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Environmental Phobias

Batophobia – Fear Near High Buildings

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Fear of Being Close to High Buildings

Do your palms become sweaty and your mouth sandpaper dry at the mere thought of tall buildings? Do you fear that a high building is going to collapse on you?

Do you avoid areas with high buildings, or even videos or photos that feature them? Does the thought of going near a tall building make you nauseous?

If so, you may have a fear of being close to high buildings. While some of us might steer clear from the edge of a skyscraper, even a photo of one can send individuals with batophobia into a frenzy.

However, you’re not alone. Many people suffer from some sort of phobia. If you want to know more, take a look at a complete list of phobias and meanings.

Also, you don’t have to live in fear. Batophobia is treatable, and you can learn to live a fear-free life.

What Is Batophobia?

Batophobia is a fear of tall buildings or of being close to one. Batophobia comes from the Greek words, bato, meaning passable, and phobia, meaning fear.

Individuals with phobias are genuinely afraid of the object of their fear, rather than disgusted by it.

Is it a phobia of fear or disgust?

Those suffering from batophobia live in constant fear of a building or other object falling on them. They are afraid of going near tall structures like bridges and even mountains or tall trees in fear that the structure itself or something above it will fall on them, crushing them. They may also have other phobias like fear of big things, and fear of large objects (megalophobia).

Some feel extreme anguish and at times even have panic attacks. To avoid feeling the fear symptoms, they may make major life changes, such as leaving the city and moving to rural areas.

Many choose to live in one-story houses and may even avoid elevators and stairs. Oftentimes, when the phobia has advanced, the sufferer may even avoid being in any heightened place, including a stage.

 

What Causes Batophobia?

The exact cause of batophobia is not known. However, like most specific phobias, it is often a combination of several factors that leads to the development of batophobia.

Most people are not born with the phobia of tall buildings. It develops later in life after a triggering event. However, most people don’t remember when the phobia started or what the trigger was.

Those with a genetic predisposition to mental illnesses have a higher risk of developing phobias. A person who has a family history of anxiety disorders is more likely to develop phobias as well.

News stories are another suspected trigger of phobia. Reading about people being buried alive in a building collapse or someone dying after being hit by something that fell from a tall structure can lead to a fear of tall buildings. This can later progress to a phobia.

The fear can also be caused by looking down from a tall building. When looking down, a person may be overwhelmed by the sheer height and fear they may fall.

 

Batophobia Symptoms

The symptoms of batophobia vary from one individual to another and depend on the severity and advancement of the phobia. While some may experience only mild symptoms, others may experience panic attacks.

Physical Symptoms

  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Elevated heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • Headache
  • Dry mouth
  • Hyperventilation
  • Dizziness

Psychological Symptoms

  • Anxiety at the thought of a tall building or structure
  • Fear of death
  • Fear of getting hurt
  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Panic attacks

 

Batophobia Treatment

Batophobia, like other specific phobias, does not have a definitive treatment. However, specific phobia studies show that therapies often prove helpful in managing the fear and its symptoms.

Self-Help

Self-help works well, especially if your phobia is in the beginning phases, and you are experiencing only mild symptoms.

If you suspect you are suffering from a phobia, journaling will help you realize what you’re feeling, what triggers a reaction, how you feel during and after an episode, and more. A journal will also help you track the frequency and intensity of your phobia.

You can also talk about it with someone close to you and ask them for help. Sharing your experiences with a trusted friend or family member can help ease the stress of phobia.

Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing, and meditation are also helpful methods. These techniques keep you calm and composed in times of stress. You can try relaxation techniques during an episode; however, it will take time before you master calming yourself and reducing the symptoms, so be patient with yourself.

Exposure is another technique you can try. Most realize their fear is irrational and exists only in their heads. With this in mind, they can work to gradually expose themselves to the source of their fear in an attempt to overcome it.

As a note, exposure therapy is a technique professionals practice in a safe, controlled environment. When trying it on your own, remember not to push yourself too much, and stop if your anxiety increases.

 

Professional Help

When self-help isn’t enough, seek professional help as soon as possible. A mental health professional will be able to assess your condition and prepare a treatment plan tailored for you.

There are many therapies available for the treatment of batophobia. They are used singly or in combination, depending on the severity of your fear.

Some of the most common therapies are:

  • Behavioral therapy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Relaxation therapy
  • Cognitive therapy

Medication

In rare cases, therapists may incorporate medication as part of the treatment plan. Anti-anxiety or antidepressant drugs may be prescribed.

Medication is used only to treat the symptoms of the phobia, not the phobia itself. Once the client starts responding to therapy, medication is tapered while other therapy continues.

 

How to Cope with Batophobia

Living with a phobia isn’t easy. It affects your daily and social life and can leave you feeling afraid and isolated. However, by taking small steps, you can make drastic changes and help yourself regain confidence.

Always remember that your fear is irrational and that it doesn’t pose a real threat. Work with family and friends and, if necessary, a professional, to help you become a happier, healthier you.

 

Conclusion

Batophobia, the fear of being close to high buildings, can affect your daily life. But don’t avoid the object of your fear—avoidance can worsen your condition. Instead, seek help and work to recover from the effects of the phobia.

FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any 'fear of' or phobia. If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, we welcome your submission. If the story fits with our content and guidelines, we'll add it to our site.
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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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