Fear of Heights?

Question

I have a weird fear of heights. Now I don't mind going up in a plane, and I used to live on the 14th floor of a tower block, I have even been, 16000+ up a mountain in a light railway in Colorado, so why is it I find stairs a problem - looking down them I feel dizzy if a long flight of them,, sitting upstairs in stadiums or theatres and riding Dockland Light Railway in London so damn difficult. I told you I had a weird and irrational fear, so how can I get rid of it?

Answer 1

Could be an imbalance in your inner ear or perhaps vertigo, which is not a fear of heights, but rather the brain's reaction to exposure to heights. See your doc.

Answer 2

It is normal to have a fear of heights. We are born with the ability to feel fear because it protects us from the damage that a fall can cause.

It appears that it is the visual appearance of height which causes the fear in your case, rather than the reality of height.

Quite often with fear which is rational, but needs to be overcome, the only way to deal with it is to confront the fear. Force yourself to do the things which cause the fear over and over again. Each time you overcome the fear you reduce the fear for the next time.

When you are very relaxed and meditative, ask yourself what it is you fear when you see a fall coming. Is it pain, injury, or death? These are your worst case scenarios, which are statistically just as likely (or more likely) to occur by crossing the road.

Confront your fears and you will reduce the symptoms of fear. You will never lose the ability to see a potential fall coming, you will just lose the symptomatic effect that fear can have on your nervous system.

Answer 3

I was acrophobic (feared heights) but lost that a few years ago on a roller coaster. About halfway up the starting climb the ride shut down and the ride crew had to walk us all down a stairway from about 100 feet in the air. Since I was employed by another theme park across town, and liked roller coasters, I asked the ride attendants about a million questions about the ride and how it worked, and got mostly good answers. I forgot about how high we were and have not feared heights since. And I rode that coaster again the same day. Awesome ride!

Answer 4

This doesn't sound like a fear of hights (acrophobia) but virtigo.

If I'm walking up a mountain along an edge (e.g. Sharp Edge on Blencathra) I have no fear of looking down, however if I look up at the top of the mountain then I feel that I'm going to fall.

Another incident happened when I was 7. I stood next to a large chimney and looked up at it. It looked like it was going to fall on me and I did a 'Del Boy' and fell fell over.

Answer 5

Try this key technique which behavioural therapists use on their clients, try gentle breathing exercises and then deep muscle relaxation, this is called Systematic Desensitisation.
However if you are still unsure go to your GP who will then refer you to a professional cognitive-behavioural or behavioural psychotherapist. Neuro -linguistic programming might be another option as well as implosion and flooding which are also types of cogntive restructuring that are available. Hypnosis is also known to be very effective in curing the irrational fear of heights.

Answer 6

I don't have a fear of heights. I have a fear of ledges and falling. I don't know that you can rid yourself of it. The only thing I can do to keep mine in check is to constantly challenge it.

Answer 7

You're probably afraid of falling. You can't really fall off of a plane, or a mountain, or through to window of a building, I should hope. All of those places have some sort of railing or barrier. Stairs, however, don't really.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Would love 2 know the answer to this i am the same as you have described in your question

Answer 10

try eft emotional freedom training www.eft-talk.com or contact bob at www.eftme.com