acrophobia

(redirected from acrophobic)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

Related to acrophobic: Altophobia

acrophobia

[ak″ro-fo´be-ah]

irrational fear of heights.

ac·ro·pho·bi·a

(ak-rō-fō'bē-ă), Do not confuse this word with acarophobia.

Morbid fear of heights.

[acro- + G. phobos, fear]

acrophobia

/ac·ro·pho·bia/ (ak″ro-fo´be-ah) irrational fear of heights.

acrophobia

(ăk′rə-fō′bē-ə)

An abnormal fear of high places.

ac′ro·phobe′ n.

ac′ro·pho′bic (-fō′bĭk) adj. & n.

acrophobia

Etymology: Gk, akron + phobos, fear

a pathological fear or dread of high places that results in extreme anxiety. Pyschotherapy attempts to overcome or eliminate the phobic response. See also obsession, phobia, flooding.

acrophobia

Morbid fear of heights.

acrophobia

Psychology An abnormal or morbid fear of heights. See Phobia.

ac·ro·pho·bi·a

(ak'rŏ-fō'bē-ă)

Morbid fear of heights.

[acro- + G. phobos, fear]

Patient discussion about acrophobia

Q. i suffer from fear of heights ... is there any sociological way to treat it and make it less effective?

A. Fear of heights is a very common specific phobia, in psychiatric terms. Nowadays the best way of therapy is called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),in which a person learns how to deal with the phobia through cognitive thinking in steps. It is a very recommended method in psychology/ psychiatry these days.

More discussions about acrophobia

Mentioned in ?

References in periodicals archive ?

5 million adults in the UK suffer from acrophobia, an extreme fear of heights, which means a large proportion of viewers will sympathise with this one-off documentary featuring five acrophobics attempting to conquer their phobia.

WE LOVE DOCUMENTARY

Vertigo (1958) James Stewart and Kim Novak star in this dizzying web of mistaken identity, passion and murder involving an acrophobic detective and the mysterious blonde he rescues from the San Francisco bay.

*UPDATE* From Universal Studios Home Entertainment: Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection

Over the years, Mr Hilton-Barber has shown his lack of personal limits, not only in taking on such grueling expeditions while blind, but he also suffers from claustrophobia and is acrophobic, making some of his challenges all the more impressive.

Pushing the limits: blind explorer, adventurer and inspirational public speaker, Miles Hilton-Barber will be capturing the imagination of delegates at the BCLA this year. OT's Chris Donkin caught up with the man himself to find out what attendees can expect

While the subjects who have higher levels of claustrophobic fear underestimate horizontal distances, those who have more acrophobic fear overestimate vertical distances.

A sampling of interesting findings in the mental health field

It wasn't until someone asked how I'd managed painting years ago given my acrophobic nature, that I remembered I usually stand on the chest of drawers.