<p>So, this might sound kind of ridiculous, but I have a huge fear of elevators. I step into one, my heart starts racing, and I can't wait to get off. It's not that I'm claustrophobic, I just have a huge, irrational fear of the elevator I'm in getting stuck at any moment. Then, I'd start feeling pretty damn claustrophobic. Just the idea of being stuck in such a small, tight space with no way of getting out scares me to death.</p>
<p>Now, I'm applying to a lot of schools that have elevators in the dorms due to the large population of students/city location (examples: UMich, Boston University, Pitt). If I were accepted to Michigan, there's no doubt in my mind I would go (it's my second choice school at the moment), but the whole elevator thing just really freaks me out. It's a shame, because I would be so excited about the whole college thing, but having to take an elevator multiple times a day... I'm just not really sure I can handle that. I can't really talk to my parents about it because they think the whole thing is ridiculous, and I guess it really is, I just don't know what to do about it- Has anyone ever been in the same situation as me? If so, do you have any advice?</p>
<p>Most are monitored and have emergency buttons and you have a cell phone. It’s not hard to get people out once they call it in. Even while trapped just get on the floor, relax and breathe. You’ll be fine.</p>
<p>Well you have several options that will take a certain amount of effort on your part:
See a psychologist and learn to overcome your anxiety
Apply to schools that are flat and do not have elevators
Take the stairs all the time</p>
<p>I mean, I guess seeing a therapist would be the most practical option…</p>
<p>considering that:
1.) I can’t just limit myself to schools that don’t have elevators. Especially because Michigan is such a dream school for me.
2.) Taking the stairs all the time would be okay, if I were on, say, the fifth floor or lower. What if I were on the tenth?</p>
<p>I used to have the exact same fear but I was good at hiding it when there were other people in the elevator with me. If I were you I’d ride the elevator as much as possible. If you can’t do it by yourself then wait for someone else to come along and get on with them. Or at least ride it up and then take the stairs down if you cant handle riding both times. But don’t try to avoid them. If you can survive riding in one without having a major breakdown you can probably take care of it without professional help. Just keep riding them.</p>
<p>You might want to google “fear of elevators” and see if there are exercises and whatnot you can do. </p>
<p>Don’t worry about being trapped. I actually got stuck in an elevator freshman year and it was not that bad. I usually don’t go in the elevators in the older buildings or the really small elevators but I had to because I had a test on like the 12th floor or something. Anyways, it got stuck so after a half minute of freaking out I pressed the call button and the guy had me out within five minutes.</p>
<p>Now that I’m a junior I’m so used to elevators I have no problem with them. Sometimes at work I have to stand in and operate this really old, noisy freight elevator to make sure only authorized people get on and my fear is pretty much gone now. </p>
<p>And who knows, maybe your dorm room will be on the second floor. Then you won’t need the elevator.</p>
<p>I have a fear of opening reading books. Unfortunately, there’s no way around it, but to embrace it.</p>
<p>I think you should embrace your fear of riding elevators by riding as many elevators in one day as possible. You’ll overcome it just as I have overcome my fear of opening books in fear of incurring a papercut.</p>
<p>They won’t give it to her at Michigan without a form filled out from the doctor stating that it is a medical necessity. Which she may be able to get, but most of the dorms don’t have that many floors anyway and the stairs are fine (assuming she never gets injured). The problem would be if she isn’t cool with walking up 6+ flights of stairs in a few of the academic buildings.</p>