Fear of heights

Julia Dobmeier is currently completing her master's degree in clinical psychology. Since the beginning of her studies, she has been particularly interested in the treatment and research of mental illnesses. In doing so, they are particularly motivated by the idea of ​​enabling those affected to enjoy a higher quality of life by conveying knowledge in a way that is easy to understand.

More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.

People with a fear of heights feel an unnaturally strong fear of heights or looking into the depths. While others enjoy the view, they experience anxiety with dizziness, sweating and palpitations. For some, just a few steps on the ladder are enough to trigger symptoms. But with appropriate therapy, you can usually get the phobia under control. Read here how fear of heights develops and what you can do about it.

ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. F40

What is fear of heights?

Fear of heights or acrophobia is the fear of a certain distance from the ground. Depending on how strong the fear is, it can already occur when climbing a ladder. Fear of heights is one of the specific phobias - these are anxiety disorders that are limited to very specific situations or objects.

Fear of heights is not a rare phenomenon. Many people get weak knees when looking down from an elevation. A certain amount of respect for heights is innate and a natural protection. Babies already have a natural fear of abysses. In experiments, even small children hesitate in front of an abyss, although a glass plate lies over it and they could crawl over it without danger.

From an evolutionary point of view, fear of heights ensures our survival. In some people, however, the fear of heights is so pronounced that they cannot even walk or drive over a bridge. If the fear is unfounded and the quality of life of those affected is limited, the fear of heights is pathological.

What is the difference between fear of heights and vertigo?

Altitude vertigo is a natural phenomenon. Vertigo occurs when you are a certain distance from the ground. The eyes then have difficulty recognizing fixed points in the distance. The eyes move in search of fixed points and the head sways slightly. At the same time, the brain receives the message of a firm stance from the feet. These conflicting signals create dizziness. This hoax reports a potential danger looming over an abyss.

In fearful people, this dizziness can trigger a fear of heights. They also have severe physical symptoms. They begin to sweat, their heart beats faster and their fear becomes unbearably strong.

How is a fear of heights noticeable?

Fear of heights is characterized by an excessively pronounced fear of heights or depths. Moving away from the ground is so unbearable for those affected that they avoid such situations.

Physical and psychological symptoms appear in the dreaded situation. Typical physical signs of specific phobias include difficulty breathing, sweating, tremors, palpitations, tightness in the chest and dry mouth. Psychological signs range from anxious thoughts to deathly fear. Those affected fear losing their balance and falling. Many also describe the feeling of being drawn into the depths.

Treatment of fear of heights

Specific phobias are treated with psychotherapy. Above all, experts recommend exposure therapy as part of cognitive behavioral therapy. If you want to overcome your fear of heights, you have to face your fears.

With the support of the therapist, the patient enters the dreaded situation - in the case of fear of heights, this can also be simulated virtually. He then experiences that his fears do not come true and the fear gradually subsides. This happens all by itself, because the body cannot sustain the fear reactions over the long term.

The therapist also instructs the patient on how to deal with an anxiety attack - for example, how to calm down with the help of breathing exercises. By repeatedly confronting the terrifying situation, one can overcome the fear of heights.

Searching for help

Behavioral therapy has a good chance of success. However, many sufferers wait a long time to seek help and instead avoid heights. By avoiding it, however, the fear becomes increasingly stronger. People with a pronounced fear of heights are then no longer even able to climb the second step of a ladder, for example to replace a lightbulb.

Their lives are then ruled by their fear. Some try to calm down with alcohol, drugs, or medication. This downward spiral can be interrupted together with a therapist. The earlier treatment for fear of heights is started, the better the chances of a fear-free life.

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