The treatment of acrophobia is the elimination of fear of heights, and the enjoyment of seeing the world from above, and it is done by following several useful methods in the treatment of phobia of heights.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in the elimination of phobia of altitude
Principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy
An unhelpful way of thinking can lead to psychological problems.
If people learn unbalanced behavior, it can also lead to psychological problems.
People can learn more helpful ways of thinking and behaving.
New habits can alleviate negative thoughts on the behavior and psychological state of the patient and push him to behave better, thus helping to treat phobia of altitude.
Cognitive behavioral therapy practitioners build on the theory that mental disorders arise from people's explanations of events, as well as the events themselves. Unhelpful thoughts can make it difficult for a person to act confidently in various situations.
CBT can have a positive effect on how people feel and behave and provide them with coping strategies that help them deal with challenges, eliminate fear of heights, and realize their dreams of climbing mountains or climbing towers and seeing the world from above.
Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can provide support for people with agoraphobia or other mental disorders.
The CBT course consists of a series of sessions in which a counselor and an individual or group meet regularly to find a cure for the problem of phobia of altitude.
Benefits of CBT
Identify problems more clearly.
Develop an awareness of automatic thoughts.
Challenging assumptions that lead to potentially wrong behaviors.
Distinguish between facts and irrational ideas.
Understand how past experiences can influence current feelings and beliefs.
Stop fearing the worst.
See the situation from a different perspective.
Developing a more positive way of thinking and seeing situations on the other hand.
Become more aware of your psychological state.
Not talking about the problem of phobia much.
Avoid generalizations and all-or-nothing thinking.
Stop blaming it all.
Facing fears instead of running away from them.
Medicines used to treat phobia of altitude
There are no medical treatments that help with fear of heights. However, some medications help relieve symptoms of anxiety, such as: beta blockers. These medications help by keeping your blood pressure and heart rate at a steady rate and reducing other physical symptoms of anxiety.
Benzodiazepines - These are calming drugs that can help reduce symptoms of anxiety, but are usually only indicated for a short time or for occasional use, as they can be addictive.
D-cycloserine (DCS) This drug may increase the benefits of exposure therapy. According to a study involving 22 patients who lived with various anxiety-related conditions, DCS appears to help enhance the effects of Exposure therapy.
Getting rid of fear of heights by the method of exposure to fear
It is a type of psychotherapy that can help people overcome their fears or anxiety disorders. It can help reduce feelings of anxiety, distress, or fear that a person with phobia may experience.
In fear exposure therapy, a person will be exposed to a situation that provokes feelings of fear or panic for them. Over time, controlled exposure to these fears in a safe setting can help reduce their feelings of anxiety and distress and contribute to the elimination of acrophobia.
There are several different types of exposure therapy:
in the real life
During the treatment of acrophobia, a person will encounter a phobia or a situation that causes fear or anxiety in real life. In the case of fear of heights, we may gradually push the patient to stand in higher places.
In the imagination of a phobia patient
The therapist will ask the person to visualize, in vivid detail, standing at the top of a tall mountain or building. Imagining the source of fear or anxiety in a safe place, along with the therapist's speech, can help reduce feelings of distress and fear.
Treatment of phobia of altitude by using virtual reality
Using virtual reality techniques and technology, a therapist may stimulate the experience of flying or walking the rope at an altitude. This exposes the person to a realistic and similar experience to help reduce feelings of fear associated with acrophobia.
Exposure to similar sensations
Allergic exposure therapy focuses on creating physical responses that people associate with fear and panic. We expose the patient to situations that generate feelings of fear similar to him. For example, the therapist may ask the person to run immediately, in a safe place. To create similar physical sensations without any feeling of danger, the therapist may also work with the patient to create a hierarchy of their fears, and the therapist then decides to expose the person to their smallest or biggest fears first.
These two approaches are referred to as graded exposure; Graduated exposure means that people face their less anxious fears first, before gradually developing into more difficult situations over time, and this can help people build the confidence they need to overcome a greater fear. For example, a person may first start by looking at pictures. People standing from high places and looking down, and then make him ascend to high places without looking down and so on, people may need only one or two sessions to solve the problem, or they may need more sessions.
Finally, if phobia is the barrier that prevents a person from seeing the world from above, with a little confidence and patience it can cure it.
