Acrophobia: meaning, definitions and examples
๐จ
acrophobia
[หakrษหfษสbษชษ ]
Definition
fear of heights
Acrophobia is an irrational fear of heights, which can cause intense anxiety and panic attacks when confronted with tall buildings, bridges, or other high places. People with acrophobia may avoid situations where they have to look down from a height, and their fear can significantly impact their daily life.
Synonyms
fear of heights, height phobia, vertigo.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| acrophobia |
Used in medical or psychological contexts to describe a diagnosed phobia of heights.
|
| fear of heights |
Commonly used in everyday conversation and not necessarily in a clinical sense.
|
| height phobia |
Less commonly used, but can still be found in medical or psychological contexts. It is straightforward and self-explanatory.
|
| vertigo |
Refers specifically to the sensation of dizziness or spinning caused by a problem with the inner ear or sensory pathway. Can be connected with heights but is not limited to it.
|
Examples of usage
- Mary's acrophobia prevented her from enjoying the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
- His acrophobia made it difficult for him to climb the ladder to change the lightbulb.
Interesting Facts
Etymology
- The word comes from the Greek 'akros', meaning 'high' or 'topmost', and 'phobos', meaning 'fear'.
- In the early 20th century, psychological terms began to adopt Greek roots, which is why we see 'phobia' combined with different words.
Psychology
- Acrophobia is one of the most common specific phobias, affecting up to 5% of the population.
- The fear can trigger physical reactions, such as sweating, shaking, or even difficulty breathing, when a person is at a height.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used to help individuals overcome this fear by gradually exposing them to heights.
Culture
- In movies and literature, characters with acrophobia often experience dramatic moments that heighten suspense, such as standing on the edge of a cliff.
- This fear can influence personal choices, such as avoiding jobs that require working on skyscrapers or traveling to places with high viewpoints.
Statistics
- Research shows that people who have other anxiety disorders are more likely to suffer from acrophobia.
- Surveys indicate that 20% of people report a fear of heights that impacts their daily lives or activities.
Treatment
- Exposure therapy is an effective treatment method where individuals are slowly introduced to heights in a safe environment.
- Virtual reality technology is being utilized to help treat phobias like acrophobia by simulating high places.
Translations
Translations of the word "acrophobia" in other languages:
๐ต๐น acrofobia
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคเคเคพเค เคเคพ เคกเคฐ
๐ฉ๐ช Hรถhenangst
๐ฎ๐ฉ acrophobia
๐บ๐ฆ ะฐะบัะพัะพะฑัั
๐ต๐ฑ akrofobia
๐ฏ๐ต ้ซๆๆๆ็
๐ซ๐ท acrophobie
๐ช๐ธ acrofobia
๐น๐ท akrofobi
๐ฐ๐ท ๊ณ ์๊ณตํฌ์ฆ
๐ธ๐ฆ ููุจูุง ุงูุฃู ุงูู ุงูู ุฑุชูุนุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ akrofobie
๐ธ๐ฐ akrofรณbia
๐จ๐ณ ๆ้ซ็
๐ธ๐ฎ akrofobija
๐ฎ๐ธ hรฆรฐarfรฆlni
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะฐะบัะพัะพะฑะธั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแ แแคแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ akrofobiya
๐ฒ๐ฝ acrofobia
Word Frequency Rank
At position #41,261, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.