There are many fears that prevent people from enjoying a full life. Among them, acrophobia can be distinguished, which makes it impossible to stay at altitude, even insignificant.
What is acrophobia
This term is used to describe the maximum panic sensations that arise when a person rises to a height.
Therefore, acrophobia is a fear of heights, and even life-threatening. Those for whom such conditions are relevant are unable to rationally explain their emotions. In some cases, panic attacks are noticed even when the possibility of falling from a high point is potentially impossible (the presence of high fences, etc.). Sometimes attacks of acrophobia are provoked by dreams in which a person sees himself at a great height.
Development reasons
Despite the fact that acrophobia is a fairly common problem (approximately 10% of the world's population suffers from it), the reasons for this condition are partly unknown.
Earlier assumptions were made that such fear was due to trauma or a weak vestibular apparatus received during the fall. But based on the results of recent studies, experts came to the following conclusion: in the vast majority of cases, acrophobia - fear of heights, brought to a state of panic - is an innate quality, due to a genetic factor. Thus, the vestibular apparatus has no effect on the emotional state.
Psychiatrists also argue that such a phobia is characteristic of people with a rich and at the same time negative imagination.
Symptoms
Despite the fact that acrophobia is a fear of heights, which, it would seem, is quite simple in its manifestation, its signs can be divided into two types: somatic and psychological. Depending on how severe this pathology is in a particular person, the severity of symptoms can vary significantly.
If you pay attention to the symptoms of a psychological type, then they can include impulses of uncontrolled panic in the process of rising to a high point. In severe cases, panic attacks can make themselves felt even with the mere thought of climbing. In this state, a person is no longer able to concentrate and control his behavior. He may refuse to move on or sit on the floor and cover his face with his hands, thus trying to isolate his consciousness from the threat.
There are quite bright somatic symptoms, through which fear is expressed. Acrophobia can lead to pale skin, palpitations, dilated pupils, sweating and tremors of the extremities. Such symptoms are a consequence of the release of stress hormones. In addition, with panic associated with a fear of heights, increased motor activity and muscle hypertonicity can be observed. They are expressed through chaotic movements, which can be explained as an attempt to protect themselves from the apparent danger of falling.
Thus, acrophobia is a pathology for the treatment of which it is worth contacting a highly qualified psychiatrist or psychologist, but only after an accurate diagnosis is made.
What conditions may accompany a fear of heights
In certain situations, the fear of being on a hill or a really high point can have several types of manifestations that are characterized by certain differences. This is not only about acrophobia, but also about conditions such as aerophobia, illingophobia, bathophobia and menopause.
It should be understood that acrophobia is not just a fear of losing balance and falling, but a pathology. The natural emotion of fear of the risk of falling from a great height is inherent in any person - this is a manifestation of the instinct of self-preservation. Pathology leads to panic even when there is no real danger.
Aerophobia and bathophobia
This condition often accompanies fear of heights and manifests itself through fear of flight. People with this pathology experience extreme stress during flights on an airplane. In combination with acrophobia, this condition makes it difficult to stay on high floors and even travel by train on the top shelf. In other words, some common everyday situations can be a real problem.
It can be difficult for people suffering from such panic attacks to even repair, as they will be afraid of working on a stepladder.
As for bathophobia, in this case we are talking about fear of a sharp drop in depth and height. Such people are unable to calmly climb any slopes, as well as just look at them.
It is worth noting the fact that not all of those who have difficulties with fear of heights suffer from bathophobia. But everyone who has a phobia in front of changes in depth experiences a fear of height as well.
Ilingophobia and Menopause
In the case of anlingophobia, fear has a more complex structure. A person begins to fear that at the moment when he is at his height, he will feel dizzy. As a result, symptoms appear that are very similar to signs of a classic fear of heights. With such a pathology, a professional examination is necessary, which can exclude brain diseases.
Regarding climactophobia, it should be noted that fear in this case is extremely specific: a person is very afraid to climb stairs. In some cases, this condition may be supplemented by signs of bathophobia.
Acrophobia: treatment
First of all, it is important to know that such a pathology is treated. But it is almost impossible to overcome panic fear (severe form) on your own. Therefore, medical care is inevitable.
Moreover, if you turn to a truly qualified specialist, and even on time, therapy will take relatively little time. Often, a cognitive-behavioral technique is used to overcome acrophobia. Its essence boils down to the fact that the doctor helps the patient to take a fresh look at the essence of their fears and gradually learn to control their own condition.
The impact on phobias is not limited to one technique, there are various ways to master self-control and suppress panic. The main thing in this situation is to initially realize that it is possible to overcome fears that seemed insurmountable.
How to independently act on a slight fear of heights
If there are no symptoms of severe acrophobia, then fear can be overcome on your own. Proven methods will help you achieve this goal:
1. If you had to be on top, and you begin to feel fear, you need to focus on a specific subject in the vicinity. All attention should be directed to him. This will help to distract from the thought of height and calm down.
2. It makes sense to try gradual addiction to height. To do this, you need to climb higher, overcoming insignificant distances.
3. Visualization. The essence of this method is that a person closes his eyes and imagines himself being in the place where he already experienced a surge of fear. In your imagination you need to stand like this for some time, after which you tell yourself that there is no danger, and there is nothing to fear. You should not hope that everything will work out the first time, but if you repeat the exercise constantly, the result will not be long in coming.
Diseases such as sociophobia, acrophobia, amaxophobia, apiphobia, are built on the manifestation of panic and uncontrolled fear under the influence of certain factors. Therefore, those who have similar problems and intend to overcome them need to tune in to thorough work on themselves under the guidance of an experienced doctor.