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How To Manage Acrophobia?
Question: Dear Doctor,
I have a fear of heights. I cannot look down from a terrace of a high building nor sleep in aeroplane due to this problem, as I experience giddiness or dizziness whenever I look down from the aeroplane window. Also I frighten a lot when there are turbulences in the aeroplane.
Due to my job, I need to fly often and long distances.
Is there a way to get rid of this problem or to handle it? I had this problem right from the childhood and there was no incident which triggered it.
I have a fear of heights. I cannot look down from a terrace of a high building nor sleep in aeroplane due to this problem, as I experience giddiness or dizziness whenever I look down from the aeroplane window. Also I frighten a lot when there are turbulences in the aeroplane.
Due to my job, I need to fly often and long distances.
Is there a way to get rid of this problem or to handle it? I had this problem right from the childhood and there was no incident which triggered it.
Brief Answer:
drugs and psychological treatments.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Fear of height, technically known as Acrophobia, can be managed by both drugs as well as psychological treatments.
When you are about to travel in aeroplane or you expect that you have to go to some height, tablet propranolol (prescription drug) taken half an hour before will control your anxiety.
Other than this, psychological treatment like systematic desensitization work very well for such phobias. A psychiatrist/psychologist will help you in this. You will be exposed to hierarchy of anxiety provoking stimuli and taught to control anxiety.
Hipe this helps.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
drugs and psychological treatments.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
Fear of height, technically known as Acrophobia, can be managed by both drugs as well as psychological treatments.
When you are about to travel in aeroplane or you expect that you have to go to some height, tablet propranolol (prescription drug) taken half an hour before will control your anxiety.
Other than this, psychological treatment like systematic desensitization work very well for such phobias. A psychiatrist/psychologist will help you in this. You will be exposed to hierarchy of anxiety provoking stimuli and taught to control anxiety.
Hipe this helps.
Feel free to discuss further.
Thanks.
Dr. Shubham Mehta, MD(Psychiatry).
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Pradeep Vitta
Thanks a lot Dr. Mehta for answering my question.
Can you suggest me whether any meditation technique will be helpful or should I go in Giant Wheels to get used to heights? Do you have any good books to help me?
Can you suggest me any Psychologist in XXXXXXX who can help me in this regards?
Thanks again,
Can you suggest me whether any meditation technique will be helpful or should I go in Giant Wheels to get used to heights? Do you have any good books to help me?
Can you suggest me any Psychologist in XXXXXXX who can help me in this regards?
Thanks again,
Brief Answer:
slow and deep breathing exercises.
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome.
Simple relaxation exercises like slow and deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation exercises can help.
Going directly in the giant wheels might lead you to panic attacks. So systematic desensitization will be a better choice.
There are some books which will help you:
1. Anxiety and phobias workbook by Edmund Bourne.
2. How to cure fear and phobias by XXXXXXX white.
Sorry that I do not know much about psychologists in XXXXXXX because I come from state of XXXXXXX in North XXXXXXX
slow and deep breathing exercises.
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome.
Simple relaxation exercises like slow and deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation exercises can help.
Going directly in the giant wheels might lead you to panic attacks. So systematic desensitization will be a better choice.
There are some books which will help you:
1. Anxiety and phobias workbook by Edmund Bourne.
2. How to cure fear and phobias by XXXXXXX white.
Sorry that I do not know much about psychologists in XXXXXXX because I come from state of XXXXXXX in North XXXXXXX
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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