CalvinHobbes Posted June 27 Share Posted June 27 I thought I could feel different but if anything it's getting worse, I hate heights. So we have a staircase that returns but bottom floor height is 10ft and our ceiling upstairs goes double that. I am thinking I will struggle to walk along landing. I think there was an episode of the house 100k build where they used polycarbonate to make a colourful wall. Still would have bannister but what if we framed a colourful wall behind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelvin Posted June 27 Share Posted June 27 Have you tried any of the talking therapies to try and deal with it? It’s almost impossible for any of us to answer if something as you describe will help to be honest. Could you have something mocked up say in a colourful wallpaper temporarily stuck to the wall to see if it helps before committing to something. It could make it worse by drawing your attention to it for example. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalvinHobbes Posted June 28 Author Share Posted June 28 (edited) Thanks, I have gone to great lengths to get over this. I have parascended, been on gliders, a microlight, up the Alps to the peaks, I go on a Cessna including banking on it, all fine..but a ladder or landing I can get really dizzy. It makes no sense. For example I can't go to the front of upstairs in tk max with it's glass railing. I also once fell backwards on an escalator on Debenhams, a poor man caught me. Good idea about mock up. Edited June 28 by CalvinHobbes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Jones Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 floor to ceiling spindles ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 CBT It is not just for snowflakes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 7 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said: I have gone to great lengths to get over this. I have parascended, been on gliders, a microlight, up the Alps to the peaks I don't like heights, and wouldn't be brave enough to do the things you have done. I have worked on my two storey house roof, after getting used to it. Have you spoken to your doctor about this, as it may not be a phobia. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell griffiths Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 Show us a pic of the banister area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super_Paulie Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 9 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said: Thanks, I have gone to great lengths to get over this. I have parascended, been on gliders, a microlight, up the Alps to the peaks, I go on a Cessna including banking on it, all fine..but a ladder or landing I can get really dizzy. Cherry picker, scaffold, MEWP, all no problem. As soon as I get over 6ft on a ladder I'm no good 😆. Might just be my B&Q special ladder... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joth Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 9 hours ago, CalvinHobbes said: Thanks, I have gone to great lengths to get over this. I have parascended, been on gliders, a microlight, up the Alps to the peaks, I go on a Cessna including banking on it, all fine..but a ladder or landing I can get really dizzy. It makes no sense. For example I can't go to the front of upstairs in tk max with it's glass railing. I also once fell backwards on an escalator on Debenhams, a poor man caught me. Good idea about mock up. I'm just some dude on the internet so make your own judgement, but to my mind what you describe sounds more like height vertigo (height induced dizziness) than acrophobia (fear of height) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6734202/#sec1-5title is good for definition & causes, but no so helpful on treatment; it suggests avoiding height, or lying down or crawling past. At very least, this may give you some more search terms to look for (or pump into chatGPT). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joth Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 So I thought I'd try out perplexity on [How can I overcome height vertigo] => https://www.perplexity.ai/search/How-can-I-U.DSvr_rSMeWMrdmDagkCg#0 FWIW I'm not at all convinced by this answer, it starts off clarifying the difference between vertigo and acrophobia, but then all but the first treatment seem to be tackling the latter. Answer To overcome height vertigo, you can try several strategies: Understand the difference between vertigo and fear of heights. Vertigo is a physiological response involving the inner ear, while acrophobia is a phobia or fear of heights. If you experience true vertigo, consult an ENT specialist to check for any inner ear issues. Gradually expose yourself to heights. Create a list of situations that trigger your fear, ordered from least to most anxiety-provoking. Start with the easiest scenarios and work your way up, staying in each situation until your anxiety subsides. Practice relaxation techniques. Use mindfulness or breathing exercises before, during, and after exposure to heights to help manage anxiety. Challenge your beliefs about heights. Identify and gradually challenge any irrational thoughts or beliefs that fuel your fear, such as thinking a building might collapse. Reduce safety behaviors. Gradually try to expose yourself to heights without relying on behaviors you think keep you safe, like holding onto rails or shutting your eyes. Focus on your surroundings. When in high places, engage with your environment by noticing details like colors, textures, or counting floors instead of focusing on your anxiety. Use visual strategies. When walking in high places, look a few steps ahead instead of to the sides or in the distance. If you need to look around, stop walking first and hold onto something stable. Build confidence in your equipment. Invest in reliable hiking gear and learn how to use it properly to increase your sense of security. Seek support. Talk to other hikers or people who have overcome similar fears. Their experiences and advice can be valuable. Consider professional help. If self-help methods aren't effective, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with a trained therapist can be highly beneficial in treating acrophobia. Remember, overcoming height vertigo takes time and patience. Start with small, manageable steps and gradually work your way up to more challenging situations. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joth Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 Sorry I'm possibly side-tracking this thread but I think this is hilarious. I gave perplexity a passive-aggresive slapdown for answering the wrong part of my question and it came back with a much more on-topic set of suggestions me: "sorry but most of that answer is treating Acrophobia . please can you focus the answer on height vertigo specifically?" Answer I apologize for the confusion in my previous response. You're absolutely right that I focused too much on acrophobia rather than height vertigo. Let me provide a more targeted answer for height vertigo:Height vertigo, also known as visual height intolerance or visual vertigo, is a specific condition where a person experiences dizziness or a sense of imbalance when exposed to heights, often due to visual stimuli. Here are some strategies to help overcome height vertigo: Understand the condition: Height vertigo is often triggered by visual cues and can be exacerbated by a lack of nearby visual references. Vestibular rehabilitation: This type of physical therapy can help retrain your brain to process balance information more effectively. Gaze stabilization exercises: Practice focusing on a fixed point while moving your head to improve your visual stability in high places. Proprioception training: Exercises that improve your sense of body position can help counteract the disorienting effects of height vertigo. Gradual exposure: Slowly expose yourself to heights in controlled environments, such as using virtual reality simulations or visiting observation decks with solid barriers. Visual anchoring: When in high places, try to focus on stable, nearby objects rather than looking at distant or moving scenery. Maintain good physical health: Regular exercise, particularly activities that challenge your balance like yoga or tai chi, can improve your overall stability. Consider medication: In some cases, anti-vertigo medications may be prescribed by a doctor to help manage symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): While primarily used for phobias, CBT can also help manage the anxiety often associated with height vertigo. Consult a specialist: If symptoms persist or significantly impact your daily life, consult with a neurologist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan. Remember, height vertigo is a physiological response and may have underlying causes that require medical attention. Always consult with a healthcare professional for persistent or severe symptoms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 I had the same - it’s bizarre ! Hole in ground and I walk around it on my diy scaffolding maybe 4 metres from the bottom . Build house . Put up timber frame . 4m up from that trying to walk around and I puke my guts . It’s the same distance if I fall ! 4m . I know this . But one is around a hole in the ground other is “ up high “ . Don’t understand what my brain was doing . This is the reason I didn’t put the tiles etc on the roof . I am pussy fodder … 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 (edited) I have had real vertigo for about 16 years now (after my eyes were operated on). It can be horrible and set off by the most bizarre things. I used to go rock climbing, oddly it was not a problem. But then you are really only looking very locally i.e. next foot placement and handhold, or were to attach the fall protection. Once at the top and rigged up for the other climbers to follow, my vertigo could really kick in. If only they knew I was in a constant state of panic, they would not have let me be on the safety rope. Once I had a full blown vertigo attack on a multi-stage climb. Had to be rescued, much safer than the solo free climb I was about to attempt. Edited June 28 by SteamyTea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted June 28 Share Posted June 28 Why not get your architect to design something? I’m not sure a coloured plastic wall is the way forward… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalvinHobbes Posted June 28 Author Share Posted June 28 13 hours ago, Russell griffiths said: Show us a pic of the banister area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 (edited) 13 hours ago, Pocster said: This is the reason I didn’t put the tiles etc on the roof . Same with me, built all the roof structure from inside scaffolding then got the roofers to fit the slates as I could not go there. Although on one day I did crawl to the apex and sat there to let the roofer take a picture of me as he said I needed to own it and the worst that could happen was I slid back down onto the scaffolding at gutter level. Actually over the build I have got more confident on ladders and scaffold but once outside support like that I have to get out of there. Edited June 29 by MikeSharp01 Slight addition. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jilly Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 How about putting a ceiling hanging curtain up (or getting someone else to, that is)? You could gradually desensitise yourself and pull it back gradually (or decrease the thickness/sheerness)? It could be a cheap way to save yourself from a design faux pas. Alternatively, I’ve seen vertical wooden slats with gaps used effectively, in magazines, for dividing spaces. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Ambrose Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 Well without a bannister right now, and therefore a drop, most people will find that space tingles the ‘danger’ senses. Maybe a ‘solid’ wall instead of a bannister - you might be able to imagine how high that needs to be before you’ll feel comfortable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeSharp01 Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 Before it was occupied we were invited to go to the top of the Canary wharf building, a very lonely building in those days. We got to the top in the lift and walked out into the vast open space. There was a video of the build and in it was a test on the window glass, floor to ceiling, and its fixings where they threw the equivalent of of 150Kg person at the window at 10 mph, it just bounced off. I still couldn't go within 1 meter of the edge looking out was fine, looking down was terrifying! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 As a ex skydiver, mountaineer , rock climber and builder heights never bothered me, lucky I guess 🤷♂️ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 2 hours ago, joe90 said: As a ex skydiver, mountaineer , rock climber and builder heights never bothered me, lucky I guess 🤷♂️ ‘Cause you’re short 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 This is a real thing. My BIL suffers from it. He went for a walk up a hill near the sea, fine on the way up, turned around to look out to sea. The land sloping gently downwards to the sea gave him an attack. He had to crawl down the hill on all fours. It must run in the family. I took his 2 children on a hill walk in Wales, we got to a narrow ridge between 2 peaks, the stuff that for me is the highlight of the walk. The daughter freaked out and we had to find a different way down to avoid it. I guess if this is a problem for you, don't design your house with a galleried landing with glass balustrades? design it with stairs enclosed both sides by a wall and opening to an enclosed landing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 8 hours ago, MikeSharp01 said: they threw the equivalent of of 150Kg person at the window at 10 mph, it just bounced off Were they trying to recreate the Gary Hoy scenario? My cousin is a lawyer in the same building. 4 hours ago, Pocster said: Cause you’re short Was 6' 10" before a pile-driver jump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocster Posted June 29 Share Posted June 29 20 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: Were they trying to recreate the Gary Hoy scenario? My cousin is a lawyer in the same building. Was 6' 10" before a pile-driver jump. 6” more like hawk tauh ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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