WHAT IS ACROPHOBIA?

An extreme fear of heights is known as acrophobia, a type of anxiety disorder. When confronted with tall heights or placed at a significant height, an acrophobic individual feels extreme fear and anxiety.

Most people are fine with certain heights and they would be more cautious when they are at a significant height. Normal people would feel a bit shaky and uneasy if we look down from a tall building such as from an apartment building or a bridge. However, for people with this phobia, they experience intense and uncontrollable fear when they have to do basic activities that are related to heights such as climbing a flight of stairs or parking a car at a multi-story parking garage.

WHO DOES ACROPHOBIA AFFECT?

As like other phobias, acrophobia can affect anyone at any age. This phobia tends to develop from childhood and may become more apparent when reaching adulthood Females are also more likely to develop specific phobias.

WHAT KIND OF HEIGHTS ARE PEOPLE WITH ACROPHOBIA AFRAID OF?

Types of heights or situations where people with this phobia may fear include:

Walking up a flight of stairs
Climbing a ladder
Using a multi-level parking garage
Crossing a bridge
Riding a roller coaster
Standing near a balcony
Looking out a window of a tall building

HOW COMMON IS ACROPHOBIA?

Between 3% and 6% of people have acrophobia, making it one of the most common phobias.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THIS PHOBIA?

The primary indications and symptoms of acrophobia are severe anxiety and a fear of heights. Some people with this phobia fear significant heights such as a tall bridge while some may be scared of shorter heights even such as a ladder.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

Feeling intense fear and anxiety when thinking of standing near high places
Fearing that something negative would happen such as falling or being trapped
Feeling a strong desire to escape

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Rapid heartbeat when thinking of heights
Feeling dizzy and lightheaded
Feeling queasy
Trembles
Shortness of breath