Understanding Acrophobia, or Fear of Heights

Understanding Acrophobia, or Fear of Heights

Exposure therapy

One of the most effective therapies for certain phobias is exposure therapy. You’ll work with a therapist in this kind of treatment to gradually expose yourself to the things you’re frightened of.

You may begin treating acrophobia by seeing images taken from the perspective of a person inside a towering building. You may view videos of individuals navigating tightropes, climbing, or navigating confined spaces.

Eventually, you might climb a stepladder or step out onto a balcony. You should have by now mastered relaxation methods that will enable you to face your fear when it arises.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

If you don’t feel ready to undertake exposure treatment, CBT could be able to assist. With the help of a therapist, you’ll use CBT to confront and reframe unfavorable perceptions about heights.

This method could still include some exposure to heights, but it usually only happens during treatment sessions, which are safe environments.

Medication

There aren’t any drugs made specifically to treat phobias.

The following medicines, however, can aid with anxiety and panic symptoms:

  • Beta-blockers. These drugs assist by lowering other bodily signs of anxiety as well as keeping your blood pressure and heart rate constant.
  • Benzodiazepines. They are sedative medications. They can aid in reducing anxiety symptoms, but because to their potential for addiction, they are usually only taken briefly or seldom.
  • D-cycloserine (DCS). This medication could enhance the advantages of exposure treatment. DCS seems to assist increase the benefits of exposure treatment, according to a 2017 literature reviewTrusted Source of 22 trials including persons who had various anxiety-related illnesses.
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