Fear of heights is called acrophobia. It is a particular anxiety disorder that is manifested by a fear of heights that is irrational. People who suffer acrophobia have extreme anxiety or panic attacks when exposed to heights like looking through a tall building window, crossing a high bridge or even standing on a ladder.
Let us understand what acrophobia is, what causes the fear of heights, how common it is, its symptoms, and causes and triggers for this phobia.
What is Acrophobia?
The term Acrophobia is derived from the Greek prefix (akron) (meaning peak, summit or edge) with and (phobos) (meaning fear). Although it is natural to have a healthy amount of caution when in the environment of great heights, extreme phobia in the form of extreme fear of heights can be crippling, in most cases, intrusive in daily life, travel, and affecting quality of life.
Acrophobia is one of the most prevalent phobias in the world with the rate of about 3 to 6 percent of the world population having acrophobia. It is categorically placed under Specific Phobias in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
What causes the fear of heights?
Acrophobia may be occasioned by the occurrence of a traumatic experience with heights, a biological malfunction in the ability to balance, or the survival instinct that has overreacted to evolutionary needs.
What is the prevalence of acrophobia?
Acrophobia is extremely widespread. Studies indicate that 3% to 6% of the world population has clinical acrophobia with women having a higher likelihood of being affected compared to men.
What is the difference between acrophobia and vertigo?
Acrophobia is a psychological disorder where people are scared of heights, which causes anxiety and panic. Vertigo is a health condition, most often in the inner ear, which causes a false idea of swirling and sickness.
What is the Symptom of Acrophobia?
A person with fear of heights when exposed to such a situation, or even a thought about the same can lead to various physical and psychological responses.
Physical Symptoms
1. Accelerated pulse or palpitations.
2. Sweating and trembling
3. Shortness of breath
4. Feeling weak or lightheaded when looking down.
Psychological Symptoms
1. Extreme panic or anxiety attacks.
2. A desperate desire to get out of it.
3. Concern about loss of balance or falling.
Most Common Causes and Triggers
Acrophobia is a psychiatric disorder classified as a specific phobia as part of the spectrum of anxiety disorders. The findings are usually in line with the criteria provided by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in DSM-5. A mixture of evolutionary tendencies, dysfunctions of the vestibular apparatus, and acquired traumatic experiences is usually described as the etiology or origin of the phobia.
According to evolutionary psychologists, even a mild phobia of heights is an inborn survival system that keeps people at the ground level to avoid falling. But in individuals who have acrophobia, then this kind of mechanism is excessive.
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