Probably, at some time in your life you have experienced dizziness, instability and even anxiety while at heights. When traveling by plane, going up to a viewpoint or looking out a tenth-story balcony… This sensation is called vertigo and is closely linked to acrophobia, which is their rational.
However, vertigo. So… how do you know if you have one or the other? we have spoken with the psychologist Ingrid Piston to help us differentiate them. In addition, we offer you two tests to find out if you suffer from vertigo or acrophobia. Leave doubts!
The differences between vertigo and acrophobia
“There are differences between vertigo and acrophobia. While vertigo develops due to a physical pathology or disease (of the ear, for example), acrophobia is an irrational fear of heights.”
They are difficult to distinguish because both vertigo and acrophobia can cause the same symptoms: tachycardia, cold sweats, insecurity, blockage… However, with vertigo it is more common to notice the unstable ground, to feel that you lose your balance; while acrophobia is characterized more by those anxiety symptoms that it causes.
One of the clearest differences as well, and which Ingrid tells us, is that vertigo can appear without having to be at altitude, although it is true that heights can aggravate the symptoms.
The difference is also in the treatment since acrophobia needs psychological therapy. “To treat acrophobia, as in other phobias, you have to progressively face what is scary, in these case heights,” says Ingrid. And this progressive exposure is done through Cognitive.
For its part, vertigo should also be monitored by a health professional, but, in this case, the intervention of a psychologist is not necessary. If it is an ear problem, for example, an otolaryngologist should be consulted.
Test to know if you have vertigo
Early detection of vertigo allows for more effective treatment. If you answer YES to five or more of the questions below, you should see a doctor to treat the problem.
– Do you occasionally have the feeling that things stir around you?
– When you are walking down the street, do you have the feeling that you are staggering from one side to the other as if you were drunk?
– Do you notice pressure or ringing in your ears?
– Do you have the feeling that at any moment you are going to fall?
– Do you feel as if you were on a boat or floating?
– When you lie down and/or get up, do you get dizzy?
– Does raising your head and looking up make?
– Do you feel dizzy when turning your head abruptly?
– Are you unable to walk because you feel dizzy?
– When you bend down to pick something up from the ground and get up, do you feel dizzy?
– Do you have difficulties to carry out daily activities and tasks because you always find yourself numb?
Test to find out if you have acrophobia
Do you think you have acrophobia? In 5 minutes, with this test, you can find out if you are afraid of heights, what is the severity of your disorder, and if you should. The steps are simple: in the different situations that we expose you, indicate the level of anxiety that you would feel and check the results!
Go walking on a pedestrian bridge of those that pass over highways.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Standing in an open window on the tenth floor of a building.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Climb to a roof.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme.
Jump from a swimming pool diving board.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Ride on the Ferris wheel in an amusement park.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Looking out the window of.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Climb to the top of a mountain.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Watching worker clean windows from outside a building.
- Calm down.
- Moderate anxiety.
- Extreme anxiety.
Results:
Majority of A: Congratulations! Acrophobia is far from you. The truth is that you get to enjoy the heights even, although on certain occasions they can cause you some nervousness. Or maybe it’s adrenaline? You love looking at a landscape from above, sitting in the window part of the plane to enjoy the takeoff, riding a roller coaster and you may even like to climb high mountain peaks as well. You do not have to worry!
Majority of B: You don’t like heights too much, although you tend to keep calm in front of them with some ease. It is true that in certain situations in which that height is high, you can feel discomfort, nervousness and a small dose of anxiety. In your case, relaxation will be effective in these circumstances. Of course, if you see that acrophobia is increasing and negatively affects your quality of life, do not hesitate to consult a psychologist.
Majority of C’s: You definitely have acrophobia as you border on panic (or perhaps have ever had one) when you’re up in the air. In your case, the best thing is a psychological consultation to help you overcome that irrational fear. Don’t worry, there is a solution!