According to evolutionary studies, it’s instinctual for humans to feel a little nervous at different heights and altitudes like when they are standing at the edge of a cliff to catch the perfect sunset or getting onto a roller-coaster for some thrill.
But for some people, that nervousness quickly turns into fear and all they can think about is falling. That’s when the fear turns into a phobia.
Phobias are persistent, irrational, and excessive fears that could be attached to an object, activity, or situation. A person with a phobia will either avoid the fear-inducing stimulus or endure it with a lot of anxiety and distress.
Acrophobia, commonly known as the fear of heights has been my companion for almost all my life. Now you might be curious and want to ask if I ever had a nasty fall that continues to haunt me to this day? The answer is, no. As far back as my memory takes me, all I can remember is an overwhelming fear that makes my body act against me. Sometimes, even looking down from the first floor of a building can make my head spin and I can feel a sense of panic rising. The realization, that I am higher up than I want to makes my palms sweaty and leaves me with shaky legs.
Foot-over bridges, escalators, those old spirally staircases are what my nightmares are made of, but I can’t always get away from them. All of a sudden, I can feel my heartbeat racing. My legs refuse to move as if I no longer have control over them. And then, in a state of panic, I try to grasp onto something, anything, to make me feel more secure. I can’t begin to describe the feeling I have upon finally reaching ground level. As soon as my feet touch the ground, the fear completely vanishes and I feel like I can breathe again.
When I watch others enjoying themselves, I feel like I’m missing out on so many experiences that life has to offer. The number of family pictures I skipped because I refused to stand at the edge of a hill with the stunning view behind is countless.
There have been moments when I have cried out of fear. People passing by would look at me with confused expressions and my face would turn red with embarrassment. Over time, I have come up with some strategies to confront, if not conquer my fear.
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I take a deep breath, direct my focus onto my feet and count every step I take till I reach a safe place.
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I rely on others for support. Holding on to a friend or loved one’s hand when I’m scared gives me a sense of security and allows me to face my fear.
While, overcoming phobias isn’t an easy task, there are several therapeutic techniques like systematic desensitization and exposure therapy that can help you work on it. If you have a fear of heights, know that you are not alone, and don’t hesitate to ask for help!
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
About MindTribe.in.
MindTribe Founder Dr. Prerna Kohli, India’s eminent psychologist, established the company to leverage the strength of the online to make counseling affordable and accessible to everyone. MindTribe provides counseling, workshops, support groups, forums, and eLearning.
About the Author.
Sharmila Das is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.