Acrophobia, also known as hypsophobia, is an extreme or irrational fear or phobia of heights, especially when one is not particularly high up. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort, that share similar causes and options for treatment. Acrophobia, the fear of heights, can cause intense anxiety and avoidance of height-related situations such as standing on a bridge, climbing a ladder, looking over a cliff, and flying in an airplane. Understanding its triggers and symptoms is essential for managing this common specific phobia. Acrophobia is an anxiety disorder that involves intense fear of heights. It is often treatable with exposure therapy or virtual reality exposure therapy. Acrophobia is an intense fear of heights. Learn about common symptoms and which treatments work best for overcoming this fear. Acrophobia is a common specific phobia that involves the intense fear of heights. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments, as well as what causes acrophobia. Having a fear of heights doesn’t have to control your life. Discover the symptoms and causes of acrophobia and 7 mindful steps to relax your body and feel grounded in high spaces. Fear of heights refers to distress, unease, or alarm when you are high above the ground or even when you imagine being there. For some people, the trigger is standing near an exposed edge. For others, the trigger can be a ladder, escalator, lookout point, or tall atrium. Five of the most common phobias include arachnophobia (the fear of spiders), ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes), glossophobia (the fear of public speaking), acrophobia (the fear of heights), and social phobia (the fear of social interactions). Acrophobia is an extreme fear of heights. It's one of the most common phobias. Treatment includes CBT, exposure therapy, and virtual reality. The phobia of heights is called acrophobia, and it affects roughly 1 in 20 adults. It goes well beyond the normal caution most people feel near a ledge or on a tall building.