Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Escalaphobia?CausesEscalator MythsTreatmentHow to CopeTakeaway

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Escalaphobia?

Causes

Escalator Myths

Treatment

How to Cope

Takeaway

The fear of escalators is a type of specific phobia known as escalaphobia. People with this fear don’t just dislike or feel uncomfortable around elevators; they experience symptoms of intense fear and distress that can make it difficult to function.

Estimates suggest around 10,000 escalator-related injuries resulting in emergency room treatment occur each year.Escalators can be dangerous, particularly when used improperly, so it perhaps is not surprising that some people may develop this type of phobia.

At a GlancePeople who have a fear of elevators often avoid situations where they might encounter the source of their fear. This fear often stems from negative experiences, but genetics, other anxiety disorders, and physical or visual conditions may also play a part. While this condition can be distressing, there are effective treatments that can help.

At a Glance

People who have a fear of elevators often avoid situations where they might encounter the source of their fear. This fear often stems from negative experiences, but genetics, other anxiety disorders, and physical or visual conditions may also play a part. While this condition can be distressing, there are effective treatments that can help.

Escalaphobia is the fear of escalators and is surprisingly common. According to the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation (EESF), over 35,000 escalators in the United States and Canada move 245 million people per day.

Despite their frequent usage, escalators are scary for some people. The fear of escalators may be mild or severe, and the reasons behind the fear range from misunderstandings about their construction to the perception of moving too quickly.

The fear of elevators is not a diagnosis in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5-TR). It is considered a type of specific phobia, which is an intense and excessive fear of a specific object, event, or situation.

What Causes a Fear of Escalators

There are a few different factors that can play a role in the development of escalophobia:

Physical Conditions

For this reason, it is always important to see a doctor to rule out any physical causes of a possible escalator phobia.

The fear of escalators is often, though not always, related to anotherphobia. Some related phobias can include:

Having a family history of anxiety or other phobias may increase your risk of developing a specific phobia, such as escalaphobia.

Negative Experiences with Escalators

Previous negative experiences with the feared object or situation trigger many phobias.If you ever caught a shoelace in an escalator, slipped while getting on or off, or lost your balance when the steps and the handrails were mistimed, you might be at increased risk for developing an escalator phobia.

Witnessing a Negative Experience

Escalator Myths Can Contribute to Fears

Big, heavy machines are a mystery to many people. Escalators are generally located right out in the open, where it seems that all the moving parts are visible. Yet the escalator’s movement does not seem to make sense at first glance.

Numerous myths have developed over more than a century of use, many of which make escalators seem more dangerous than they are.

According to the EESF, some people believe that escalators move too fast (they only move at two times the normal walking speed), can reach out and grab people, or even that the steps could somehow flatten out and cause the riders to slide down.The Foundation assures readers that none of these myths are true, yet for many, the legends persist.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that it is entirely possible to be injured on an escalator. The fact-checking website Snopes has verified dozens of incidents in which children’s shoes got stuck in moving parts of an escalator, leading to serious injuries.

Treatment for Escalaphobia

If your escalator phobia is severe, consider seeking professional assistance. Althoughelevatorsand stairs are reasonable alternatives, there is no guarantee that these items will be available everywhere you go. Rather than limiting your movements, consider beating the fear altogether.

Like most phobias, escalaphobia generally responds well to a variety ofbrief therapytreatments. Some of these include:

How to Cope With a Fear of Escalators

Like any machine, it is possible for an escalator to malfunction. No activity, including riding an escalator, is entirely risk-free. However, the EESF maintains a list of safety rules that, when properly followed, minimize the potential risks. The rules include:

For many people, simply familiarizing themselves with escalator safety procedures is enough to combat the fear. Learn how escalators work, how best to prevent accidents, and what to do should an emergency occur. Be sure to teach your children how to safely use escalators as well.

Other self-help strategies can help you manage your fears. Relaxation techniques likedeep breathingcan help you feel less anxious when encountering fear-provoking situations.Cognitive reframing—which involves challenging negative, fearful thoughts with more positive, realistic ones—can also be helpful.

If you have a fear of elevators, it is important to know that treatments are available that can help. Talk to your doctor or therapist to determine which one might be right for you.

Tackling your fear takes some time and effort, but it can also lead to great rewards. Being able to live your life free of excessive fear and distress can improve your well-being tremendously.

12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schminke LH, Jeger V, Evangelopoulos DS, Zimmerman H, Exadaktylos AK.Riding the escalator: How dangerous is it really?West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(2):141-145. doi:10.5811/westjem.2012.12.13346Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Safety for older adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Balance disorders.BBC News.Donald Trump is ‘scared of stairs’ - but what is bathmophobia?Anxiety UK.Heightened anxiety: How to overcome a fear of high places.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Memory. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116McCann M, Zaleski N. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Deaths and injuries involving elevators or escalators (revised). Reviewed January 3, 2020.Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Escalator Myths and Truths.Mikkelson D. Snopes.Escalator Footwear Injuries. January 20, 2016.Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Fact Sheet.

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schminke LH, Jeger V, Evangelopoulos DS, Zimmerman H, Exadaktylos AK.Riding the escalator: How dangerous is it really?West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(2):141-145. doi:10.5811/westjem.2012.12.13346Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Safety for older adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Balance disorders.BBC News.Donald Trump is ‘scared of stairs’ - but what is bathmophobia?Anxiety UK.Heightened anxiety: How to overcome a fear of high places.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Memory. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116McCann M, Zaleski N. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Deaths and injuries involving elevators or escalators (revised). Reviewed January 3, 2020.Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Escalator Myths and Truths.Mikkelson D. Snopes.Escalator Footwear Injuries. January 20, 2016.Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Fact Sheet.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Schminke LH, Jeger V, Evangelopoulos DS, Zimmerman H, Exadaktylos AK.Riding the escalator: How dangerous is it really?West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(2):141-145. doi:10.5811/westjem.2012.12.13346Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Safety for older adults.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Balance disorders.BBC News.Donald Trump is ‘scared of stairs’ - but what is bathmophobia?Anxiety UK.Heightened anxiety: How to overcome a fear of high places.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Memory. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116McCann M, Zaleski N. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Deaths and injuries involving elevators or escalators (revised). Reviewed January 3, 2020.Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Escalator Myths and Truths.Mikkelson D. Snopes.Escalator Footwear Injuries. January 20, 2016.Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Fact Sheet.

Schminke LH, Jeger V, Evangelopoulos DS, Zimmerman H, Exadaktylos AK.Riding the escalator: How dangerous is it really?West J Emerg Med. 2013;14(2):141-145. doi:10.5811/westjem.2012.12.13346

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Safety for older adults.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Balance disorders.

BBC News.Donald Trump is ‘scared of stairs’ - but what is bathmophobia?

Anxiety UK.Heightened anxiety: How to overcome a fear of high places.

Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Memory. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116

McCann M, Zaleski N. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.Deaths and injuries involving elevators or escalators (revised). Reviewed January 3, 2020.

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.Escalator Myths and Truths.

Mikkelson D. Snopes.Escalator Footwear Injuries. January 20, 2016.

Carpenter JK, Andrews LA, Witcraft SM, Powers MB, Smits JAJ, Hofmann SG.Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials.Depress Anxiety. 2018;35(6):502-514. doi:10.1002/da.22728

Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.The Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation Fact Sheet.

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