Everything about Acrophobia (fear of heights)

Imagine that you and your friends went to a rooftop restaurant on a tall building in Colombo. Or you went to the edge of the world in Nuwara Eliya and looked down. Suddenly, when you look down, do you feel dizzy, your chest is pounding, you start sweating, your body is shaking, and you feel like you are going to fall? If this is a fear that goes beyond the normal fear of heights and is too strong to control, then you may have a condition called Acrophobia . Don't worry about it, let's talk about it in detail.

Simply put, what is Acrophobia?

Acrophobia is an excessive, abnormal, and irrational fear of heights. It is a mental health condition, more specifically an anxiety disorder . A person with this condition experiences extreme fear and anxiety when thinking about heights or when being in high places.

Now you might be thinking, "So who isn't afraid of heights?" It's true. We all feel a little nervous and wary when we look down from a high bridge. That's normal, and it's for our own safety. But someone with acrophobia experiences something completely different. They may feel an overwhelming fear when they climb a flight of stairs, approach a balcony at home, or park their car on the top floor of a shopping complex. This fear is much greater than the actual danger at that moment.

Who is most afraid of this?

Like other phobias, acrophobia can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender. However, in most cases, these specific phobias begin in childhood and symptoms begin to appear in adolescence. Research has found that this condition is more common among women.

What kind of places is a person with acrophobia afraid of?

People with this fear are not afraid of the same heights. While some people are afraid of climbing a ladder several feet high, others may be afraid of looking at a tall building. Let's explain this a little more with the table below.

For example, if you are only afraid of flying, it is not Acrophobia. That is a separate condition called Aerophobia. However, if you are afraid of flying, going over bridges, or climbing tall buildings because of your height, it is more likely to be Acrophobia. If this fear is interfering with your life, it is very important to see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis.

What are the symptoms of acrophobia?

When this fear arises, many symptoms arise, both mental and physical. Let's look at them separately.

Why is there such fear?

Researchers are still unable to pinpoint one specific reason for this, but there are several factors that they think may contribute to this:

• Natural Evolution: Some scientists believe that the fear of falling from heights and getting hurt is something that comes naturally to humans. This natural fear can become exaggerated in some people's minds and develop into a phobia.
• A previous bad experience: This can be caused by something like falling from a height, seeing someone fall, or experiencing a frightening event while in a high place as a child.
• Family history: If someone in the family has anxiety-related illnesses, others may be at slightly increased risk of developing similar conditions.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose this as Acrophobia?

When you go to see a doctor, they will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms, how long they have been present, and your past experiences. Usually, to be diagnosed as a phobia, the fear must be persistent for at least 6 months .

There are 4 main things to consider when diagnosing a phobia:

• Excessive and irrational fear: Having excessive fear that is completely out of proportion to the situation causing the fear.
• Anticipatory Anxiety: Anxiety occurs at the thought of going to a high place.
• Avoidance: Trying to avoid situations involving heights. Some people even change jobs because of this.
• Interference with daily life: If this fear interferes with your normal activities and social relationships, it is considered a phobia.

Your doctor will only diagnose acrophobia after considering these factors and making sure that there is no other physical or mental illness contributing to your symptoms.

What are the successful treatments for this?

The good news is that acrophobia is a very treatable condition. In most cases, psychotherapy is the mainstay of treatment. In some cases, medication may be recommended temporarily as an adjunct to therapy.

Psychotherapy

1. Exposure Therapy

This is the most effective treatment for phobias. Simply put, it involves gradually exposing yourself to the thing you fear, namely heights, in a very gradual, safe, and controlled manner .

• First, the therapist will ask you to look at pictures of high places.
• Next, you'll be asked to watch videos with high places.
• Then, maybe they'll go with you and climb a small flight of stairs, or help you look down from a balcony on the first floor.

As you gradually acclimate to heights in this way, your brain learns, "This isn't as scary as I thought it would be."

2. Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

This is a very modern and 'cool' method of Exposure Therapy. In this, you are made to wear a VR headset. When you put it on, you get the experience of being on top of a tall building, or walking over a high bridge. But you are actually in the safety of the therapist's room. Because this is 100% safe and very similar to a real experience, it has proven to be a very effective method of treating Acrophobia.

3. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This focuses on changing your thought patterns . The therapist will talk to you and help you identify irrational, false thoughts you have about heights ("I'm sure I'll fall," "I'll never get over this fear"). Then, they will challenge those thoughts and guide you to replace them with more realistic, positive thoughts.

Medications

Medication cannot completely cure a phobia. However, your doctor may temporarily prescribe some medications to help control excessive anxiety during psychotherapy, or to control symptoms when you can't avoid going to high places.

• Beta-blockers: These control physical symptoms such as palpitations and tremors.
• Benzodiazepines: These quickly reduce anxiety. However, because of the risk of addiction, they are only used for a very short period of time under the strict supervision of a doctor .

How do I manage my life with this fear?

While you're receiving treatment, there are things you can do for yourself. If you suddenly have to go to high altitude, try these things to reduce your anxiety:

• Don't look down. Look as far as possible, towards the horizon.
• Focus on something immobile near you (a tree, a building).
• If possible, sit or lie down on the floor.
• Use distractions . For example, name 5 red things you can see. Or count down from 100.

These habits will also help you in everyday life:

• Get enough sleep and exercise.
• Practice things like meditation and deep breathing exercises.
• Always see your therapist on scheduled dates.
• Talk to your family and friends about this. Their support will be a great source of strength for you.

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