Where does fear come from? It comes from within us, but before that, what was the origin of a specific fear? My lack of confidence feeds my phobias, as I feel unable to overcome them, and I'm filled with dread even when facing the possibility of them.
Heights
I don't know where my fear of heights comes from. Was I dropped as a baby? Dangled too high by my tall Uncle Mike, who loved to rough-house with my constantly fearful toddler-ness?
But it continued to affect me, continues in fact to this day. A mere trip up onto the roof, climbing onto a step ladder to hoist myself up... no thanks, I'll strain to reach the gutters from the relative safety of the ladder. I don't realize that I cave to the fear when I do that, because it doesn't seem like a big deal at the time.
I've faced it before, tellingly. Camp Challenge, Fort Knox, Kentucky, rappel tower. Go down the 45 degree slope, go down the vertical drop, go off the helicopter skid. Helicopter skid? Screw that. But I at least took the opportunity to do the vertical drop twice.
random SSG: "Didn't you already do this?"
Cadet pseudosoldier: "Yes, SSG, but I'm afraid of heights and thought I'd try and face my fears."
random SSG: "..."
random SSG: "Shit, I'd send you back down, but it's faster this way. Just fucking go."
Mostly, I don't have to deal with it. I'm more used to six-foot heights, though.
I know, I know... I'm not afraid of the falling but instead the sudden stop at the end...