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Fear of Heights

Fear of heights, or acrophobia, belongs in a specific category of phobias involving space and motion discomfort. It is not vertigo, as is commonly thought. Vertigo is a spinning sensation that can be caused by many types of movement and can happen at any height level. However, acrophobia can sometimes cause the feelings of spinning or dizziness associated with vertigo.

Acrophobia can be brought on by a traumatic experience involving heights. However, it can also be a non-associative fear, when the phobia is an evolved adaptation of human nature. We are all cautious around heights, but it is when this fear, whether associated or non-associated, escalates so that it interferes with our everyday lives that problems with our well being occur.

At its worst acrophobia can prevent the sufferer from climbing stairs or escalators, climbing up ladders or even standing on a chair.

Commonly, the symptoms of acrophobia are in line with the symptoms of other phobias, but when confronted with a situation involving heights, sufferers may also feel unable to trust their balance. They will attempt to get to a lower level, sometimes by kneeling or crawling, and may cling to something.

Instances where acrophobic responses occur are more dangerous than instances where other phobic responses occur. Reacting badly or panicking at height can lead to mistakes and instances of the fear becoming reality, therefore it is imperative that the acrophobe remain calm when confronted with an adverse situation.

How can hypnotherapy help?
Hypnotherapy, and in particular cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy, can make this calmness easily accessible. The fear of heights is a conditioned response and throught neuro-linguistic programming this response is reconditioned. The fear subsides and the sufferer adopts a more rational attitude toward the subject of their fear. Gradually the fear may even be eradicated all together.