What Is Bathmophobia?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Coping

What Is Bathmophobia?

Bathmophobia is the extreme fear of stairs or slopes. It is considered aspecific phobia, a condition in which a person has an irrational fear of something that poses little to no danger to their day-to-day life.

Being afraid of falling down the stairs is common; however, someone with bathmophobia has a fear that disrupts their everyday life. Even thinking about stairs or slopes may trigger the symptoms of the phobia.

Bathmophobia can be seen in both children and adults. It is also fairly common among animals, particularly household pets. Dogs trained as service animals may be rejected because of their fear of stairs.

Symptoms of Bathmophobia

The symptoms of bathmophobia vary from person to person. While some people might fear all types of stairs, others might only fear large or concrete stairs.

Someone with bathmophobia might not be able to talk about any kind of stairs or slopes, or even see pictures or videos of stairs or slopes without experiencing anxiety. People with specific phobias often useavoidance behaviorto prevent themselves from coming into contact with the source of their fear.

For instance, you might take a completely different route to work to avoid walking up or down, or even seeing, a staircase or slope. Someone with bathmophobia might fear going to new places because they don’t know if they’ll come into contact with stairs or slopes.

Diagnosis of Bathmophobia

TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5) outlines the following criteria that must be present in a patient for a doctor or mental health professional to make a diagnosis of a specific phobia:

A doctor will likely evaluate whether the patient uses avoidance behavior as well, a behavior often present in people with specific phobias.

If your child has a fear of stairs or slopes, keep in mind that fears are a normal part of development and not necessarily indicative of a phobia. Talk to a healthcare professional if you feel your child’s fear is excessive, persistent, and disruptive to their everyday life.

Differential Diagnosis

Before making a diagnosis of bathmophobia, a doctor or mental health professional may want to rule out similar conditions.

Bathmophobia may also be related to other disorders.Acrophobia, or the fear of heights, is exceptionally common. What appears to be a fear of stairs may be a fear of the height the stairs bring a person to.Illygnophobia, or the fear of vertigo, can also cause symptoms similar to those of bathmophobia.

Causes of Bathmophobia

You may be more likely to develop a phobia if someone in your family has a phobia or another type of anxiety disorder.There are likely several contributing factors to a person’s phobia, including genetics.

In addition, phobias often co-occur with other types of psychiatric disorders, including anxiety andmood disorders. Other diagnoses may contribute to the development of a phobia.

Research Findings on the Genetics of Phobias

Treatment of Bathmophobia

Like other phobias, there are many ways to treat bathmophobia. Some of the most common ways are therapy or medication.

Therapy

If it is determined you are experiencing bathmophobia, your clinician will likely suggestcognitive behavioral therapy(CBT).The goal of CBT is to help you replace fearful thoughts and behaviors with more rational alternatives. You will be taught relaxation exercises to help you remain calm, and you may be slowly introduced to the object of your fear through a process known assystematic desensitization.

Exposure therapyis another treatment type that can help you learn to manage, or even overcome, your fear of stairs or slopes.Exposure therapy—similar to systemic desensitization—is when a therapist works with you to gradually face the object of your fear.

Hypnotherapycan also be a useful form of therapy for treating bathmophobia. A hypnotherapist guides a patient into a meditative or trance-like state and communicates helpful suggestions for overcoming their fear. The goal is for the subconscious to learn these suggestions and for the fear to lessen over time.

Choosing a therapist that you trustis an essential component of working through your fear, as the process of exploring your fearful thoughts may be uncomfortable.

Medication

In some cases, a healthcare provider may suggest medications in addition to therapy. Antidepressants such asselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) are often prescribed for people with phobias.

Alternatively,serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs) may be recommended. SNRIs regulate both serotonin and norepinephrine in the body, which can help to reduce feelings of anxiety.Cymbalta(duloxetine) andEffexor(venlafaxine) are examples of SNRIs.

In some cases, a doctor may prescribebenzodiazepines. These anti-anxiety medications produce a calming effect and may help calm someone experiencing extreme anxiety as a result of their phobia. However, benzodiazepines have the potential for dependence and are only recommended for short-term use under the supervision of a doctor.

The Psychology of Fear

Coping With Bathmophobia

In addition to receiving treatment, there are practices you can do on your own to manage the stress and anxiety related to your phobia.Meditationpromotes feelings of well-being and can help reduce psychological distress.If you’ve never tried meditation, don’t be intimidated.

If you’re trying meditation for the first time, find a quiet spot where you can sit and close your eyes. Set a timer—you can start small with just one minute and work your way up over time. Notice your thoughts, but try not to fixate on any particular one.

Breathe deeplyto slow down your heart rate and blood pressure, and help you feel more relaxed.

The next time you are having an anxious response to the object of your fear, try taking a few measured breaths in through your nose (filling up your belly with air) and then slowly breathe out through pursed lips.

It’s also important to make sure your basic needs are being met when dealing with a mental health conidtion. Ensure you aregetting enough sleep,eating a nutritious diet, andexercising. These seemingly basic practices can help you reduce stress levels andavoid burn outas you cope with your phobia.

Recap

If you think you have bathmophobia, talk to a primary care doctor or mental health professional who can help you take the next step toward treating your phobia. In the meantime, practices like meditation or deep breathing can help you better cope with the symptoms of your anxiety in the moment.

What Treatments for Phobias Work Best?

17 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.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobias.Edwards P, Hazel S, Browne M, Serpell J, Mcarthur M, Smith B.Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(7):e0215416. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0215416National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Rudaz M, Ledermann T, Margraf J, Becker ES, Craske MG.The moderating role of avoidance behavior on anxiety over time: Is there a difference between social anxiety disorder and specific phobia?.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0180298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180298Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Wardenaar K, Lim C, Al-hamzawi A, Alonso J, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017%2FS0033291717000174Huppert D, Wuehr M, Brandt T.Acrophobia and visual height intolerance: Advances in epidemiology and mechanisms.J Neurol. 2020;267(Suppl 1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09805-4Dommaraju S, Perera E.An approach to vertigo in general practice.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(4):190-4.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375-2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Witthauer C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Meyer AH, et al.Associations of specific phobia and its subtypes with physical diseases: An adult community study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:155. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0863-0Kaczkurkin A, Foa E.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry.2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584Guina J, Merrill B.Benzodiazepines I: Upping the care on downers: The evidence of risks, benefits and alternatives.J Clin Med. 2018;7(2):17. doi:10.3390/jcm7020017Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EMS, et al.Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being.JAMA Intern Med.2014;174(3):357. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breathing helps quell errant stress response.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC; 2013.

17 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.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobias.Edwards P, Hazel S, Browne M, Serpell J, Mcarthur M, Smith B.Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(7):e0215416. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0215416National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Rudaz M, Ledermann T, Margraf J, Becker ES, Craske MG.The moderating role of avoidance behavior on anxiety over time: Is there a difference between social anxiety disorder and specific phobia?.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0180298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180298Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Wardenaar K, Lim C, Al-hamzawi A, Alonso J, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017%2FS0033291717000174Huppert D, Wuehr M, Brandt T.Acrophobia and visual height intolerance: Advances in epidemiology and mechanisms.J Neurol. 2020;267(Suppl 1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09805-4Dommaraju S, Perera E.An approach to vertigo in general practice.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(4):190-4.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375-2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Witthauer C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Meyer AH, et al.Associations of specific phobia and its subtypes with physical diseases: An adult community study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:155. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0863-0Kaczkurkin A, Foa E.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry.2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584Guina J, Merrill B.Benzodiazepines I: Upping the care on downers: The evidence of risks, benefits and alternatives.J Clin Med. 2018;7(2):17. doi:10.3390/jcm7020017Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EMS, et al.Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being.JAMA Intern Med.2014;174(3):357. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breathing helps quell errant stress response.Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC; 2013.

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.

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobias.Edwards P, Hazel S, Browne M, Serpell J, Mcarthur M, Smith B.Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(7):e0215416. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0215416National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.Rudaz M, Ledermann T, Margraf J, Becker ES, Craske MG.The moderating role of avoidance behavior on anxiety over time: Is there a difference between social anxiety disorder and specific phobia?.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0180298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180298Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Wardenaar K, Lim C, Al-hamzawi A, Alonso J, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017%2FS0033291717000174Huppert D, Wuehr M, Brandt T.Acrophobia and visual height intolerance: Advances in epidemiology and mechanisms.J Neurol. 2020;267(Suppl 1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09805-4Dommaraju S, Perera E.An approach to vertigo in general practice.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(4):190-4.Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375-2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012Witthauer C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Meyer AH, et al.Associations of specific phobia and its subtypes with physical diseases: An adult community study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:155. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0863-0Kaczkurkin A, Foa E.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46.American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?.Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry.2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584Guina J, Merrill B.Benzodiazepines I: Upping the care on downers: The evidence of risks, benefits and alternatives.J Clin Med. 2018;7(2):17. doi:10.3390/jcm7020017Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EMS, et al.Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being.JAMA Intern Med.2014;174(3):357. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breathing helps quell errant stress response.

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobias.

Edwards P, Hazel S, Browne M, Serpell J, Mcarthur M, Smith B.Investigating risk factors that predict a dog’s fear during veterinary consultations.PLoS ONE. 2019;14(7):e0215416. doi:10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0215416

National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.

Rudaz M, Ledermann T, Margraf J, Becker ES, Craske MG.The moderating role of avoidance behavior on anxiety over time: Is there a difference between social anxiety disorder and specific phobia?.PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0180298. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180298

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.

Wardenaar K, Lim C, Al-hamzawi A, Alonso J, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017%2FS0033291717000174

Huppert D, Wuehr M, Brandt T.Acrophobia and visual height intolerance: Advances in epidemiology and mechanisms.J Neurol. 2020;267(Suppl 1):231-240. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09805-4

Dommaraju S, Perera E.An approach to vertigo in general practice.Aust Fam Physician. 2016;45(4):190-4.

Loken EK, Hettema JM, Aggen SH, Kendler KS.The structure of genetic and environmental risk factors for fears and phobias.Psychol Med. 2014;44(11):2375-2384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012

Witthauer C, Ajdacic-Gross V, Meyer AH, et al.Associations of specific phobia and its subtypes with physical diseases: An adult community study.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:155. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0863-0

Kaczkurkin A, Foa E.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: An update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-46.

American Psychiatric Association.What are anxiety disorders?.

Hasbi M, Effendy E.Hypnotherapy: A case of anxiety person who doesn’t want to use medication.Open Access Maced J Med Sci.2019;7(16):2698-2700. doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.820

Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: Current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry.2020;11. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584

Guina J, Merrill B.Benzodiazepines I: Upping the care on downers: The evidence of risks, benefits and alternatives.J Clin Med. 2018;7(2):17. doi:10.3390/jcm7020017

Goyal M, Singh S, Sibinga EMS, et al.Meditation programs for psychological stress and well-being.JAMA Intern Med.2014;174(3):357. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018

Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breathing helps quell errant stress response.

American Psychiatric Association (APA). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC; 2013.

Lisa Fritscher

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