Acrophobia | Define Acrophobia at Dictionary.com acrophobia [ak-ruh-foh-bee-uh] /ˌæk rəˈfoʊ bi ə/ Spell a pathological fear of heights. Origin of acrophobia 1890-95; < New Latin; see acro- , -phobia Related forms Examples from the Web for acrophobia Expand Contemporary Examples Contemporary society has gifted us with a phobia potentially as strong as acrophobia or the fear of flying: smartphone anxiety. Do You Suffer From Smartphone Anxiety? (And if So, What the Hell’s Your Problem?) Melissa Fares April 29, 2014 Historical Examples Probably the commonest is acrophobia, so that the detailed consideration of it shows the indications for other dreads. Psychotherapy James J. Walsh British Dictionary definitions for acrophobia Expand abnormal fear or dread of being at a great height Derived Forms Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.

1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Word Origin and History for acrophobia Expand n. "morbid fear of heights," 1887, medical Latin, from Greek akros "at the end, the top" (see acrid ) + -phobia "fear." Coined by Italian physician Dr. Andrea Verga in a paper describing the condition, from which Verga himself suffered. In this paper, read somewhat over a year ago at the congress of alienists at Pavia, the author makes confession of his own extreme dread of high places. Though fearless of the contagion of cholera, he has palpitations on mounting a step-ladder, finds it unpleasant to ride on the top of a coach or to look out of even a first-story window, and has never used an elevator. ["American Journal of Psychology," Nov.

1888, abstract of Verga's report] Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper What is Acrophobia or Fear of Heights? What is Acrophobia or Fear of Heights? Modified : December 22,2015 Acrophobia, the fear of heights Anyone who has ever experienced a panic attack or severe anxiety when trying to go up a ladder, on a roller coaster, or while at the top of a building knows how scary it can feel. A surprising treatment for fear of heights has shown more promise in recent years. The use of virtual reality treatments was studied in the 90’s, but this treatment has been making a comeback lately. It has been successful in treating patients with other phobias and anxiety disorders like a fear of flying. D-cycloserine, a medication that is used to treat tuberculosis, has been known shown to help in very small doses for patients with post traumatic stress disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder , according to the National Institute of Mental Health . A combination of therapy is usually the most effective method for treating anxiety disorders .

Definition acrophobia About Health states, “Unlike a specific phobia like aerophobia — fear of flying — and other specific phobias, acrophobia can cause a person to fear a variety of things related to being far from the ground.” Most people recognize a fear of heights as the definition of acrophobia. Some experts include vertigo when they define acrophobia, but not all sufferers experience dizziness with the fear of heights. The typical acrophobia definition includes an irrational fear of heights from any surface like a ladder or a rooftop. Acrophobia synonyms include a morbid fear of being high up or a high anxiety level concerning heights According to Health Research Funding, “Between 2% and 5% of the entire population suffers from acrophobia, most of which are women.” Their acrophobia statistics also show that twice as many women suffer from acrophobia symptoms compared to men. This means that women are more likely to suffer from the extreme anxiety that prevents them from participating in normal activities like riding roller coasters and ferris wheels. Did you know that Six Flags in Georgia has an acrophobia ride?

Sadly, it is called acrophobia, and many sufferers may not get a chance to take the plunge from several stories high on the famous ride. How does acrophobia affect everyday life? Acrophobia can cause any number of concerns for people. It causes people to avoid visiting friends living in high rise apartments. It can keep a person from travelling to a tropical destination for their honeymoon. It can even prevent someone from applying for a job because the applicant has to go to an office high in a skyscraper. There are many ways that this disorder can debilitate a person and interfere in their life. What causes acrophobia? Although the meaning of acrophobia is simple, the causes and treatments are not. Acrophobia causes are confusing because experts do not know if the fear comes from something in the evolutionary line of humans or if it is a learned trait. Some researchers have found that humans can become fearful of heights after they have suffered a fall or lived with parents who were afraid of heights themselves.

Acrophobia symptoms fear of riding clear elevators resorting to crawling on the hands and knees when fearful reaching for something to hold onto when climbing stairs or riding elevators Acrophobia treatments Acrophobia treatment follows the same types of treatment as other phobias and anxiety disorders. The use of desensitization, meditation, cognitive behavior therapy, medication or any combination of therapies can be helpful for those suffering from the disorder. Desensitization appears to be the preferred method of treatment, but other treatments are easily added if this method does not prove to be effective enough. Meditation, relaxation exercises, and breath counting are all great methods to help patients who suffer from extreme anxiety. Desensitization This type of therapy helps people suffering from a fear of heights by exposing them to their fear in small doses. Usually, this is conducted with a psychiatrist or a certified counselor present to help the patient when their anxiety levels get too high. Patients are encouraged to step onto glass elevators, and ride up one floor or they are asked to climb one rung on a ladder and see how long they can stand on it without getting too scared.

It may sound simple, but these types of therapies help a sufferer learn to cope with their anxiety and to curb their fear through natural methods like controlling how many breaths they take in and out. This keeps the patient from hyperventilating and helps them cope with their anxiety instead of fleeing to avoid their fear. Meditation Using meditation has been a helpful therapy for patient’s for all types of anxiety and panic disorders. Meditating helps an anxiety sufferer control their thoughts, their breathing, and their fears with visualization and relaxation techniques. Patients often visit with a mental health professional and are asked to close their eyes and visualize a peaceful setting. They are then instructed to concentrate on their breathing. The therapist can use this method to ask the patient to think about the subject of their fears and to control their breath by counting to five or ten while inhaling and exhaling. This helps the patient because they are in a safe setting and are only thinking about their fear instead of being exposed to their fear. This is usually performed before attempting desensitization. Cognitive Behavior Therapy Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a common therapy for any patient who suffers from anxiety or panic attacks.

This type of therapy deals with talking about the subject of fear for the patient. A psychiatrist can help the patient discover what triggers their symptoms. Once the triggers are known, the patient is then instructed to visualize that they are not afraid of their fear. They are asked to rely on self-confidence knowing that they are stronger than their fear and can overcome it. This type of therapy helps a patient change their perception of fear and reduce anxiety in general. Medications Medications can consist of anti-anxiety medications like Xanax or Valium and anti-depressants like Lexapro or Effexor. These are helpful for patients who suffer panic attacks and anxiety. These medications are used in conjunction with CBT and any other therapies the psychiatrist feels the patient needs to cope with their fears. The goal is to help the patient alleviate their fear so they can live a normal quality of life. Patients may be on medication for a long period, of time or they can use it on an as-needed basis recommended by a psychiatrist. Therapy can last for a few sessions or years depending on the individual needs of the patient. Medication and therapy must be tailored to the person because every person has different levels of fear.

Visual therapy The use of a different type of therapy reported by the American Psychology Association (APA) called virtual therapy is showing some promise for patients who suffer from acrophobia and other anxiety disorders. This type of therapy involves patients attending a session with a psychiatrist and using a monitor with headphones and a computer to simulate heights. A person talks through their fears with the therapist and then purposely exposes themselves to this fear by using visual stimuli. The person sits through simulations of flying, going up an elevator, looking over a cliff or a rooftop, and climbing a ladder. In this session, the therapist can reassure the patient that they are safe and can handle their fear because it is not real. A huge benefit to using visual therapy is the ability to control the patient’s fear by controlling the amount of time in the simulation and how far the simulation goes. For example, the APA noted that one doctor named Keith Saylor PhD., says that he can simulate plane takeoffs and landings with patients that are afraid of flying. These sessions he tells the APA can go slowly like taking several visits before actually taking off for a flight for his most anxious patients.

It is hopeful that people with the fear of heights can use this method in a way that is customized to their level of fear for a unique treatment plan. Treatment of acrophobia meaning medication, meditation, CBT, visual therapy, desensitization, or any combination should always be conducted by a licensed professional who has had a history of success with other patients. Specialized counselors who offer group therapy sessions are also qualified if they have been certified and had experience with acrophobia patients. Any person who thinks they may have this disorder should always ask a qualified professional like their family physician for help finding the right psychiatrist and treatments. Recommended for you What is Acrophobia? (with pictures) Hobbies What is Acrophobia? Last Modified Date: 05 December 2016 Copyright Protected: Can you see through these real-life optical illusions? Acrophobia is one of the most common phobias and is an extreme fear of heights, which can induce feelings of panic, panic attacks, nausea, and dizziness . This phobia should not be confused with agoraphobia, the fear of the outdoors or open spaces, which contributes to many people feeling they can’t leave their homes.

Both are serious conditions, and both common, but of the two, acrophobia is more widespread and is possibly an inborn trait in some people. What constitutes heights can vary for each person with this fear. For some, it only manifests when a person is in a particularly high place, like a building of several stories or on top of a cliff that overlooks a sheer drop. For others, walking up a flight of stairs or climbing a ladder is enough to induce panic and distress. The fear can easily curtail everyday activities, especially when it is extremely pronounced. Like the agoraphobic person, a person with this phobia may not want to leave his or her home because he or she may be faced with panic inducing heights unexpectedly. Ad Many people may feel mildly uncomfortable when in high places, and this experience is not limited to humans — other mammals show discomfort if they reach certain heights too. Usually, this term is used only when the person or animal can be said to be extremely uncomfortable and goes into a panic state when confronted with being in a high place. The main theories used to explain this phenomenon suggest that, like all phobias, the fear became uncontrollable after a traumatic incident in early childhood.

Since other animals have been shown to exhibit some signs of fear of heights, researchers are now positing that the fear may have to do with the way that the internal sense of balance works. The person with acrophobia may not be able to rely on natural sense of balance and continues to rely on what they see as high place. The feeling of being unbalanced can lead to panic, nausea, and vertigo or dizziness in some cases, because it pulls against the natural tendency for the body to remain balanced. This would suggest that people might be able to overcome the fear by shutting their eyes and relying on natural balance to stabilize themselves. Usually though, acrophobics have so many incidences of this feeling, that this may not be enough alone, since the fear of heights may be associated with mental trauma . Though the fear itself might not be irrational from a physical perspective, repeated instances of emotional trauma associated with heights create irrational fear . Like most phobias, acrophobia is treated with a variety of therapies, most commonly exposure therapy . Under the guidance of professionals, the person is guided through staged experiences of height, often first starting with virtual reality views of high places. This can help to gradually desensitize the individual to the situation.

Sometimes, medication like tranquilizers or antidepressants are useful in the early stages of treatment, but when the person is able to recover, they may not be needed in the long term. Further, there’s some suggestion, given the internal balance theory, that psychiatric medication would do more harm than good, since many of these medicines affect balance. Ad anon321483 Post 19 Extreme acrophobia notes: f your phobia is from a single event, it's much more treatable. If your phobia is from your "world view" (a.k.a. "core beliefs) it's harder. The longer you have avoided what scares you, the harder it is to deal with -- 40 years in my case. There is a hereditary link. Both my parents were phobic (heights and driving). Flooding (presenting you to your fears fully and immediately) is dangerous for older people. CBT only works on phobias rooted in an event. Gains made in exposure therapy age out if you don't keep repeating exposure to your fear. There is evidence acrophobia is linked to a failure of portions of the human "balance" mechanism (there are at least two).

Lots of places promise quick cures, but many of them are pushing a particular method which may or may not make sense for your particular history and case. anon321061 Post 18 I am an Indian (male), living in Bangalore. I had a traumatic experience about falling in the past (probably when I was 15 years old,now I am 20 years old). I am very depressed that I have acrophobia. How can I cure this? anon282679 Post 16 I have acrophobia but I only start feeling the symptoms when I'm not in an enclosed area (like on an elevator or a plane. Recently, my class at school had gone up to the bell tower in a cathedral and the spiral staircase width was only about 60 cm, with the stairs being 20 cm tall and 15cm wide for your feet to step on. There were no handrails or hand grips to help you up the stairs (there were about 40 steps), only a thin rope that was to support my whole class of 26!

My symptoms took over me and when I finally reached the small room at the top I refused to go back down at the end of the lesson. In fact, my teacher had to coax me down and I didn't put a foot onto the first step to start the descent until about 45 minutes after the lesson ended. None of the other students understood my fear and they all thought that I was “weak” because I stated hyperventilating, almost blacked out and started crying as soon as we got into the small room. In fact, it was so bad, I had to demand that the tiny window to be closed because the slight draft made me so scared! I really hope that I can get over my acrophobia as I can't even cross the Harbour Bridge Sydney without feeling sick! anon263820 Post 15 Well, I don't know if I really do have acrophobia. When I was little, looking down my grandma's stairs would make my legs feel weird, so I guess I'm a little afraid. Then I was fifteen feet up in the air doing a ropes course. I was so freaked out I cried up there.

Then the guy lowered me down to the ground and that wasn't so scary going down, maybe because I trusted the guy going down. Sometimes even looking pictures from a high angle makes my legs feel weird. stuffhappens Post 13 I have mild acrophobia as well and it annoys me to no end. I can climb up stairs to a certain point, and then I start hyperventilating and feeling weak. For some reason airplanes don't bother me but I think that's because I can pretend that I'm just in a really cramped train. I can't go on roller coasters or Ferris wheels and it feels like I'm missing out on so much. I wish I could get rid of it. anon152059 Post 12 I have acrophobia and it's not to bad for me. I can climb stairs (up to a certain point) and climb low rock walls but I can't go on Ferris wheels or roller coasters or on the top floor of tall buildings. My legs feel weak and I get dizzy and start to hyperventilate. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with this phobia.

anon132905 Post 11 I am not sure if I have experienced acrophobia. On a recent trip to New York, we visited "30 Rock" and went to the top of the building - I was unable to step to the perimeter of the observation deck and had to find a seat indoors. I can also recall recent experiences where even seeing certain scenes on TV causes this particular condition in your 50's? Thanks. anon113900 Post 10 The older I get the worse my acrophobia gets. I was at a Broncos game sitting high in the cheap seats and had to leave. I've been to tons of games and just hope I don't keep getting worse. They lost anyway. anon94475 Post 9 I always had a fear of heights since i was little, and i thought it was normal. But anyway after i had my one year old daughter i started having anxiety, especially when i get on the train platform. My legs feel weak, i feel as if i can't breathe and i always need someone to go with me. It's really a scary feeling and i really want help because i can't really do much with fear.

anon71384 I heard Rey Mysterio was actually Acrophobic. anon55648 Post 7 This thing helped me for my essay. Thanks! By the way, i have acrophobia, too. It's so freakin scary, i always try to overcome it but i can never. this has been since i was born. i was always scared of heights. i mean i can go in an elevator or climb a ladder lol but i just can't go to places like the eiffel tower or on roller coasters! anon53241 Post 6 I am so extremely acrophobic, that it has really messed up my life. I have never been in a plane. I can't even climb up stairs. I get so bad I have blacked out before. I so want to lead a normal life and fix this problem. if anyone out there can help. please let me know where to go or who to call. anon46638 Post 5 I thought I was the only one suffering this since a few years ago. I wasn't afraid of heights before, like I can go for rock-climbing without any fear. But it's now no more.

Crossing a river/valley while walking on the bridge which held up few metres up, walking through the small path in a cape with oceans surrounding you, sliding up/down a mountain using cable car... these are few things I can list out. I love nature so much, though it's not to the point to jungle-trekking etc, but all the things I listed above are the least I will do. If only I can overcome this phobia. anon31416 Post 4 When I was a kid, I thought it was quite normal for me to be scared of heights. Back then, I'd stand in front of the wall on the second floor of our school building and I'll start imagining that it'd fall off or the floor would crash and I'd fall. I tremble just by thinking about such things. I only realized that I was really acrophobic last year, my first year in college. We had to go wall climbing for PE. I was barely a foot above the ground and I was already trembling. I couldn't try it anymore because I already started crying uncontrollably.

I had to climb the straight basic wall though, and though I'm physically capable to finish it in a few minutes, I wasn't able to because I hyperventilated while climbing and had to stop to catch my breath. I was so scared, especially when I had to let go of the handholds and cling to the rope, hanging there. anon27934 Post 3 I am also Acrophobic, mine is inborn. I remember in sixth grade (I have always been Acrophobic) they had us do a rock wall and I got to the second stone, looked down and started crying. I cannot go anymore than three feet off the ground without bursting into tears and hyperventilating. It's horrible because I can't do the same things others can--but then again I don't want to so it's all good. My friends have all tried desensitization on me and it only made it worse. I may have to go to a Doctor to get help. WGwriter Post 2 Hi obsessedwithloopy. Both my children seem mildly acrophobic. They get anxious and worried about heights.

Both can sustain being on heights for a while but they don't want to get too close to the edges of big heights. Trips in a car scaling mountains really worries them. I think a lot of people have at least a mild fear of heights, so you're certainly not alone. Thanks for your comment T E Christensen Fear of Heights Phobia – Acrophobia You are here: Home / Phobias / Fear of Heights Phobia – Acrophobia Fear of Heights Phobia – Acrophobia Whether you are an individual suffering from the fear of heights, or knows someone who does, this brief guide is written for you. Here we shall study the causes, symptoms and treatment options for the fear of heights, which is also known as acrophobia. What is Acrophobia or the fear of heights? Fear of heights or Acrophobia is a debilitating anxiety disorder that affects nearly 1 in every 20 adults. The word is derived from the Greek word “Acron” meaning heights and “phobos” meaning fear. Individuals having the fear of heights generally avoid tall buildings, Ferris wheels, roller coasters, skiing or even standing on high hills or balconies. Acrophobia generally affects the recreational activities one can enjoy.

However, in some extreme cases, the phobia can affect one’s day to day life. For example: driving on bridges may trigger panic attacks or dizziness or individuals living or working in large cities might find it difficult to attend meetings on higher floors of a building or may experience dizziness in escalators, glass elevators, railings, and on staircases etc. What are the symptoms of Acrophobia? According to authors, Martin Antony and Karen Rowa’s book Overcoming Fear of Heights: How to Conquer Acrophobia and Live a Life without Limits, to be considered a phobia; the fear of heights must be excessive and unrealistic. Thus, the symptoms of the fear must be in excess of what the actual situation indicates or must cause significant impairment and distress in the individual. Three main responses are generated by Acrophobia. These include anxiety, panic and fear. Depending on the situation, stimulus and individual reaction, one might experience muscle tension, headaches, panic attacks, palpitations, or dizziness. A full blown panic attack resulting from the fear of heights can cause breathlessness, loss of control, and even thoughts of dying. Causes of fear of heights Psychiatrists mainly blame negative thinking for Acrophobia.

Negative thoughts include: If I stand on the ledge I will be tempted to jump or someone will push me over. I will lose my balance. The building structure is weak and will collapse, or the elevator car will crash. I will get dizzy or have a heart attack and fall. Acrophobics tend to experience such thoughts quickly and automatically, so much so that they are often unaware of them. The fear also stems from the physical sensations associated with heights. The thoughts of pain arising from injuries and falls (which are often normal and rational) are taken to extreme levels in Acrophobic individuals. Like in case of most fears and phobias, Acrophobia also stems from the unconscious mind that tries to create a protective mechanism. Emotional trauma in the past, such as a tragic event one associates with heights, or sometimes seen in fictional scenes in movies can be a catalyst for such phobias. The difference lies in how the phobia manifests in individuals: in some people, the fear of heights may be present all the time; in others it may be present only from direct stimulus. Treatment for Acrophobia A great deal of commitment is necessary to overcome the fear of heights. Individuals must show a strong dedication to overcome this fear.

Sometimes, drugs can help the individual calm the mind and ease anxious thoughts. Hypnosis, positive thinking and meditation are a few other techniques that are known to help phobics overcome their fear of heights. Here are the Top 10 Books for Overcoming Phobias Systematic or Gradual desensitization is another recommended tool that can help one overcome Acrophobia. This technique makes use of cognitive behavior therapy where the patient is encouraged to face the triggers or stimulating situations that lead to thoughts of fear. The individuals are made to relax, imagine their fear components and then work in least fearful to most fearful situations. Nearly 75 % cases of Acrophobia are curable using such techniques. Virtual reality is also being tested and explored to understand Acrophobia and also as a possible tool for the treatment of fear of heights. What do you fear? Share your phobias with visitors on this site, read their stories and connect with them. Acrophobia – Facts About Acrophobia – Causes and Treatment of Acrophobia Share your stories and support others...

Acrophobia Tweet Everyone is susceptible to a fear of heights, but when the fear causes a person to have panic attacks and consistently avoid situations that involve heights, their condition becomes a phobia. People who have acrophobia, also known as altophobia, have an extreme and irrational fear of heights. Individuals who suffer from this disorder can become terrified to the point that they cannot physically remove themselves from situations in which they become fearful. The phobia, in effect, becomes so paralyzing that it actually poses a danger to those who have it. Common Facts About Acrophobia The prevalence of acrophobia is between 2 and 5% of the population. Twice as many women have acrophobia as men. It is not vertigo. Vertigo is a spinning sensation that someone gets when he or she is not actually spinning. Rational fear of heights is instinctual in many mammals. Experiments have shown that even human infants are reluctant to crawl onto a glass floor with what looks like a few meters of free fall below it, showing that the phobia could be innate rather than a learned fear. It may relate to poor recognition of visual cues.

Causes of Acrophobia Like all phobias, researchers have theorized acrophobia to be the result of traumatic experiences . In other instances, acrophobia has been linked to fear of loud noises, fear of the poor structural integrity of buildings and instinct rooted in poor balance. Treatment of Acrophobia Treatment for acrophobia varies case by case. Some experts suggest that the phobia may stem from a person’s inability to perceive visual and spatial cues, including the positions of one’s own appendages. This would make the root of the phobia more of a physiological problem than a psychological problem, and thus more effectively treated with medications . However, most individuals who suffer from acrophobia have benefited from psychotherapy. Virtual reality treatment has proven quite effective, as has exposure treatment, which involves a systematic and gradual acclimation to the source of the phobia until it is no longer a problem. If you are seeking help with acrophobia there are plenty of treatment options. The condition can range from a simple hindrance to a debilitating fear and if left unattended to, can preclude plenty of enjoyable and necessary activities.

Ascending stairs, looking out the window of a multi-story building and even base-jumping will remain constant sources of fear and avoidance for the acrophobic unless they receive treatment. Do not let these everyday activities remain out of reach, seek the help and support needed to surmount this disorder . View Resources Acrophobia - Fear of Heights Acrophobia By Lisa Fritscher - Reviewed by a board-certified physician. Updated August 06, 2016 Acrophobia is defined as a fear of heights. Unlike a specific phobia like aerophobia -- fear of flying -- and other specific phobias, acrophobia can cause a person to fear a variety of things related to being far from the ground. Depending on the phobia's severity, an acrophobic person may equally fear being on a high floor of a building or simply climbing a ladder. Acrophobia and Related Conditions Vertigo: True vertigo is a medical condition that causes a sensation of spinning and dizziness. Illyngophobia is a phobia in which the fear of developing vertigo can actually lead to vertigo-like symptoms. Acrophobia can induce similar feelings, but the three conditions are not the same.

See a doctor for tests if you experience vertigo symptoms. Medical tests may include blood work, CT scans and MRIs , which can rule out a variety of neurological conditions. Bathmophobia: The fear of slopes and stairs, is sometimes related to acrophobia. In bathmophobia , you may panic when viewing a steep slope, even if you have no need to climb the slope. Although many people with bathmophobia have acrophobia, most acrophobia sufferers do not also experience bathmophobia. Climacophobia: Related to bathmophobia, except that the fear generally occurs only when contemplating making a climb. If you suffer from climacophobia , you are probably not afraid to see a steep set of stairs as long as you can remain safely at the bottom. However, climacophobia may occur in tandem with acrophobia. Aerophobia: The specific fear of flying. Depending on the severity of your fear, you may be afraid of airports and airplanes, or may only feel the fear when in the air. Aerophobia may occasionally occur alongside acrophobia. Symptoms of Acrophobia If you experience acrophobia, you may never experience vertigo symptoms.

Instead, you may feel a sense of panic when at height. You may instinctively begin to search for something to cling to. You may find that you are unable to trust your own sense of balance. Common reactions include descending immediately, crawling on all fours and kneeling or otherwise lowering the body. Emotionally and physically, the response to acrophobia is similar to the response to any other phobia. You may begin to shake, sweat, experience heart palpitations and even cry or yell out. You may feel terrified and paralyzed. It might become difficult to think. If you have acrophobia, it is likely that you will begin to dread situations that may cause you to spend time at height. For example, you may worry that an upcoming vacation will put you into a hotel room on a high floor. You may put off home repairs for fear of using a ladder. You might avoid visiting friends' homes if they have balconies or upstairs picture windows. Danger of Acrophobia The biggest danger that most phobias present is the risk of limiting one's life and activities to avoid the feared situation. Acrophobia is unusual, however, in that having a panic attack while high in the air could actually lead to the imagined danger.

The situation may be safe as long as normal precautions are taken, but panicking could lead you to make unsafe moves. Therefore, it is extremely important that acrophobia be professionally treated as quickly as possible, particularly if heights are a regular part of your life. Causes of Acrophobia Research shows that a certain amount of reluctance around heights is normal, not only for humans but for all visual animals. In 1960, famed research psychologists Gibson and Walk did a "Visual Cliff" experiment which showed crawling infants, along with babies of numerous species, who refused to cross a thick glass panel that covered an apparently sharp drop-off. The presence of the infant's mother, encouragingly calling him, did not convince the babies that it was safe. Therefore, acrophobia seems to be at least partially ingrained, possibly as an evolutionary survival mechanism. Nonetheless, most children and adults use caution but are not inordinately afraid of heights. Acrophobia, like all phobias, appears to be a hyper-reaction of the normal fear response. Many experts believe that this may be a learned response to either a previous fall or a parent's nervous reaction to heights.

Treating Acrophobia Cognitive-behavioral therapy , or CBT, is a main treatment of choice for specific phobias. Behavioral techniques that expose the sufferer to the feared situation either gradually ( systematic desensitization ) or rapidly (flooding) are frequently used. In addition, the client is taught ways of stopping the panic reaction and regaining emotional control. Traditionally, actual exposure to heights is the most common solution. However, several research studies performed since 2001 have shown that virtual reality may be just as effective. A major advantage of virtual reality treatment is the savings in both cost and time, as there is no need for "on-location" therapist accompaniment. This method is not yet readily available, but may be worth trying to find if you can. The drug D-Cycloserine has been in clinical trials for anxiety disorder treatment since 2008. It appears that using the medication in tandem with cognitive-behavioral therapy may improve results, but the research remains preliminary at this time. Acrophobia appears to be rooted in an evolutionary safety mechanism. Nonetheless, it represents an extreme variation on a normal caution, and can become quite life-limiting for sufferers.

It can also be dangerous for those who experience a full panic reaction while at a significant height. Acrophobia can share certain symptoms with vertigo, a medical disorder with a variety of possible causes, as well as with other specific phobias. For these reasons, if you experience the signs of acrophobia, it is extremely important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Sources: Gibson, E. J., & Walk, R. D. "The 'visual cliff'." Scientific American. 1960. 202, 67-71. May 5, 2008. Retrieved from Emmelkamp, Paul, Bruynzeel, Mary, Drost, Leonie, van der Mast, Charles. "Virtual Reality Treatment in Acrophobia: A Comparison with Exposure in Vivo" CyberPsychology & Behavior. June 1, 2001, 4(3): 335-339. May 5, 2008. Continue Reading Acrophobia, the Fear of Heights the fear of heights Read my CAUTION! regarding all health-related advice What is the fear of heights?

The medical definition for the fear of heights is “acrophobia.” So what exactly is acrophobia? It is an abnormal and persistent fear of heights. The word “acrophobia” is derived from the Greek words “acron” (height) and “phobos” (fear). Acrophobia, the fear of heights, is a natural fear. To a certain extent, there is nothing wrong with having a fear of heights. It is a healthy God given defense against doing things like walking off a cliff. The problem is when the natural healthy instinct becomes a morbid (unsound or even paranoia) fear. This type of unhealthy fear, acrophobia, is usually overwhelming and debilitating (it will freeze you in your tracks). If you suffer from a fear of heights, don't think that you are alone. Thousands of people suffer from acrophobia including some famous people such as Isaac Asimov, John Madden, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, and Whoopi Goldberg. I receive many emails from people who share their experiences with me.

Many people really identify with the main character of my book (see link below for more information) Symptoms of the fear of heights: Many people with the fear of heights experience breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, and the inability to speak or think clearly. Other symptoms of acrophobia also include a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or even a full blown anxiety attack. What causes the fear of heights? Many psychologists think that the fear of heights enters your life at some point in your past. There was probably an event that happened to you that linked heights or high levels with some type of emotional trauma. They think that the original event may have been a real-life scare of some kind that you no longer consciously remember. They think the condition can also be triggered by multiple events like seeing something in movies, TV, or perhaps even seeing someone else experience trauma involving heights. There are several “cures” for overcoming acrophobia: • drugs • positive thinking • gradual desensitization It is important to realize that drugs do not cure acrophobia. They simply temporarily suppress the symptoms using chemicals.

The side effects of the drugs may be worse than a fear of heights. Never take drugs without a doctor's perscription and be sure you know exactly what the drug will do to your body. Hypnosis also does not cure acrophobia. It also suppresses the symptoms but instead of using chemicals you're allowing someone to temporarily control your mind. In my book “The Seagull Who Was Afraid To Fly” I used the gradual desensitivitation method to cure the seagull's fear of heights. How does this method work? • You have to go to an area where you experience the fear of heights (this can be something as simple as a high dive board at a pool). Starting quite far back from the edge (where you feel no fear) slowly start walking toward the edge. Stop walking as soon as you feel any fear. Pay attention to what you are feeling and make yourself aware of those feelings. Don't run away from what you're feeling at this point and don't deny or pretend that those feelings are not there. Don't go any farther towards the edge, just stay where you are. Don't give up on your desire to get over your fear of heights.

Accept the fact that you don't have to do it right now. You can choose not to go any closer to the edge at this point in time. • The next time you repeat this process start from the same place you started the first time. Once again, stop walking as soon as you feel any fear. Pay attention again to what you are feeling and make yourself aware of those feelings. As with the first time, don't run away from what you're feeling at this point and don't deny or pretend that those feelings aren't there. You must consciously make a choice - a choice that you are in complete control. You can choose to continue walking toward the edge, leave, or stay right where you are. It is your choice and you are in control. • Start the process again from the same place you started the first time. The moment will come when you will be able to simply accept what you are feeling, even though you may have no desire to continue on towards the edge. When you accept what you are feeling, where you are standing, you'll find that the fear fades.

Every time you repeat this process, stop whenever you feel the symptoms coming on, identify the feelings, locate where you are, and allow yourself feel the as you do, and never lose your resolve to get closer to the edge. Little by little, using this process, you'll arrive close to the edge and you won't be overwhelmed by the fear of heights. Would you like some information about my book “ The Seagull Who Was Afraid To Fly ?” Simply click on the picture to the left. If this website page, or the book “The Seagull Who Was Afraid To Fly” was able to help you in any way, please send me an email and let me know about your experience. Touch the button below to send Steven P. Wickstrom an e-mail: Fear of heights Fear of heights Do you have acrophobia? Are you afraid of heights? Watch this video and see what you think (but remember - don't try this at home - even if you have access to a 1000 foot tall tower!): How does it make you feel? Queasy? Butterflies in your tummy?

Some people can't watch it - it makes them feel sick, they get sweaty palms and they start to hyperventilate. A fear of heights is called acrophobia. Acrophobia can range from fear when on the top floor of a tall building, to fear of standing on a chair. People with acrophobia feel a sense of panic when they're at a certain height and often become unable to trust their sense of balance. Other symptoms can include shaking, dizziness and nausea. That's a pretty extreme reaction to standing on a chair! Acrophobics feel a sense of panic at certain heights and don't trust their sense of balance But, if you're afraid of heights, maybe you should be happy. You're evolutionarily successful! Some scientists think that acrophobia is an inborn or innate phobia. Why is acrophobia an evolutionary advantage? Scientists think that a fear of heights is a successful adaptation to our world, where falls from height are dangerous. Experiments have shown that infants and young children are naturally cautious around heights. This suggests that people are born with a dislike of heights. However, most children and adults are a bit nervous around heights, but they don't have a phobia.

Many scientists think that a phobia is a learned response to either a parent's fear of heights or a traumatic experience in childhood, like a fall. Show the video to your parents and friends. How does it make them feel? Are people more likely to be afraid of heights if their parents are? Join in Common Phobias: Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia, and More in Pictures Phobias Slideshow: What Are You Afraid Of? Loading Next Slideshow Fear vs. Phobia Fear protects you from danger. Phobias have little to do with danger. More than 19 million Americans have a phobia -- an intense, irrational fear when they face a certain situation, activity, or object. With a phobia, you may know your anxiety and fear are not warranted, but you can't help the feelings. And they can be so intense they virtually paralyze you. See what makes some people afraid in the slides ahead. The Three Kinds of Phobia Hundreds of different phobias have been identified, including phobophobia or fear of phobias.

But when talking about phobias, which are a kind of anxiety disorder, experts divide them into three categories -- agoraphobia, an intense anxiety in public places where an escape might be difficult; social phobia, a fear and avoidance of social situations; and specific phobia, an irrational fear of specific objects or situations. Agoraphobia: Fear of Public Places The agora was a market and meeting place in ancient Greece. Someone with agoraphobia is afraid of being trapped in a public place or a place like a bridge or a line at the bank. The actual fear is of not being able to escape if anxiety gets too high. Agoraphobia affects twice as many women as men. If left untreated in extreme cases, it can lead to someone becoming housebound. Social Phobia: Beyond Being Shy Someone with a social phobia is not just shy. That person feels extreme anxiety and fear about how he or she will perform in a social situation. Will her actions seem appropriate to others? Will others be able to tell he's anxious? Will the words be there when it's time to talk? Because untreated social phobia often leads to avoiding social contact, it can have a major negative impact on a person's relationships and professional life.

Claustrophobia: Needing a Way Out Claustrophobia, an abnormal fear of being in enclosed spaces, is a common specific phobia. A person with claustrophobia can't ride in elevators or go through tunnels without extreme anxiety. Afraid of suffocating or being trapped, the person will avoid tight spaces and often engage in "safety seeking behavior," such as opening windows or sitting near an exit. That may make the situation tolerable, but it doesn't relieve the fear. Zoophobia: A Menagerie of Fears The most common type of specific phobia is zoophobia or fear of animals. Zoophobia is actually a generic term that encompasses a group of phobias involving specific animals. Examples include arachnophobia -- fear of spiders; ophidiophobia -- fear of snakes; ornithophobia -- fear of birds, and apiphobia -- fear of bees. Such phobias often develop in childhood and sometimes go away as the child ages. But they can persist into adulthood. Brontophobia: Fear of Thunder The Greek word bronte means thunder and brontophobia means fear of thunder.

Even though people with brontophobia may realize thunder won't hurt them, they may refuse to go outside during a thunderstorm. They may even hide indoors by crouching behind a couch or waiting out the storm in a closet. An abnormal fear of both thunder and lightning is called astraphobia, a phobia shared by people and animals. Acrophobia: Fear of Heights Acrophobia is an excessive fear of heights and manifests as severe anxiety. A person could have an attack just walking up stairs or climbing a ladder. Sometimes the fear is so great a person can't move. Acrophobia can create a dangerous situation for someone who has it. An anxiety attack can make it extremely difficult to safely get down from whatever high place triggered the attack. Aerophobia: Afraid to Fly Someone who has aerophobia is afraid of flying. The phobia generally develops after a person has a traumatic experience involving an airplane, such as going through extreme turbulence or witnessing another passenger have a panic attack. Even after the incident is forgotten, the fear stays and can even be triggered by watching film of a plane crash on TV. Hypnotherapy is commonly used to identify the initial trauma and to treat this phobia.

Blood-Injection-Injury Phobias There is a spectrum of blood, injection, and injury phobias including hemophobia (fear of blood) and trypanophobia (fear of receiving an injection). Some people have an injury phobia, and others have a phobia about invasive medical procedures. These phobias are associated with fainting. Paranormal Fears Some phobias sound like they belong on the chiller channel on cable TV. Triskaidekaphobia is an abnormal fear of anything related to the number 13. If the thought of ghosts makes you overly anxious, you may have phasmophobia. And despite the fact that vampires aren't real, some people are terrified of bats. Their phobia is called chiroptophobia. Emetophobia: A Gut Feeling Emetophobia is an unnatural fear of vomiting that typically starts early in life from some traumatic episode. For instance, someone may have witnessed a schoolmate vomiting in public or done so himself. The anxiety can be triggered by thoughts of vomiting or thinking of somewhere such as a hospital, where vomiting is common. As with aerophobia, hypnotherapy is commonly used in part of the treatment.

Carcinophobia: Fear of Cancer People with carcinophobia or cancerophobia live with an irrational dread of developing cancer. Every bodily discomfort becomes a sign for them that they have a malignant growth somewhere inside. A headache, for instance, is a sign for them that they have a brain tumor. Cognitive therapy can help someone with carcinophobia regain control of their life. Phobias From New to Old Someone who fears anything new has a neophobia. And someone who is afraid of growing old or afraid of old people has a gerontophobia. Somewhere in between, you might find someone with phartophobia, which is an unreasonable fear of passing gas in a public place. Someone with odontiatophobia will go out of his way to avoid going to a dentist. And a spargarophobic individual will panic over a plate of asparagus. Life-Altering Effects of Phobias Phobias cause people to change how they live in order to avoid the object of their fear. But their life is also affected by their attempts to conceal the phobia from others. Some people with phobias have problems with friends and family, fail in school, or lose jobs while struggling to cope.

Phobias and Alcohol Alcoholics can be up to 10 times more likely to suffer from a phobia than those who are not alcoholics. And phobic individuals can be twice as likely to be addicted to alcohol as those who have never been phobic. A Family Connection Although phobias can be influenced by culture and triggered by life events, they tend to run in families. Immediate family members of people with phobias are about three times more likely to have a phobia than those without a family history. Treating Phobias Desensitization is a process of gradually exposing someone with a phobia to circumstances that resemble what he fears. Over time, the fear lessens as the person builds confidence. This is often accompanied by talk therapy to help the person change how he or she thinks and develop new patterns of response to situations that might trigger the emotions associated with a phobia. The good news is treatment helps 90% of people who follow through. Learn More About Phobias These associations can provide you more information about phobias: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Counseling Association,

Question: Acrophobia is a fear of what?
Answer: Heights