Head for heights

Dizziness freedom means that you have no fear of heights and no particular susceptibility to vertigo. Vertigo is in contrast to the fear of heights is a normal phenomenon and not morbid. If you find yourself in locations exposed at a higher altitude above the ground, one feels one's own posture as unstable. The normal height vertigo can also trigger anxiety and vegetative symptoms such as sweats.

Of vertigo is often assumed when going hiking or mountain climbing as a requirement for a particular route. Also for the practice of certain professions heights needed, such as for the chimney sweep or roofer.

Causes of vertigo

For vertigo, there are comprehensible biological causes. Firstly, there is the innate so-called " cliff " phenomenon, which describes that toddlers as well as many animals avoid great depths, even without having previously had a bad experience.

On the other vertigo is caused by a destabilization of posture, which is caused by a too large distance of the eyes from the nearest visible solid object and is also known as Distance dizziness. In order to see the object in space, the head starts to sway imperceptibly and position reflexes of the body sways then something with. At the same time, the body stabilizes its position on the periphery of the retina and on down gaze now lacks this stabilizing factor. This physiological fluctuation is compensated by the organ of equilibrium and the propriozeptischen nerves in the normal case. However, by example, in injury to the sense of balance, the risk of falling actually be increased.

Trainability of the fear of heights

Normal vertigo decreases as opposed to fear of heights in habituation, in that vertigo is freedom to a certain extent trainable, depending on the biological disposition. Even experienced climbers have to get used to the start of the season back in exposed places.

The following measures can help in critical situations:

• As far as possible, wide and deep eyes should be avoided and the concentration can be focused on the next steps.
• It is to avoid standing in exposed places freely without holding on.
• When you look down, you should ensure that high-contrast objects in the lateral field of vision are, as the stabilization of the situation on the periphery of the retina occurs.
• A quick look at the depth less affected because of the vertigo arises only after a few seconds.
• The observation of moving objects, such as clouds or birds, or a view through binoculars increases the feeling of vertigo and is not recommended.
• Extreme head positions should be avoided in order not to complicate the sense organs work even.