Phobia of heights or acrophobia is an excessive fear of heights. The fear experienced by people with a phobia of heights can cause several symptoms, such as anxiety, stress, to panic, when in high places. Although not easy, the phobia of heights can actually be overcome.
A person suffering from a phobia of heights will usually avoid activities associated with high places, such as standing on a balcony, crossing a bridge, looking out a window from a skyscraper, or simply sitting on a stadium bench.
Symptoms of Height Phobia
People with a phobia of heights can experience uncontrollable fear, anxiety, and panic when at heights, even when the situation is not dangerous. Other reactions that can also appear are shaking, chest palpitations, dizziness, cold sweats, nausea, shortness of breath, to fainting.
Just by imagining being in a high place, people with a phobia of heights can feel afraid, anxious, and even experience panic attacks. People with a phobia of heights actually realize that the fear they feel is not natural, but they still can't suppress that fear.
How to Overcome the Phobia of Heights
The fear of heights can interfere with the sufferer's daily activities. In severe cases, climbing stairs to put up curtains, changing light bulbs, or cleaning windows can scare the sufferer.
If so, this condition certainly needs to be treated. The following are some of the treatment methods for overcoming the phobia of heights:
1. Exposure therapy
Exposure therapy is considered to be one of the most effective therapies for dealing with the phobia of heights. In this therapy, the therapist will help the patient to open up slowly to the thing that is feared.
This therapy can be started by looking at the picture from the perspective of a person in a tall building. Patients may also be asked to watch videos of people crossing ropes, climbing, or crossing narrow bridges.
Next, the patient may be asked to stand on the balcony accompanied by the therapist. At this stage, the patient will learn relaxation techniques to help overcome the fear of being at heights.
2. Behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (cognitive behavior therapy/CBT) is one of the most common psychotherapeutic techniques used to treat phobias. CBT is suitable for people with a phobia of heights who are not ready for exposure therapy.
The focus of this therapy is to identify and change negative thoughts and reactions to situations that cause phobias. By undergoing behavioral therapy, patients will be guided to divert feelings of fear and overcome the symptoms that arise.
3. Tranquilizer
There is no cure for a phobia. But some types of drugs, such as anxiety relievers and antidepressants, can at least make people with a phobia of heights calmer in dealing with their anxiety when symptoms appear. Even so, the use of these drugs must follow the doctor's instructions.
If your phobia of heights has interfered with your daily activities, you should consult a psychiatrist or psychologist for treatment, because it is not possible to avoid high places, cross bridges, or take a plane to travel.