Sign-In
Cart
Free Falling: An Essay in Pulling the Cord on Fear
Paperback
Metaphysical GeneralMental HealthSelf-Help
Please select the version of book you would like to purchase.
ISBN13: 9798182176842
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 18 2026
Pages: 74
Weight: 0.22
Height: 0.19 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Jun 18 2026
Pages: 74
Weight: 0.22
Height: 0.19 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Fear has a way of convincing us that the safest choice is to stay small. Stay home. Stay quiet. Don't risk it.
For Jim Carter, fear of heights wasn't just a mild discomfort-it was a life-defining limitation. As a sound engineer, he couldn't work on ladders or roofs. As a friend, he sat out roller coasters and zip lines. As a person, he watched life happen while he played it safe. Then Rick convinced him to ride the Sky Coaster. Standing 150 feet in the air, clad in a ridiculous safety suit, Carter faced the moment of truth: pull the cord and launch, or let fear win again. What happened next changed everything. Free Falling: An Essay in Pulling the Cord on Fear is a personal and practical exploration of anxiety, phobias, and the path to genuine freedom. In these pages, Carter shares:
For Jim Carter, fear of heights wasn't just a mild discomfort-it was a life-defining limitation. As a sound engineer, he couldn't work on ladders or roofs. As a friend, he sat out roller coasters and zip lines. As a person, he watched life happen while he played it safe. Then Rick convinced him to ride the Sky Coaster. Standing 150 feet in the air, clad in a ridiculous safety suit, Carter faced the moment of truth: pull the cord and launch, or let fear win again. What happened next changed everything. Free Falling: An Essay in Pulling the Cord on Fear is a personal and practical exploration of anxiety, phobias, and the path to genuine freedom. In these pages, Carter shares:
His transformative breakthrough on the Sky Coaster and what it taught him about courage
The neuroscience behind fear and why understanding it matters
How he overcame trauma after witnessing a devastating street accident
His battle with OCD-driven lock-checking and the rational thinking that set him free
Practical, evidence-based techniques for managing anxiety: breathing exercises, visualization, gradual exposure therapy, and more Why he's actually grateful for his fears-and why you might be too
Strategies for those hiding indoors, struggling with crowds, or isolated by anxiety
The critical importance of family support and community This essay is for anyone who's ever been held back by fear: whether you struggle with specific phobias, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, trauma responses, or simply the weight of what if? thinking. It's for the person who knows they're capable of more but feels paralyzed. It's for anyone ready to stop letting fear make their decisions.
Carter writes with raw vulnerability and dark humor, never minimizing the real struggle of living with anxiety while offering genuine hope: fear doesn't have to own you. With the right tools, support, and willingness, you can acknowledge your fears while refusing to be controlled by them. Your breakthrough might not look like a Sky Coaster. It might be as simple as walking outside for five minutes longer than yesterday, or finally calling a therapist, or telling your family you're struggling. But it starts with one choice: to pull the cord.
This essay also includes crisis resources and encouragement to seek professional help when needed, because managing fear isn't weakness-it's courage. It's time to stop free falling into fear. It's time to pull the cord.
The neuroscience behind fear and why understanding it matters
How he overcame trauma after witnessing a devastating street accident
His battle with OCD-driven lock-checking and the rational thinking that set him free
Practical, evidence-based techniques for managing anxiety: breathing exercises, visualization, gradual exposure therapy, and more Why he's actually grateful for his fears-and why you might be too
Strategies for those hiding indoors, struggling with crowds, or isolated by anxiety
The critical importance of family support and community This essay is for anyone who's ever been held back by fear: whether you struggle with specific phobias, generalized anxiety, panic attacks, trauma responses, or simply the weight of what if? thinking. It's for the person who knows they're capable of more but feels paralyzed. It's for anyone ready to stop letting fear make their decisions.
Carter writes with raw vulnerability and dark humor, never minimizing the real struggle of living with anxiety while offering genuine hope: fear doesn't have to own you. With the right tools, support, and willingness, you can acknowledge your fears while refusing to be controlled by them. Your breakthrough might not look like a Sky Coaster. It might be as simple as walking outside for five minutes longer than yesterday, or finally calling a therapist, or telling your family you're struggling. But it starts with one choice: to pull the cord.
This essay also includes crisis resources and encouragement to seek professional help when needed, because managing fear isn't weakness-it's courage. It's time to stop free falling into fear. It's time to pull the cord.
Also from
Carter, Jimmy D.
The Invisible Family: A Manifesto on How Technology Builds Barriers Between Those We Love Most
Carter, Jimmy D.
Paperback
$15.59
Also in
Mental Health
The ADHD Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Gain Self-Confidence, Social Skills, & Self-Control
Shapiro, Lawrence E.
Paperback
$23.70
The Chemistry of Joy Workbook: Overcoming Depression Using the Best of Brain Science, Nutrition, and the Psychology of Mindfulness
Emmons, Henry
Paperback
From $11.99
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence--From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Herman, Judith Lewis
Paperback
$11.99
The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness [With CD]
Teasdale, John
Segal, Zindel
Williams, Mark
Paperback
$11.99
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Van Der Kolk, Bessel
Paperback
From $12.99
Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
$14.20
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Haidt, Jonathan
Hardcover
$27.00
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Kishimi, Ichiro
Koga, Fumitake
Paperback
$17.09
Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression
Schubiner, Howard, MD
Hardcover
$28.80
A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving: Lessons on Love, Care, and Survival: A Memoir
Eubanks, Virginia
Hardcover
$28.80
The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery: Connecting Neuroscience and Faith to Radically Transform Your Life
Warren MD W. Lee
Hardcover
$27.54
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself (Revised and Updated)
Beattie, Melody
Paperback
$19.00
How to Deal with Your ____ So Your Kids Don't Have to: An Encyclopedia for Ditching Your Emotional Baggage
Harwood, Eli, M. a. Lpc
Hardcover
$25.19
Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents
Lebowitz, Eli R.
Paperback
$18.98
The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical Dbt Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, a
Wood, Jeffrey C.
Brantley, Jeffrey
McKay, Matthew
Paperback
$24.65
Your Ocd Will Hate This Book: A Proven System to Overcome Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Take Back Your Life
Peterson, Nathan
Hardcover
$25.20
Why We Fight: A Transformative Road Map to Healing Conflict in Any Relationship
Polinder, Kim
Hardcover
$27.00
It's Ok That You're Not Ok: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand
Devine, Megan
Paperback
$17.09
Why Does Everybody Hate Me?: Living and Loving with Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria
Partridge, Alex
Paperback
$18.99
The Biology of Trauma: How the Body Holds Fear, Pain, and Overwhelm, and How to Heal It
Apigian, Aimie
Hardcover
$26.96
Taking Charge of Adult ADHD: Proven Strategies to Succeed at Work, at Home, and in Relationships
Barkley, Russell A.
Paperback
$18.95
The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole
Schwartz, Arielle, PhD
Paperback
$16.14
It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle
Wolynn, Mark
Paperback
From $11.99
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies
Menakem, Resmaa
Paperback
From $11.99
When the Ache Remains: Lessons on Tending to the Unfixable and Finding Beauty Anyway
Olivera, Lisa
Hardcover
$23.40
How Will I Ever Get Through This?: Evidence-Based Tools to Help You Heal from Hardship, Grief, and Loss
Hone, Lucy
Paperback
$18.05
El Cuerpo Lleva La Cuenta: Cerebro, Mente Y Cuerpo En La Superación del Trauma / The Body Keeps the Score
Van Der Kolk, Bessel
Paperback
$17.05
The Internal Family Systems Workbook: A Guide to Discover Your Self and Heal Your Parts
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
From $14.99
The Digital Delusion: How Classroom Technology Harms Our Kids' Learning--And How to Help Them Thrive Again; Updated Edition
Cooney Horvath, Jared, PhD Med
Paperback
$20.90
Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You!
Hamdani, Sasha
Hardcover
$16.14
Parenting Anxiety: Breaking the Cycle of Worry and Raising Resilient Kids
Elkins, Meredith, PhD
Elkins, Meredith, PhD
Hardcover
$28.50
The Success Trap: How the Pressure to Stand Out Is Fueling Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout in Teens--And the Fundamental Fix They Deserve
Slavin, Stuart, MD Med
Hardcover
$28.50
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief Workbook: Tools for Releasing Pain and Remembering with Love
Kessler, David
Paperback
$18.99
Once I Get Started: The Adult ADHD Program for Turning Your Intentions Into Actions
Ramsay, Russell, PH. D.
Hardcover
$28.80
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence---From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Herman, Judith Lewis
Paperback
$21.84
The Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation: The Secret to Finding Balance, Getting Things Done, and Enjoying Your Life
Free CCC, Jenna
Hardcover
$22.49
The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate
Kemp, Jennifer
Mitchelson, Monique
Paperback
$24.65
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing
Winfrey, Oprah
Perry, Bruce D., M. D. PH. D.
Hardcover
From $11.99
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Van Der Kolk, Bessel
Hardcover
$32.30
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences
Levine, Peter A.
Paperback
$20.85
Therapy Nation: How America Got Hooked on Therapy and Why It's Left Us More Anxious and Divided
Alpert, Jonathan
Hardcover
$28.80
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers
Kleiman, Karen
Hardcover
$18.04
Overcoming the Wall of Awful: Why It's Hard to Get Things Done with Adhd, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway)
Mahan Med MS, Brendan
Capell, Alex Hughes
Hardcover
$28.50
Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think
Greenberger, Dennis
Padesky, Christine A.
Paperback
$25.60
How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It)
McCabe, Jessica
Hardcover
$27.00
I Hate You--Don't Leave Me: Third Edition: Understanding the Borderline Personality
Kreisman, Jerold J.
Straus, Hal
Paperback
$20.90
Self-Care for Autistic People: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Unmask!
Neff, Megan Anna
Hardcover
$14.39
Why We Suffer and How We Heal: Using Narrative, Ritual, and Purpose to Flourish Through Life's Challenges
Song, Suzan, MD PhD
Hardcover
$27.00
Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to Overcome Anxiety, Panic, and Worry
Pittman, Catherine M.
Karle, Elizabeth M.
Paperback
$18.00
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World
Murthy, Vivek H.
Paperback
$18.99
Your Anxiety Is Giving Me Anxiety: A Survival Guide for Thriving in a High-Stress World
April, Elizabeth
Paperback
$20.85
MANUAL SUPERANDO PÉRDIDAS EMOCIONALES, vigésimo aniversario, edición extendida: programa de acción para superar la muerte, el divorcio y otras pérdida
Friedman, Russell
James, John W.
Paperback
$16.14
One in Five: Why Child Sexual Abuse Is Our Biggest Public Health Crisis--And What We Can Do to Stop It
Malone, Luke
Letourneau, Elizabeth J.
Hardcover
$28.50
Where Do You Feel That in Your Body?: Moving Beyond Talk Therapy to Understand the Language of the Nervous System
Saunders, Simone
Hardcover
$28.50
Embracing Our Fragmented Selves: A Workbook for Trauma Survivors and Therapists
Fisher, Janina
Paperback
$33.24
Stop Walking on Eggshells: Taking Your Life Back When Someone You Care about Has Borderline Personality Disorder
Kreger, Randi
Mason, Paul T. T.
Paperback
$19.90
Even the Darkest Night: A Father's Journey of Hope and Healing from Paternal Depression
Choukalas, Christopher G., MD
Hardcover
$28.50
Unfuck Your Brain Workbook: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
Harper, Faith G.
Paperback
$19.95
The Courage to Be Disliked: The Japanese Phenomenon That Shows You How to Change Your Life and Achieve Real Happiness
Kishimi, Ichiro
Koga, Fumitake
Hardcover
$27.54
Nervous Systems: Spiritual Practices to Calm Anxiety in Your Body, the Church, and Politics
Billups, Sara
Paperback
$18.99
The Unfragile Mind: A Physician's Call for Restoring Hope and Humanity to Mental Health Care
Francis, Gavin
Hardcover
$28.45
Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Hayes, Steven C.
Paperback
$23.70
The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps
Orlov, Melissa
Paperback
$20.85
Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist
Nakazawa, Donna Jackson
Hardcover
$26.60
The Road Less Traveled, Timeless Edition: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth
Peck, M. Scott
Paperback
From $10.99
Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing
McBride, Hillary L., PhD
McBride, Hillary L., PhD
Paperback
$21.84
Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Kids: 60 Fun Activities to Help Children Self-Regulate, Focus, and Succeed
Miller, Kelli, Lcsw MSW
Paperback
$17.09
The Joy of Solitude: How to Reconnect with Yourself in an Overconnected World
Coplan, Robert J.
Hardcover
$25.65
Mind Your Body: A Revolutionary Program to Release Chronic Pain and Anxiety
Sachs, Nicole J., Lcsw
Hardcover
$28.50
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
Sockolov, Matthew
Paperback
From $11.99
I Want to Die But I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki: Further Conversations with My Psychiatrist
Sehee, Baek
Paperback
$18.04
A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers
Solden, Sari
Frank, Michelle
Paperback
$20.85
Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts: A Cbt-Based Guide to Getting Over Frightening, Obsessive, or Disturbing Thoughts
Winston, Sally M.
Seif, Martin N.
Paperback
$18.95
Living Well with Adult ADHD: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life
Knouse, Laura E.
Barkley, Russell A.
Paperback
$18.00
Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter: A Memoir from the Child of a Mail-Order Bride
Suvorova, Katya
Paperback
$18.99
Enciende Tu Cerebro: La Clave Para La Felicidad, La Manera de Pensar Y La Salud
Leaf, Dra Caroline
Paperback
$18.04
I Don't Want to Talk about It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression
Real, Terrence
Paperback
$18.99
Freedom from Panic: Evidence-Based Techniques to End Avoidance and Stop Panic Before It Stops You
Zucker, Bonnie
Paperback
$18.95
Your Brain's Not Broken: Strategies for Navigating Your Emotions and Life with ADHD
Rosier Tamara Phd
Paperback
$18.04
Strength beyond the Shadows: Overcoming a Childhood of Trauma, Neglect, and Sexual Abuse
Gehle, Seth
Paperback
$21.54
Artistry of the Mentally Ill: A Contribution to the Psychology and Psychopathology of Configuration
Prinzhorn, Hans
Paperback
$50.97
Anxiety Relief for Kids: On-The-Spot Strategies to Help Your Child Overcome Worry, Panic, and Avoidance
Walker, Bridget Flynn
Paperback
$20.85
Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety
Gillihan, Seth J., PhD
Paperback
From $9.99
Psychedelic Medicine & Internal Family Systems (Ifs) Therapy: A Clinical Skills Manual
Sweezy, Martha
Lovas, David
Schwartz, Richard C.
Paperback
$33.24
How I Know White People Are Crazy and Other Stories: Notes from a Frustrated Black Psychologist
Lassiter, Jonathan
Hardcover
From $17.99
Invisible ADHD: Proven Mood and Life Management for Smart Yet Scattered Women
Pearson, Shanna
Hardcover
$29.44
The Borderline Personality Disorder Workbook: An Integrative Program to Understand and Manage Your Bpd
Fox, Daniel J.
Paperback
$23.70
The Wisdom of Your Body: Finding Healing, Wholeness, and Connection Through Embodied Living
McBride, Hillary L., PhD
Paperback
$18.99
Reclaiming Your Life from Medical Trauma: Recognize the Symptoms, Find Treatment That Works, and Heal Your Brain and Body
Jackson, James C.
Hardcover
$28.50
Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (Updated with Two New Chapters)
Hansen, Brant
Paperback
$18.99
How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend: A Neuroscientist's Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life
Barr, Rachel
Hardcover
$20.89
Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind
Brewer, Judson
Paperback
$19.00
How to Thrive at College: A Guide to the Ups and Downs of Mental Health on Campus
Ross, Mathilde
Paperback
$18.99
Radiance in Pain and Resilience: The global reverberation of Palestinian historical trauma
Maté, Gabor
Berger, Elizabeth
Jabr, Samah
Paperback
$43.75
Healing Autistic Burnout: A Neuroaffirming Guide for Connecting with Your Authentic Self, Restoring Your Energy, and Advocating for Your Needs
O'Connor, Sharon Kaye
Paperback
$18.95
The Lies We Tell Ourselves: How to Face the Truth, Accept Yourself, and Create a Better Life
Frederickson, Jon
Paperback
$15.15
Break Up with Narcissism: How to Break Free and Stay Free -- The 4-Step Plan for Surviving Narcissistic Abuse
Kastner, Alina
Hardcover
$26.60
Put Your Anxiety Here: A Creative Guided Journal to Relieve Stress and Find Calm
Schab, Lisa M.
Paperback
$18.00