1. < Mental Health

Anyone with fear of heights treatment experience?

Posted by baguette @baguette, Mar 13 9:25am

I have suffered from acrophobia for decades, and have successfully used the avoidance strategy. However, my sister now lives in an area where I need to go over a bridge that is cited as one of the scariest in the U.S. I drove over it six times and refuse to do it again, it was so stressful. I have heard that exposure therapy and cognitive behavior therapy is good for acrophobia. No one in my local area has experience in treating this phobia. They claim they can address it just like they would general anxiety.

Has anyone here successfully been treated for acrophobia through therapy? If so, which one, and could you summarize the steps in the therapy?

Has anyone done the virtual reality fear of heights programs? If so, did they work for you? If so, could you expand a little beyond saying yes?

Thank you!

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Mentor
Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | Mar 14 11:15pm

As a former therapist (a long time ago) the technique called systematic desensitization comes to mind as helpful for treating phobias. It is basically slowly and gradually increasing exposure to the thing causing the phobia. Think baby steps such as imagining the thing until that becomes comfortable. Then advance to something a bit more risky. Increase the exposure as comfort and confidence is achieved. Do this in a safe, secure place with a trusted helper. You can take breaks and engage in something else as needed. It takes time to unlearn a phobia. It is also a good idea to replace the phobia with something that is positive, healthy, enjoyable and incompatible with the phobia. As you make progress reward the little victories along the way.

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baguette | @baguette | Mar 15 10:13am
In reply to @cehunt57 "As a former therapist (a long time ago) the technique called systematic desensitization comes to mind..." + (show)
@cehunt57

As a former therapist (a long time ago) the technique called systematic desensitization comes to mind as helpful for treating phobias. It is basically slowly and gradually increasing exposure to the thing causing the phobia. Think baby steps such as imagining the thing until that becomes comfortable. Then advance to something a bit more risky. Increase the exposure as comfort and confidence is achieved. Do this in a safe, secure place with a trusted helper. You can take breaks and engage in something else as needed. It takes time to unlearn a phobia. It is also a good idea to replace the phobia with something that is positive, healthy, enjoyable and incompatible with the phobia. As you make progress reward the little victories along the way.

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Thanks for the road map. I can't find a therapist in the area experienced in treating acrophobia so I will try your advice on my own and see how far it gets me!

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