Overcoming Phobias

Irina Shlionskaya

Many people suffer from some kind of phobia. Some are afraid of open spaces, others are closed. Someone is afraid of spiders, dogs or rats. Someone - fire or water. But there are fears that are difficult to explain. For example, how can you be afraid of stairs? After all, we have to deal with them literally at every step. Nevertheless, such a phobia exists.

There are people who are afraid of heights. They will never dare to climb to the top floor of a high-rise building. But not all stairs are so high. So experts distinguish the fear of stairs into a separate variety - climacophobia. British Richard Smith is now over 50. At the age of three, he fell down the stairs in the house where he lived with his parents. Since then, the fear of stairs began to haunt him.

When the boy was eight years old, he went on an excursion to one of the castles with his school class. And, although little Dick really wanted to go there, he could not enter there, because he had to climb the stairs.

He began skipping classes if he needed to climb stairs to class. In physical education classes, he could not climb the Swedish wall, and during swimming, he refused to enter the pool, because there was a descent down the stairs. Peers laughed at Dick, but he could not do anything about his phobia. 

When he was 15, Dick began dating a pretty girl of the same age. One day she suggested meeting at the water tower. But he could not go there, because the stairs also led to the tower. Of course, he could not confess his fear to the girl. She got offended.

The next time he saw his girlfriend was sitting on the steps of the bus. Dick wanted to go up to her and explain, but the girl went upstairs and looked contemptuously at the failed gentleman. 

Richard had to constantly struggle with his phobia and hide it. He even climbed the bell tower when it was time to propose to his future wife. But during their honeymoon, he and Katherine had to walk a lot around the city, and the newlywed realized that something was wrong with her husband.

It was only at a fairly mature age that Smith finally went to see a psychotherapist. The fact is that at that time he was writing a book about the first British balloonist James Sandler, and his fears prevented him from working on the book. The psychiatrist diagnosed him with two phobias at once: acrophobia - fear of heights and climacophobia - fear of stairs. Of course, all this was due to a fall in early childhood. 

As a therapy, the specialist offered the man a shock method - to climb the high tower in Oxford and bend over the railing. Oddly enough, this helped Richard. The fear of stairs is gone. Soon Smith climbed the bell tower for the second time in his life and was able to enjoy a beautiful view.

And after some time, he even managed to realize his old dream - to fly in a hot air balloon. In most cases, phobias are still curable. At least psychotherapy can significantly alleviate the condition of those suffering from various fears.