Where does Acrophobia Come From?
Although experts have different theories, there is no clear diagnosis of what causes this phobia. Some experts believe acrophobics inherit this fear from ancestors. Some believe it stems from cavemen who feared falling off of cliffs. Others think childhood experiences have triggered the fear which then manifested itself into a phobia. Whatever the cause, it can disrupt a person’s life. When placed in situations that trigger my phobia, my heart rate increases. My temperature rises and I become dizzy and nauseous. Mentally I perceive the situation to be far more dangerous than it really is. I have learned over the years to treat my fear through avoidance. Choosing to drive to vacation spots to avoid flying, never riding big rides at amusement parks and always staying on a lower floor in hotels are just a few of the ways I have learned to cope with my fear. I have been perfectly comfortable dealing with my fear until now. I find myself smothering my children with my own fear. This became
