allows me to watch my breathing, to control my emotional response, and to really look at what's happening, and figure out if my fear is too much, or manageable for me to continue. This also means that I can exit the move if I need to, and try again later. I know that the EFT technique, or Tapping, has been very useful for a lot of people. I think of it similarly to EMDR, which brings in both sides of the brain through things like eye movement back and forth, sound on both sides, or tapping both sides of the body (such as the knees). It's not exactly the same, but it can be similar in effect: You'll find yourself less afraid, inexplicably, without being exactly able to explain why. With a traumatic event such as yours, though, I might also suggest counselling, as there may be some other things you can deal with cognitively, that may hold you back a lot stronger than a physical response. But, you'll have to determine that for yourself! You may not find it so difficult to get through the fear once you actually go for the attack.
AllysonKendal · 10/29/2014
Hey, Lucca, I wrote my answer before I saw your reply! but I've dabbled in EFT as well... and for a fear/anxiety... I was going to recommend it but I'm not an expert. I did it a while and it lessened my fear to a mild quirk... I probably should look into it again for some other things!
AllysonKendal · 10/29/2014
I always felt good saying the part about loving and accepting myself. It just helped on a lot of levels.
Lucca Valentine · 10/29/2014
I agree, and also did emdr with good results. A therapist I had years ago gave me tapping as homework so I think it's pretty ok to do on your own. At first it felt like the love and acceptance part was silly, but the therapist was like you gotta fake it till you make it sometimes, it will feel more real over time. And it did! This post made me think I should really start up again too...it's been almost 10 years since I did it. It's like once you're back to a functional level then you're like "ok cool that worked im done!" But really it should probably be more ongoing...hmmm...things to think on...
scubagirl · 10/29/2014
Thank you everyone! I will definitely look into tapping. I'm willing to try anything. I've thought about a counselor and also thought about taking swimming lessons. @AllysonKendall...I'm ok with going into snake, etc. because the motion is to basically lean/kick backwards, but anything like a handstand or even brass monkey (anything that mimicks the diving motion), I get freaked out. I know it sounds weird because they're all inversions but I am going to take everyone's suggestions and work on this! Thanks again! :)
Phoenix Hunter · 10/29/2014
handstands and brass monkey used to make me so scared I would cry. I had a neck injury and have metal plates and screws in my spine and I felt very afraid and protective of my neck when I started poling. for me, I had to gradually build up to handstands. I was not afraid of elbowstands. so I mastered those until I could deadlift my elbowstand. also, I worked on Veenas shoulder press exercises. those made me stronger and acclimated me to the feeling of a handstand without fully being in a handstand. being really strong in those two things helped me to take the next step to handstands. I cant do them free standing yet but I can do them against a wall or the pole. Brass monkey still terrifies me. I do feel alot more better about doing them from the floor. I put one hand on the pole the other on the ground and sweep my leg up onto the pole. however, I am not always okay about letting go with both hands. I will have to get really strong doing it with both hands before I will feel comfortable letting go of one hand, then both. You just have to take small gradual steps and get really good at the current stage before moving on to the next stage. if the closest you get to doing a hand stand is bending over and touching the ground and maybe lifting one foot off the ground, then just do that till you can do the next step. also for handstands. if you can twerk with your feet on the wall, I swear it builds up those handstand muscles and takes alot of the fear away. what you went through was life changing. try whatever you need to do to deal with it. if your fear is severely limiting your life and affecting you emotionally then you may need to talk to a doctor. people can get PTSD from traumatic events. but just because you are guarded does not mean you have PTSD. just wanted to bring it up in case this was causing you distress in other areas of life. but you sound like this is something you feel you can work on and conquer. you can do it!
Lucca Valentine · 10/31/2014
Brass monkey scares the hell out of me, gonna try them from the floor! Such a good idea >_
Phoenix Hunter · 10/31/2014
Lucca, you just have to keep one hand on the floor by the pole and the other hand is holding the pole like a flag invert. be careful sweeeping your leg up because it is easy to hit your foot on the pole. use a mirror if possible. essentially, you are doing a brass monkey with one hand on the floor. when your leg grip is good you can take your hand off the floor. I really dont like this move at all. I need to work on it again from the floor myself. I just cant get a good grip with my leg. doesnt ever feel secure to me. but yes, this is a much less intimidating way to try it.
Rachel Osborne · 10/31/2014
I can so relate to this thread because I wouldn't do any invert AT ALL apart from cross knee release whilst holding ankle for 6 months after restarting pole. And this was because years ago as a badly-trained beginner I fell from an invert - trying to do a sort of extended butterfly in heels from a wobbly caterpillar but without any real idea of what I was doing - and only just avoided serious neck injury and that was it, no more pole for me for years. I still remember the floor rushing up to meet me...I still dream about it. I came back to pole and was happy enough nailing complex spins, dancing and doing heavy conditioning but a basic invert, inverted crucifix, bat, caterpillar, handstand, any kind of nose to ground/pole move made me flashback and sweat with fear. I still do not like them even now; I always gemini into butterfly, not caterpillar, I'm almost always looking at the ceiling when I invert...meanwhile everyone else was dying to go upside down. What helped me was taking the time - taking months and months - to get really strong and to really understand the mechanics of a trick before trying it. Could write an essay here about the brass monkey journey I went through but this is long enough. I have no magic trick to help you, we are all different - I'd just say that for me, I decided not to do tricks until I was certain that I was strong enough and to trust my body - and instincts - and to go super slow. I did want to do those beginner and intermediate inverts, despite the fear, but no way in hell would I try before I was ready. I had to get to a point where the frustration at not having it was stronger than the fear. Then I was ready. And I would tell myself; 'that was then, this is now. It's different - you're different, different place, differently trained muscles, you're not going to roll the dice and get the same number every time, and you have no control over dice. You have total control of your body' (if I didn't have total control I shouldn't be trying!) Pole is not easy; it's genuinely dangerous and frequently frightening and exhausting and we push ourselves to the limits of our mental as well as physical strength: we lift ourselves mentally as well as physically, learning to fly is exhausting and it hurts. You will break through and break your barriers down but it can only be done when it's the right time for you. Trust yourself and know that there is no better feeling than working gently just inside your limits and getting your goals slowly and sweetly your own way, in your own time.
Phoenix Hunter · 11/1/2014
Tropicalpole, you said it perfectly. you just find your own way. as long as you keep trying, you will get it when you are ready. just remember to take the little baby steps that will get you there. I totally agree about not doing a move unless I am certain I am strong enough to do it. I am not a risk taker when it comes to my body. and I will study a trick for a long time too. watching videos, tutorials, watching other students. I do lots of studying on all tricks. my body will not do a trick until my brain understands it. I literally have to be able to do a trick in my head and imagine every part of it before I can do it on the pole.
Suz Sweeney · 11/1/2014
Pole never has to be dangerous or scarey if you are honest with only doing what you truly have developed the strength and core control for the moves you do. Go slowly and strongly to stay confident and safe. Nail those handstands away from the pole...into backbends and walkovers too. hugs suz PoleTonic
azblanco · 11/1/2014
Tropical and Phoenix-- WELL SAID!!!! I do the same thing with tricks. My progress has definitely been (what i consider) slow, and I've been okay with that from the start. This is something I love to do and I am passionate about it. I dont want to let my ego get the best of me and convince myself that I can 'try' a certain trick when I know that I dont have the strength to do it yet. It's important to know that you will know when you're ready. I have been seriously lately about catching my weak side up to my stronger side.. I feel like a beginner again when I work on it, but I'm determined to be safe and take care of my body so I can still do this 20 years from now.. Slow and steady ALWAYS wins the race.
scubagirl · 11/2/2014
I am so glad there are so many have replied to this post! I honestly started to feel alone in my fear after watching so many girls in my class jump into new tricks without hesitation or fear. I started looking into local swimming lessons hoping they will help. And I have found a great resource for tapping online. I decided not to put so much pressure on myself. I have also been thinking about just taking Veena's lessons here and quitting the studio where I go. Not that I don't love the girls, but maybe it will help me to not feel so pressured. This way I can relax and not compare myself to the other girls. There is also another studio about an hour away if I needed private help with anything. They're amazing there!
azblanco · 11/2/2014
Scuba this is exactly what i did.. I went to the local studios near me and they just arent safe.. The one that i started at was wonderful but she closed three months after i started pole and moved out of state. I studio that I love is an hour and 15 mins away from me. It's a drive but Im thankful to even have that. I did a private last week. So I decided, I will treat myself to one private a month. You'll be surprised what you can accomplish on your own and with the help of this community. 😘😄
scubagirl · 11/5/2014
LOVE this community!!!!! azblanco- yes! I had class a few days ago and to be honest...felt like more of a bother than anything else! :( I am payed thru Christmas, but I've even thought of just counting the $$ I invested for the next few weeks as a loss. Actually came home in tears last night. Not worth how it makes me feel. Loving the lessons here though. And i can go at my own pace. A really good friend found an instructor who locally does private lessons. waiting to hear back from her to set something up. Thank you everyone for your encouragement! :)
scubagirl · 11/5/2014
LOVE, LOVE Studio Veena!!!!!