I was terrified of tree stands at first,, after 10 years or so,, I have gotten use to them,, I purchased a " hunters safety vest system" and am more comfortable now.
maybe too comfortable,, I actually dozed off for first time in ladder sand, eyes closed mabye a nano second, ahhhhhhhhhhh, weird feeling. Tree stands do take a while getting comfortable with if you are leery of them. Thank god I have never fallen out,