Acrophobia

Under acrophobia (in different technical languages ​​also referred to as Alto phobia or Hypsophobie ) is a fear of heights or fear of depths understood. It belongs as a so-called " anxiety disorder " to the sphere of phobias. The name derives from the Greek word ἄκρος " Akros ", the summit, tip or height means. The opposite of acrophobia is fear of heights.

Description

Acrophobia occurs, inter alia, towers, high mountains, slopes before, on bridges, high-rise buildings, balconies, ladders. Sometimes combines the acrophobia with other anxiety disorders, such as the fear of death. Also at the fear of flying can be involved the acrophobia. However, it is not the same as this.

By definition, the fear of the situation opposite is inappropriate because there is no or little objective danger. To trigger the fear of a large amount is not absolutely necessary. A few meters often enough. In -depth psychological concepts with a fear of heights fear of the will " self- dropping " connected. There are people in whom the acrophobia occurs outdoors only. If they stand around behind glass, there is no fear response.

Mental symptoms of acrophobia are in addition to the actual fear response about depersonalization, intense performances to overthrow accidentally in the depth or to consciously do this under a loss of control.

As with other phobias occur physical complaints here. Within a few seconds or minutes, the symptoms can come to a climax: They are, among other shortness of breath, palpitations, tachycardia, drowsiness, dizziness, sweating, chest pain or tightness in the chest. The height from which employs the fear of heights is called "fear level ". It is different from person to person.

Formation and handling

The emergence of acrophobia can have very different causes. The divergent appearance may complicate a simple and rapid diagnosis. Basically, acrophobia innate as a special over-sensitive, but also - for example, by an unfortunate fall - be learned. Usually the training of mental instability already in early childhood can be recognized. Apart from the possibility of a deep psychological etiology fighting the disease symptoms is now very successful acting pragmatically addressed in the form of early education venture.

Therapeutic approaches

Therapeutic treatable is afraid of heights either with medication, using various relaxation techniques or by way of psychotherapy. Here now found in the treatment repertoire hypnosis techniques input. As part of the risk education anxiety therapy is practiced with the methods of " confrontation" and the so-called " gradual approach " to the specific target problem. It's about a careful building of self-confidence and anxiety control in the reflected practical handling of the phobia form.