What is acrophobia(fear of height)?
Acrophobia is a mental health condition in which the individual experiences an intense fear of heights. It’s a type of anxiety disorder. A person with acrophobia experiences intense fear and anxiety when they think of tall heights or are positioned at a significant height. They often avoid situations or places that involve heights.
A certain amount of concern around heights is normal for all people, and most people are more cautious than usual when they are at a significant height. Most of us may feel uneasy or a bit shaky if we look down from a tall height, such as from a bridge. But people with acrophobia experience intense and unreasonable fear when they’re faced with heights, including everyday tasks such as climbing a flight of stairs, standing near a balcony, or parking a car in a multiple-floor parking garage.
What kind of heights are people with acrophobia afraid of?
Types of heights or situations that people with acrophobia may fear include:
- Walking up a flight of stairs.
- Being on a ladder.
- Using a multi-level parking garage.
- Being on or crossing over a bridge.
- Being on a rollercoaster.
- Standing near a balcony or at the top of a building.
- Looking out a window of a tall building.
Symptoms and Causes
What are the signs and symptoms of acrophobia?
The main symptom of acrophobia is feeling intense anxiety and fear of heights. Some people with acrophobia fear significant heights such as a tall bridge while others also fear shorter heights such as being on a ladder.
Psychological symptoms
- Feeling intense fear and anxiety when thinking about, looking at or being in high places.
- Fearing that something negative will happen in a high place such as falling or being trapped in a high place.
- Feeling a strong desire to escape if you’re in a high place.
Physical symptoms and signs
- Experiencing a rapid heartbeat when thinking of or looking at heights.
- Feeling dizzy and lightheaded when thinking of or looking at heights.
- Feeling queasy.
- Trembling.
- Having shortness of breath.
Diagnosis and Tests
How is acrophobia diagnosed?
Acrophobia is diagnosed through a thorough series of questions about the person’s history, experiences and symptoms. Usually, you have to have had experienced persistent fear and anxiety of heights for at least six months in order to be diagnosed with acrophobia.