Acrophobia - Fear of Heights

"I'm not afraid of heights.  It's falling from them the really bothers me!"  Statements such as this may get a laugh now and then, but if you are afraid of heights there is nothing funny about heights!

To some extent, all humans have a cautionary fear of heights.  Most are able to function normally, and many learn to enjoy activities that involve heights, such as skydiving, bungee jumping, mountain climbing, flying, etc.  However, according to Wikipedia somewhere between 2 to 5% of the population suffer from acrophobia.  Interestingly this fear affects nearly twice as many women as men.  (This may explain why little boys love climbing trees and jumping of porch railings!)

There are many articles online outlining potential treatments acrophobia.  You can read them for yourself and be the judge of their effectiveness.

Treatments for acrophobia are numerous and include:

• Avoidance
• Psychotherapy
• Behavioral Therapy
• Medication

Only you and your doctor can decide the best course of action for dealing with this phobia.  It may help to remember that while many people have a fear of something, a phobia is an irrational fear.  In other words, the fear is not based in actual fact.  In many cases the phobia itself presents a greater hazard than the thing feared.  For example, someone in a high place who suffers from acrophobia, may place themselves in greater danger by panicking rather than remaining calm.  The irrational fear may cause them to lose their balance and be unable to listen to the instructions of those trying to help them.   

Even animals can suffer from this fear.  Watch the video below to see a dog afraid to walk across a footbridge!




So What Have We Learned?

Acrophobia is real. In spite of the many types of treatments, some people will never overcome their irrational fear of heights.  If you suffer from acrophobia, seek professional help before attempting to treat yourself.  While phobias may be irrational, they should not be ignored, especially due to the danger posed to the one affected.