Acrophobia, as with all specific phobias, is an extreme irrational fear. In this case, it's a fear of heights. If being on high places makes you uncomfortable, it may just be a rational fear, or caution. If you refuse to go on any high places or, when finding yourself on a high place, begin panicking and clutching onto things that seem secure...it's likely a phobia.
The popular belief is that this phobia comes from the normal fear of injury or death due to a fall. Unfortunately, when this fear gets so extreme as to be a phobia, the panic that can result could cause the very thing feared.
Acrophobia can be treated medically with a variety of drugs. Others have tried hypnotherapy. Of you suffer severe acrophobia and have been unable to make progress at home, it is advisable to seek a doctor's help. Please see to it that the doctor combines the medicine with a therapy designed to free you of this phobia and the medicine eventually.
As with all phobias, our brains "overreact" to a fear-generating event...in this case, heights. Often, by facing these fears a little at a time, we can retrain our brains to react normally. This can be done with acrophobia by gradually working our way up a ladder, up exterior flights of stairs, using see-through elevators, gondolas, ski lifts, para-sailing, ballooning, airplanes. You start with a small, comfortable height and work your way up, slowly. I still have to remind myself I'm not in danger every time I speak publicly. If you do it gradually and repeatedly, you should be able to overcome this phobia.
Mental Health conditions can be frustrating and painful. We both know there are no guaranteed cures or quick fixes, whether medicine, nutrition, herbs or anything else. Many illnesses are "incurable" from the medical standpoint. Complete healing is possible...including mind, body and spirit...from God. If you want God's help with this or any problem, go to Help From God.
