We are searching data for your request:
Upon completion, a link will appear to access the found materials.
If you notice that your child does not want to ride on the swings, does not like to be put on his shoulders or has trouble climbing stairs, you may be afraid of heights.
Do not worry because it is something that can be fixed over time. In the case in which this fear does not subside, it can be treated with behavioral or cognitive therapies. We tell you what it is and how to treat fear of heights in children.
Let's start by defining acrophobia, which is the exaggerated fear of heights. Children who have it begin to feel bad when they are exposed to any of the following situations:
- Look out a window or terrace of a tall building.
- Fear of going up in an elevator.
- Fear of riding on swings.
- Fear of riding attractions.
- Fear of climbing a mountain.
- Fear of climbing hills.
- Fear of being in a viewpoint.
Acrophobia can appear when the child begins to crawl and walk and to face situations that pose a danger to him.
It is normal for children with a fear of heights to crouch or fall to the ground in an attempt to lower the body's center of gravity.
The question that many couples ask is: is fear of heights the same as vertigo? No. Vertigo is a disorder of the vestibular system, found in the ear and which is related to balance and spatial control. When the child suffers from vertigo, he feels that the objects around him revolve around him. It is a false sense of movement.
The person who has vertigo does not have to fear heights, but suddenly encounters that sensation. You may dare to climb a tree or a rooftop and suddenly find yourself feeling uncomfortable in that situation.
To find out if your child is afraid of heights, you can watch out for certain very common symptoms in all these cases. These are the symptoms that your child may feel when exposed to a high place:
- Panic.
- Anxiety.
- dizziness
- Anguish.
- Paralysis.
- Palpitations.
- sweating
- Muscle tension.
- Headache.
- Nausea.
To treat acrophobia, there are different methods:
1. Gradual exposure.
The best alternative is to expose children in a controlled way to heights, little by little, so that they get used to the situation and see that there is really no real threat to them. If you spend a quiet time at a considerable height, you can experience a sense of normalcy and security that will make you feel more comfortable in the following exhibitions.
They can start with a swing and little by little face them at greater heights such as a balcony, but, yes, always without forcing them.
If the child is unable to overcome it, it is better that you request the help of a professional.
2. Cognitive therapy.
With cognitive therapy it is explained to the little ones that there are no real causes for feeling bad in a high place. They are told that it is just something that is in their imagination and that it does not pose a threat of any kind.
3. Relaxation.
Acrophobia can be overcome with relaxation, breathing and meditation techniques that help the child to cope with the stress that these situations cause.
Some parents, fearful that their children will hurt themselves, may may have influenced unconsciously in the phobia that your child has developed.
For this reason, it is very important to take care of the language and not to alarm or scare the child every time he climbs to a high place. We must warn them of the danger, but not overdo it or lose control.
Phobias too They can appear from a lived experience in which they have had a bad time and when something similar is repeated the child remembers it and becomes blocked.
There are some phobias that they imitate for contemplating the reactions of someone in the environment.
But in any case, we have already seen that it is something reversible and that it can be overcome with different methods and above all with love and patience.
You can read more articles similar to The fear of heights in children, in the category of Fears on site.
