Acrophobia

[ApologiaPhoenix]

Alright. My Dad and I went to New York last Summer flying first to Chicago from TN. I'd never flown before and I was scared silly at the start. Once we were airborne, I was fine. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I look forward to when I get to fly again.

We were delayed and stayed in Chicago and I looked out from either a 6th or 9th story window and had no fear. I realized I wasn't terrified. The next day, I was even at the top (Well near the top. If you've been there, you know you can't go to the very top) of the Empire State Building and handling it just fine.

The other day though, I'm at work and decide I need to get to something and have to climb a ladder. I can't make it up to the fourth rung. This really confuses me. Why can I fly on a plane and be 6.25 miles up in the air and yet at the same time, a ladder or a staircase can terrify that?

And most importantly, how can I overcome it?

[Goth_S]

What do you think your fear of heights is grounded in?
Is there a specific aspect of high places you could point to, as a cause of your fears?

I notice that in both instances where you had no concern about height, you were incapsulated in something, either inside a building, or inside a plane. Both can create a feeling of enclosure and safety.
The ladder on the other hand, is relatively open, and the ground is all around you with only your balance and the safety of the ladder to protect you.

What aspect in specific could you point to as the root of your fears?
Perhaps understanding the nature of your fear, might help you fight it?

[Piebald]

Well, for one thing, in both the plane and on the building you are safely "secure" either behind a grate or inside an airplane. Not so on a ladder where there is a chance that you could lose your balance or mis-step and go crashing to the ground.

For the record, I am not acrophobic and I hate ladders :frown:

[ApologiaPhoenix]

I had noticed that I was enclosed in a spot, though I am still looking to see what the reason is. The same can happen with some staircases.

[MrTulip]

Alright. My Dad and I went to New York last Summer flying first to Chicago from TN. I'd never flown before and I was scared silly at the start. Once we were airborne, I was fine. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I look forward to when I get to fly again.

We were delayed and stayed in Chicago and I looked out from either a 6th or 9th story window and had no fear. I realized I wasn't terrified. The next day, I was even at the top (Well near the top. If you've been there, you know you can't go to the very top) of the Empire State Building and handling it just fine.

The other day though, I'm at work and decide I need to get to something and have to climb a ladder. I can't make it up to the fourth rung. This really confuses me. Why can I fly on a plane and be 6.25 miles up in the air and yet at the same time, a ladder or a staircase can terrify that?

And most importantly, how can I overcome it?

The basic question is if this is fear of a being at a high place or fear related to motor activity and control in a high place. From your description it appears to be the latter. People usually try to control motion more when in a high place, such as walking near a ledge for example, or climbing a ladder.

Since I have a Rogerian approach, what do you think will help you overcome your fear of heights? :teeth:

Well anyway - Given the fact that the recommendation to become a ballet dancer and dedicate your entire life to it so you could climb a ladder without fear would probably be an overkill, I recommend ice skating and activities that would cultivate greater motor control and confidence as an alternative. If it doesn't work at least you would have some fun.

As a side note here one famous psychologist, Carl Rogers, took a seminar called "Why am I entering the ministry?” and became a psychologist instead.
http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/rogers.html

Be careful :ahem: