01 July,2010 10:05 AM IST | | The Trip Team
Fear of heights can be difficult to live with but don't let that stop you from having fun. Often confused with vertigo (which is a medical condition that causes dizziness and nausea) Acrophobia is a paralysing fear of high places. Don't let a phobia let you miss out on stunning monsoon treks.
1. The first step is to control the physical symptoms. Take slow, deep breaths, which will help slow the heart rate and relax you.
2. If you have the time, meditate. A couple of minutes of meditation can chase the panicky thoughts away. It will help centre your mind and focus on the journey.
3. A long-term measure to cure yourself of heights altogether is desensitisation to heights. Start by exposing yourself to a least stressful height and move on to the really frightening ones. Can you stand on the tool, ride a glass elevator, look down from the top of your building? Take baby steps, and slowly but surely you will be able to tackle this fear.
4. Another technique to overcome this fear is called flooding, which involves treating your fear head on. It works on the theory that your fight or flight response can't last forever and once that dissipates you will realise that you had nothing to fear. This move is best done with people you trust and is inadvisable for those with heart conditions or conditions aggravated with fright.
5.u00a0If you have a paralysing fear which interferes with your daily life however, it is best to seeku00a0 help from a trained psychotherapist.
