I think I’ve mentioned before that I have irrational fears. Most people I know are afraid of “normal” things … you know, snakes, spiders, clowns, zombies, etc. Me? I get hung up over the intangible, or improbable. Ever since starting this job, one of those irrational fears has become heightened — being trapped in a free-falling elevator. Remember the first Resident Evil movie? Yeah, I always turn my head during that scene.
If I think about it logically, I know that the odds of one of the elevators at work experiencing a major harm-causing malfunction while I happen to be in it are astronomically low. In addition to that, all of the elevators have safety measures in place in the case of an emergency, such as power outage, cable or brake failure, etc. But the thought creeps into my mind every single time I step foot into one of those things.
Once I made the mistake of sharing this with one of my coworkers. Funny enough, she won’t ride in the elevator with me anymore. :huh_tb:
So today I had overslept and didn’t have time to make my lunch, forcing me to head down to the mall to grab something from the food court. I boarded one of the elevators just like I do every day — this one happened to be one of the glass elevators (which I hate even more than the others). About halfway down, there was a loud “SNAP!”. The lights went out and the elevator screeched to a halt. “No big deal,” I kept telling myself. They’ve stopped before and would sometimes get “stuck”, sitting on certain floors, so you’d just have to get off and board another one.
But then it dropped. DROPPED! It wasn’t but just a few feet, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat and suddenly every elevator nightmare I’d had came flooding back in an instant and I panicked.
OK, ‘panicked’ doesn’t even cover it — I. Flipped. My. Shit. 8O
Sitting quietly for a second, my mind raced looking for answers:
“What should I do if I can’t get the doors open?”
“Where is the button I press to let someone know I’m trapped?”
“What do I do if it drops again?” Followed immediately by “No, don’t think like that, stupid!”
As if the elevator had read my mind, it dropped again for a few more feet, then opened its doors. Apparently the elevator had only dropped just enough to reach the next level so the doors could open (seeing out the window made it seem worse than it really was). I quickly leapt out of that thing as if my life depended on it. (which, in my panicked state of mind, it did!) I paced for the next minute, trying to calm myself and stop shaking — and trying to squelch the horrific scenarios playing out in my head.
About a minute later, I heard the power flicker back on, once again illuminating the car, and could hear the other cars moving along the levels above and below me. I could also see the other glass elevators moving along just fine … but I didn’t trust the motorized metallic bastard just yet. I decided it was safer to walk the next 9 stories down to the mall level, and kept a close eye on them as I ate my lunch.
Feeling a bit braver after I ate, I took the elevator back up to my floor. Thankfully the ride was uneventful this time, but I’m sure this will make for some more intense nightmares to come.
OK, new item added to the “someday job wishlist” — no elevators!
MadAdmin
I’ve never had them drop far but have been stuck temporarily in elevators. I’m not ordinarily claustrophobic but when an elevator stops I get that way. So far I’ve always been close enough to a floor to pry open the doors of the elevator car and the lobby doors and climb or jump out. I’ve been told numerous times how dangerous that is – I suspect by people who watch too many movies. But even if the thing should start moving again and the safety features to keep it from doing so with somebody in the doorway I find that a better alternative than being stuck. It would not be a good thing for me to be truly stuck in an elevator.
wickedmess
I don’t think it’s an irrational fear at all and after what you went through today I wouldn’t get back on that thing! YIKES!
I confess to not being very fond of elevators myself. I once worked in a hospital with a pretty old elevator system. After spending about an hour trapped in one of those things I never stepped on one (at the hospital) again. The place was 8 stories tall and I worked on the 1st floor. My job took me several times an evening anywhere from the sub basement to the 8th floor. I took the stairs EVERY time. AND I had to take those stairs in as much time or less than what the elevator would take so my neurosis wouldn’t interfere with my job.
The upside? I was probably the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life and I had an ass you could bounce a quarter off of! LOL!
Anyway, to this day if I get the option of using the stairs somewhere over the elevator I’ll take the elevator every time. Just tell people that you’re doing it to maintain your fabulous rear end!
XXX OOO XXX
wickedmess
I meant “I’ll take the elevator every time”.
Obviously! :)
wickedmess
Jeepers. I meant “I’ll take the STAIRS every timeâ€.
I’m and idiot. Obviously.
Marie
ack! ack! ack! Can’t believe you managed to get back on!
Don
HOLY MOLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keno Spanduk
I’m sure that everybody has his or her own fears. It is common for human beings. However, we can rely on GOD to face our fears.
Ben
I went on a rollercoaster at the weekend that imitates the track fallign away. in the dark. then shoots off backwardfs into the dark somewhere. i literally bricked myself.
Freefalling in general = scary.
I don;t understand people wo go skydiving, or base jumping. Hitting floor at 500 miles an hour. No thanks.
Miranda
OMG! I don’t think I’ll be using those elevators any time soon! Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve used them in two years anyway. You’d think they would be in better shape for where they are. I still have shivers going down my spine just thinking about it. Brings back that feeling of a falling elevator in PCB. Don’t care to experience that again. *Shivers*