Tap that fear factor

Fear is universal. It's just that those who push the envelope learn how to use it to their advantage

If one man can do it, anothershould be just as able. That's thetheory. The fact, however, is thatthose who push the limits, especiallyin extreme sports, seem tohave an altogether different take onfear to the layman, they appear tobe quite fearless given that they leapoff cliffs, jump from planes and otherwiseseem to redefine the comfortzone that most of us live our livescocooned in.

Living with fear
India's four-time Winter OlympianShiva Keshavan rides a sled that hashim hurtling down an icy track atspeeds in excess of 150kph while lyingsupine just inches from the ice. Thespeed keeps increasing as most lugetracks drop an average of 150 m overa length of 1.5 km. By the end of therun his world is one big blur.

"It's not that one does not feelafraid. It's just that by repeatedlyexperiencing the same thing over andover, the adrenaline goes down whilethe mind comes to grips with the actualthreat factor. Then, each time, thefear stays but it seems to just heightenthe senses which allows you topush yourself to another level," saysKeshavan.

William Trubridge holds the worldrecord for the longest free dive thathad him plunge 95m deep in theAtlantic Ocean off the Bahamas, withoutfins or an air tank. It's a scarything to do since, at that point, theamount of pressure on the humanbody is 10 times the normal. He doesnot deny being scared, but then hehas also learnt how to use this powerfulemotion as a tool in his pursuitof the deeps.

"Fear can be used as a positive tool,as it makes you prudent and methodical.When we become over-confidentthen we often allow greater risks."

Trubridge's state of fear, however,also does not come in the way of hisdives: " It is important not to let itaffect the state of relaxation beforeor during a deep dive. Any anxietyor stress will increase the heart rateand burn oxygen faster, cutting intoyour breath hold time."

Redefining fear
Most people hesitate before jumpingoff a bridge for a bungee. Othersbaulk at the very thought of goingout of an airplane to experience theexhilaration of skydiving. And hardlyanyone picks the dangers of basejumpingthat introduces the unpredictablethermal and airflow fluctuationsthat crop around solid structures.Now, imagine jumping off a6,604 m mountain.

It's been done. Heather Swan andGlenn Singleman hold the worldrecord for the highest basejump offMt Meru in the Garhwal Himalaya.The couple have no qualms in acceptingthat they are afraid each timethey step out from that high.

"Yes, we do experience fear, thefear of heights is a primeval instinct.But all the adventure training we havedone in the past years has helpedbuild the strength of our rationalmind, and inhibit our fear system(flight, fright and freeze)," they toldHT in an email interaction.

Regular exposure has trainedtheir minds: "We underwent tests atthe Brain Development Institute atWestmead Hospital in Sydney tounderstand our fear system. Wefound that our base level of fear ishalf that of the general population."

Singleman says that it is the fearfactor that puts a stop to many a leap-- both physical and of the mind."Knowledge, experience and reasonwork together to reduce fear. Fearleads you to think things are impossible,it's a paradigm, a system ofthinking that controls what we do.The more we get in control of ourfears, the more we realise that wecan do things we usually fear wecan't."

He sums up just how one canrationally get over the shakes: "Theneed is to understand the real risk,not the perceived risk."

Using fear
Anybody can drive a car but drivingat 300 kph on a sinuous racetrackis a wholly different ball game alltogether. India's pioneer F1 driverNarain Karthikeyan has been doingthat all his adult life. He's also hadsome horrific crashes but still keepson driving.

"It's a natural human reactionto brake when one feels that the speedis getting out of hand. However, thebody is an amazing mechanismthat adapts quickly once theinitial fear subsides andsharpens the reflexes.You can overcome fear when thedesire to perform is strong enough."

Finally, some amount of fear, hesays, is always a good thing."Afterall, it's a mechanism that'srooted in our survival instinct."

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