If your fear of heights is preventing you from living a life that is as fulfilling as you would like, consider seeking therapy from Dr. Taji Huang in Glendale, CA. Although it can be challenging to manage at first, it is entirely possible to overcome this phobia with professional guidance.
Acrophobia Explained
It is common for people to be a little bit afraid of heights. But, it becomes a phobia when you are not able to engage in everyday activities, such as standing on a balcony, riding an escalator, or climbing the stairs. Acrophobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of heights that seriously impacts one or more areas of your life. This fear can be linked to trauma, a family history of anxiety disorders, and many other factors.
Signs You May Have A Severe Fear of Heights
- You start to feel anxious just by thinking about heights.
- Being exposed to heights can sometimes give you panic attacks.
- Your ability to travel is significantly limited due to an intense fear of flying or crossing bridges.
Common Acrophobia Symptoms
Much like any other phobia or anxiety-related condition, a fear of heights can be associated with numerous unpleasant physical symptoms. You might experience several of the following symptoms, or you may even have symptoms that are not listed here, which is normal too. Anxiety manifests differently for everyone, but some common sensations people can experience when they have a severe fear of heights:
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Shortness Of Breath
- Increased Sweating
- Numbness & Tingling Sensations
- Lightheadedness, Dizziness, Or Vertigo
- Nausea & Queasiness
- A Sudden Urge To Use The Restroom
- Chest Or Throat Tightness
- Chest Pain
- Feeling Like You’re About To Die
When Is It Time To Seek Help?
Many people get a bit nervous crossing a bridge, flying on a plane, or looking down from a balcony, as this is an innate human survival instinct. Height-related anxiety only becomes problematic when it starts to limit the way you live your life. Thus, even if you don’t have all the symptoms listed above, you should seek help if you feel like your fear of heights is preventing you from living your life the way you want.
How To Treat Acrophobia
If your fears are preventing you from doing things you need or want to do, you can seek therapy or treatment.
An experienced therapist or psychologist will first identify the most debilitating symptoms of your acrophobia, as well as what situations are most likely to trigger it. Next, you and your therapist will target your fears using exposure therapy, CBT, or anxiety reduction techniques.
Overcome Your Fear Of Heights
With extensive experience as a clinical psychologist and anxiety therapist, Dr. Taji Huang has helped numerous clients overcome acrophobia, agoraphobia, germophobic, and other common forms of anxiety. Contact her California office today to schedule your first appointment.