The panic of being at a height can manifest itself in many ways
Probably, sometime in your life you have experienced dizziness, instability and even anxiety while in the heights. When traveling by plane, when going up to a viewpoint or when looking out of a balcony on a tenth floor … This feeling is called vertigo and is closely linked to acrophobia , which is the irrational and excessive fear of heights .
However, vertigo and acrophobia are not the same . So … how do you know if you suffer from one or the other? In Diario Femenino we have spoken with the psychologist Ingrid Pistono to help us differentiate them. In addition, we offer you two tests to find out if you suffer from vertigo or acrophobia . Get out of doubt!
The differences between vertigo and acrophobia
“There are differences between vertigo and acrophobia . While vertigo develops due to a physical pathology or disease (of the ear, for example), acrophobia is an irrational fear of heights ”, Ingrid Pistono tells us.
They are difficult to distinguish because both vertigo and acrophobia can cause the same symptoms : tachycardia , cold sweats, insecurity, blockage… However, with vertigo it is more common to notice unstable ground, to feel that you lose your balance; While acrophobia is characterized more by those anxiety symptoms that it causes.
One of the clearest differences also and that Ingrid tells us is that vertigo can appear without the need to be in height , although it is true that heights can aggravate the symptoms.
The difference is also in the treatment since acrophobia needs psychological therapy . “To treat acrophobia as in other phobias, you have to progressively confront what is scary, in this case the heights,” says Ingrid. And this progressive exposure is done through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy .
For its part, vertigo should also be monitored by a health professional, but, in this case, the intervention of a psychologist is not necessary. If it is an ear problem, for example, an otolaryngologist should be consulted .
Test to know if you have vertigo
Early detection of vertigo allows for more effective treatment. If you answer YES to five or more of the questions below, you should see a doctor to treat the problem.
– From time to time you have the feeling that things revolve around you ?
– When you are walking down the street, do you have the feeling that you are staggering from one side to the other as if you were drunk?
– Do you notice pressure or ringing in your ears ?
– Do you have the feeling that at any moment you are going to fall ?
– Do you feel like you are on a boat or floating ?
– When you lie down and / or sit up, do you get dizzy?
– Does lifting your head and looking up make you dizzy ?
– Do you feel dizzy when you turn your head sharply?
– Are you unable to walk around your house in the dark because you feel dizzy?
– When you bend down to pick up something from the floor and sit up, do you feel dizzy?
– Do you have difficulties to carry out daily activities and tasks because you always find yourself dull?
Test to know if you suffer from acrophobia
Do you think you suffer from acrophobia? In 5 minutes, with this test, you can find out if you have a fear of heights, how serious your disorder is, and if you should go to therapy . The steps are simple: in the different situations that we expose you, indicate the level of anxiety you would feel and check the results!
+Go walking along a footbridge of passing over highways.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+Stand in an open window on the 10th floor of a building.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+Go up to a roof.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety .
+Jump from the diving board of a swimming pool.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+Ride the Ferris wheel at an amusement park.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+ Look out the window of an airplane .
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+Climb to the top of a mountain .
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
+Watching an operator clean windows from outside a building.
A. Quiet.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Extreme anxiety.
RESULTS :
+A Majority : Congratulations! Acrophobia is very far from you. The truth is that you get to enjoy the heights even, although on certain occasions they can cause you some nervousness. Or maybe it’s adrenaline? You love observing a landscape from above, sitting in the window of the plane to enjoy takeoff, riding a roller coaster and you may even like to climb high mountain peaks. You do not have to worry!
+Majority of B : Heights are not very funny to you, although you tend to remain calm in the face of them with some ease. It is true that in certain situations in which that height is high you can feel discomfort, nervousness and a small dose of anxiety. In your case, relaxation and breathing techniques will be effective in these circumstances. Of course, if you see that acrophobia is increasing and negatively affects your quality of life, do not hesitate to consult a psychologist.
+Most of C : There is no doubt that you suffer from acrophobia since you border on the panic attack (or perhaps you have ever had it) when you are in the heights. In your case, the best thing is the psychological consultation to help you overcome that irrational fear. Don’t worry, it has a solution!
