Phobia (obsessive fear) - it's quitean unpleasant condition that can be very difficult to cope with on your own. Obsessive fears come in different forms, but today we'll find out what acrophobia is - fear of heights - and how to cope with it.
Acrophobia and Associated Fears
Unlike specific phobias (such as,For example, aerophobia - fear of flying), acrophobia can make a person afraid of various things, one way or another connected with his stay at some distance from the earth's surface. Depending on the severity of the phobia, a person suffering from a fear of heights may be afraid of being on the top floor of a building or even just climbing a flight of stairs. Fear of heights can be accompanied by concomitant phobic disorders:
- Illingophobia True vertigo can bea sign of various diseases. And illingophobia is a phobia in which the fear of dizziness can lead to symptoms very similar to it. Fear of heights can also cause similar symptoms, but dizziness is not always true. In order to clarify the nature of such sensations, you should consult a doctor who will prescribe the necessary examination. Most likely, you will have to take a blood test, as well as do a CT scan and MRI. Such an examination will help to exclude (or, conversely, detect!) various neurological diseases.
- Bathophobia - fear of changes in heights anddepths Often associated with the fear of heights. A person suffering from this phobia is afraid not only of, for example, climbing a hillside, but even just looking at this elevation from the side. It must be said that not everyone who is overcome by a fear of heights suffers from bathophobia; but almost all bathophobes are afraid of heights.
- Climacophobia is an obsessive fear ofstairs May be related to bathophobia, except that the fear only occurs when you have to climb stairs. If you suffer from this phobia, you are likely not too afraid of seeing even the steepest stairs with your own eyes (unlike the previous phobia, when the mere sight of a hill or ravine causes all-encompassing horror); you will remain calm as long as you can feel safe at the very bottom. So climacophobia "acts" in tandem with acrophobia, the fear of heights.
- Aerophobia is the fear of specificallyflight Depending on the severity of your fear, you may be afraid not only of flying on an airplane, but also of being in an airport. And, of course, very often this phobia develops along with a fear of heights.
Symptoms of Acrophobia
If you have a fear of heights, you are notyou will suffer from dizziness. Instead, you will feel an attack of panic when you find yourself at a certain height. A person in such a state begins to instinctively look for something to cling to. He suddenly realizes that he does not trust his sense of balance at all. The first reaction to this sensation is the desire to immediately get on all fours, kneel down, or somehow lower the position of your body and get closer to the supporting surface. Emotionally and physically, the body's reaction to the fear of heights is similar to the reaction to any other phobia. A person begins to tremble, sweat profusely, his heart begins to beat strongly; the sufferer often even begins to cry or scream. Horror paralyzes movements, thoughts become confused, and it becomes very difficult to think clearly and soberly. If you are afraid of heights, then it is quite logical to assume that you will also begin to fear situations that can force you to spend some time high above the ground. For example, you won’t be able to enjoy the anticipation of an upcoming vacation because you’ll be worried about living on the top floor of a hotel. You might put off renovating your apartment or house because you’re afraid to even think about using a ladder or stepladder. You’ll avoid visiting a friend because you can’t stand watching her go out onto the balcony. You’ll give up a lot of things in life, without always even realizing the reasons for your behavior. Any phobia is a risk of limiting a full life and normal activities, and this happens because a person who is very afraid of something will avoid the situation that scares him at all costs. The danger of acrophobia is that you can actually harm yourself when you lose the ability to act calmly and thoughtfully while at a height and fall under the influence of panic. Therefore, it is extremely important to seek professional help as soon as possible, especially if the need to regularly come into contact with heights is part of your life.
Causes of acrophobia and its treatment
Research that has been conducted repeatedlyScientists, in order to find out the causes of acrophobia, show that fear of heights is characteristic not only of humans, but also of all animals with vision. And in 1960, the famous American scientist-psychologist D. Gibson conducted an experiment with the so-called "visual cliff". The essence of the experiment was that part of the surface on which babies were encouraged to crawl (both human babies and cubs of various animal species took part in the experiment in turn) was replaced with transparent glass panels, under which there was an empty space. Briskly crawling on an opaque surface, the babies stopped abruptly in front of the glass panels, not wanting to move along the height above the empty space. And even the presence of mothers who encouraged their children did not convince them of the safety of such a "trip". Thus, this phobia is obviously partly ingrained in our subconscious as an evolutionary survival mechanism. However, most children and adults are simply cautious when faced with heights, without being overly afraid of them. Therefore, acrophobia, like all other phobias, is only an overreaction compared to the usual fear reaction. Many experts believe that the causes of such an overreaction should be sought either in a previous fall of a particular person from somewhere above, or in the nervous behavior of parents who were afraid of heights and passed on a similar reaction model to their child. What treatment does such a phobia suggest? Cognitive behavioral therapy is the main choice for the treatment of specific obsessive fears. Behavioral methods that immerse the patient in frightening situations either slowly (systematic desensitization method) or rather quickly are used most often. In addition, the patient is taught ways to stop the panic reaction and regain control over his emotions. Traditionally, actual exposure to heights has been used (if a person has a phobia associated with a fear of heights); but studies conducted since 2001 have shown that virtual reality can be just as effective in treating phobias. And the main advantage of virtual reality is that it saves money and time. Acrophobia, as we have found out, is rooted in an evolutionary safety mechanism. However, this phobia is an extreme version of normal caution and can take a particularly severe form. It can also be dangerous for those who experience panic when at a significant height. Acrophobia can coincide in symptoms with certain diseases, and it is often complicated by other phobias. We think all this is enough for you to understand - if you are experiencing signs of acrophobia, then you must do everything possible to seek professional help as soon as possible! We recommend reading:
