Height Phobia

What is a Phobia?

A phobia is an irrational fear of something in the environment or in the person’s mind. In many cases, a phobia develops after exposure to certain elements or experiences. Some people might have a phobia involving heights, with others having issues on elevators, driving through tight spaces, or even around fire. While some phobias are natural or inherited, some can only be overcome through therapy or medication.

As far as possible, avoid things that can cause you anxiety. If you’re worried about heights with your partner, go up together to work together. Don’t do it alone.

What Causes a Phobia?

The causes of a phobia may vary from one person to another but are usually quite simple. The most common fears include:

1) Fear of falling

2) Fear of falling over

3) Fear of hurting oneself

4) Fear of heights

5) Discomfort from being too close

6) Feeling like things fall from the sky

7) Being afraid of heights in general

8) Not being able to stand high enough

9) Unnecessary fear

10) A lack of confidence

11) Anxiety caused by environmental conditions

These are all examples of a phobia that could manifest in any of these ways. However, if someone has a phobia that affects their everyday life, then they need professional help. Psychologists can offer counseling and guidance for this type of phobia.

Most people have  at least one fear:

You might think that having a phobia means you have everything to worry about. After all, no one wants to climb stairs, drive in traffic, or try out new heights, right? And yet, there is actually nothing wrong with feeling anxious. Most people have at least one phobia that they don’t realize they have, and when a child does not understand why they feel anxious, parents often seek professional support.

While your doctor or psychologist will recommend treatment at first, it is often worth trying to address the root cause of the phobia. It can take time before symptoms disappear. But once they do, the difference is palpable.

Reasons why your friend will be worried about heights:

You may know your friend will be nervous when they try out the latest bar hop challenge at a local pub. Or maybe they went up the Eiffel Tower a few times during her early teenage years. You just know her friend is going to be excited. But sometimes, knowing how your friend feels comes from her subconscious, so here are four reasons to suspect she will be nervous when she tries the highest climb ever (or anything else):

1) She doesn’t believe heights are dangerous

2) She knows she will not reach the top no matter what

3) There are so many more ways to climb than just climbing

4) She doesn’t want to embarrass herself

Your friend may still be young, but seeing past childhood friends climb into the unknown is always a warning sign. Perhaps the only reason she hasn’t tried the jump yet is because she can see they have done it on TV. Maybe the fact that she believes a leap of faith will be the same may come across as arrogance, which is exactly what it is. Either way, it would likely make her nervous.

Some children face challenges when they first turn 10-years-old. Like anything from age 8 onwards, there are plenty of opportunities to build courage. For example, let them try cutting bread with scissors or a knife. Allow them to run naked for a long time without being embarrassed. Then let them put mud in their pants. Let them wear glasses on the bus, train, or subway. This builds physical courage, which helps form other skills later. That’s not to say these exercises are easy. At the end of the day, the point is to give kids courage and create fun activities that allow them to learn new skills while developing self-esteem and confidence.

How to overcome a phobia like Height phobia?

If your friend struggles with heights and finds themselves constantly thinking about running to catch the plane or building skyscrapers without realizing how fast they are moving, don’t push them on how to achieve those goals. Instead, encourage them if they have a phobia, but don’t push for it because this can result in more problems down the road. Children don’t generally need to be told this, though – most tend to discover it on their own. So instead of making it scary for them to do something, help them explore options that sound normal or safe. When children are unable to enjoy learning and exploring in school, they are less likely to have a great education later in life. Try helping them explore art projects, clubs, games, art, and books. These types of things will help develop independence, curiosity, and imagination.