Lots of people struggle with fear of heights.

Personally, I did for years. And I had no choice but to hit the ground running once I started in construction. My first exposure to heights at work? Climbing down twelve-stories as part of a boiler crawl. The top – not so bad. The bottom – worse.

I've managed to improve my tolerance to heights through learning a couple simple things:

1) Breathing actually does work.

The yogis know what they are talking about.

While saying that – I'll also say you don't need the fanciest most scientifically proven breathing method to get by. You're not going to have time for that while on a scaffold talking to other people. Most of, if not all of the the fancy methods reference two things:

1) Breathing deeply, and

2) A long controlled exhale.

Get some deep breaths in while other people are talking, and keep it simple.

The second crucial piece is:

2) Being uncomfortable is the first step towards being comfortable.

It's about slowly beating down a new path for your nervous system response.

It takes time and multiple exposures to heights. Overtime you will notice that being unfazed comes more and more naturally. Other times you'll relapse and have to go through your breathing exercises again – but that's ok.

It's all part of the process.