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As you may suspect, fear of heights is one of the most common phobias (followed by public speaking) with an estimated 3 percent to 5 percent of the population suffering so-called acrophobia. It's considered to be a type of anxiety disorder when a person experiences intense fear and anxiety when they think of tall heights or are positioned at a significant height. Acrophobia often manifests as an irrational fear and it happens when a person is not particularly high up.

So let me just tell you this post is an informal test to see if your gut is capable of handling extreme ledges and intense highs. Think of climbers, adventurers and thrill seekers who live for the feeling of getting above the clouds. Maybe you’re one of them? Let us know in the comments!

Francis Merson, clinical psychologist and founder of the Paris Psychology Centre, told Bored Panda that fear of heights, or acrophobia, is quite common, affecting around 5% of the population, with women slightly more likely to be acrophobic than men.

“As is often the case with phobias, fear of heights taps into an ancient fear response, which has evolved to help keep us safe from a basic existential threat—falling from a great height. Our human or pre-human ancestors who had no fear of heights would have been more likely to expose themselves to danger, while those afraid of heights were more likely to survive and pass on their genetic material to us,” the clinical psychologist explained. This means that a fear of heights is something most of us have inherited as part of our genetic hardware.

#2

Matt Bush Hanging Five On The First Freesolo Ascent Of 'Heaven On Earth'. Photo By Micky Wiswedel

Matt Bush Hanging Five On The First Freesolo Ascent Of 'Heaven On Earth'. Photo By Micky Wiswedel

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#3

A Moist, Steep Staircase In India

A Moist, Steep Staircase In India

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Vivek Mhatre
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is even most dangerous. If you disagree,just try walking on a moist, mossy surface.

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#4

Extreme Unicycling

Extreme Unicycling

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”If you’re wondering how come some people, especially repair workers, bridge painters, and skyscraper window cleaners, seem to have little if any fear of heights, Francis has an explanation. “As a general rule, any kind of fear reduces with repeated exposure. So the more time you spend at high altitude without anything bad happening, the less it's going to freak you out. In psychological terms, you desensitize to the feared stimulus (in this case, heights)—which means that you gradually begin to perceive it as something safe.”

Francis added that he wouldn't be surprised if people who choose to work at high altitudes are the ones who score pretty low on acrophobia to begin with.

#5

Learning To Fly....

Learning To Fly....

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#6

40 Story Spiral Staircase

40 Story Spiral Staircase

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#7

One False Move... The Eiger Summit Ridge, Switzerland

One False Move... The Eiger Summit Ridge, Switzerland

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allenlavine avatar
Allen Lavine
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad some people have nerves of steel but I can't do it I didn't leave anything up there

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The question remains when fear of heights becomes a problem. Francis argues that feeling a bit queasy when looking down from a great height, like the top of the Grand Canyon, is normal—and not a sign that there is anything wrong with you.

Meanwhile, “people with severe acrophobia can be unable to stand on a chair without panicking, let alone go to a rooftop party! Fear of heights becomes a problem when it is extreme, causing distress and interfering with your life. In this case we might start to talk about a specific phobia, which is an intense, incapacitating fear of one particular thing, such as heights, spiders or bodies of water. In the case of acrophobia, this generally leads to avoidance of anything above the ground floor—elevators, multi-story malls, office buildings, flying, hiking, etc.”

#8

Painters On The Then Tallest Building In The World, Woolworth Building, New York, 1926

Painters On The Then Tallest Building In The World, Woolworth Building, New York, 1926

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#10

Climbers Resting On Mountainside In Yosemite

Climbers Resting On Mountainside In Yosemite

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debbiebarnes66 avatar
Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do these young people do this and why?? Firstly I wouldn't attempt it anyway but if I did, I'd be too frightened to turn over, sneeze and then there's the toilet issue.. Think I'll stick to gardening.. Ha, ha, ha...

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The clinical psychologist explained that specific phobias such as acrophobia generally respond well to treatment. “The gold-standard method is graduated exposure, which involves confronting your fear gradually, step-by-step. So you might start by looking down out of a one-story window, and when you feel comfortable at that level, moving to a second-story window, then the third-story, and so on,” Francis explained.

“The important thing is to make sure you feel relaxed and comfortable at each progressive stage. Patients find they're soon able to feel OK at heights they never imagined they could handle!” he concluded.

#11

The View Of The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse From Atop The Suspension Cabling, 1940

The View Of The Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse From Atop The Suspension Cabling, 1940

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#12

Jumping Rope Over The City

Jumping Rope Over The City

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#14

Ukrainian Skywalkers - 116 Meters Up

Ukrainian Skywalkers - 116 Meters Up

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#16

The International Highline Meeting In Monte Piana, In The Northern Italian Alps By Balazs Mohai

The International Highline Meeting In Monte Piana, In The Northern Italian Alps By Balazs Mohai

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#17

I’ve Been Told By Employers That My Current Linkedin Photo Makes Them Nervous

I’ve Been Told By Employers That My Current Linkedin Photo Makes Them Nervous

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#18

Mountain Overlook

Mountain Overlook

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*Deep breath in* "It's not you sitting there, it's some other man, No he's not falling down into the deep jungle, no he won't go *SPLAT*, Calm down", *breath out*

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#20

When Your Realtor May Have Overstated The "Minimalist Balcony" Feature

When Your Realtor May Have Overstated The "Minimalist Balcony" Feature

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Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How the hell did she get there and more importantly, how does she get back????

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#21

[oc] Bigwall Climbing & Extreme Aerials

[oc] Bigwall Climbing & Extreme Aerials

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#22

Doing A Backflip At Trolltunga, Norway

Doing A Backflip At Trolltunga, Norway

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LuckyL
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really hate these pictures - it's so stupid. You just have to trip a little and you're gone.

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#23

Standing On The Edge Of The World - Mt. Huashan, China

Standing On The Edge Of The World - Mt. Huashan, China

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#24

Five Men On The Wilshire Grand Center Tower, Los Angeles

Five Men On The Wilshire Grand Center Tower, Los Angeles

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Fitz_N_Fartz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glad they are wearing their safety helmets, I would have worried otherwise....

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#25

Oh You Know, Just Holding Another Plane. In Mid-Air

Oh You Know, Just Holding Another Plane. In Mid-Air

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#26

Photographing My Friend In An Abandoned Theme Park

Photographing My Friend In An Abandoned Theme Park

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#27

Wolfgang Güllich Free Climbing In Yosemite

Wolfgang Güllich Free Climbing In Yosemite

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#28

Getting Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is Not An Option

Getting Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed Is Not An Option

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#29

Approaching An Iceberg In The Arctic - Sailing

Approaching An Iceberg In The Arctic - Sailing

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#32

Ledge Photo

Ledge Photo

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#33

The Ledge In Chicago

The Ledge In Chicago

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Wang Zhuang
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even when I know the glass floor can hold 15 elephants, I'm still terrified of walking on it

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#34

/U/Intertim's GF Doing A Handstand On The Side Of Mt Huashan, China

/U/Intertim's GF Doing A Handstand On The Side Of Mt Huashan, China

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#35

Not The Highest Tower I’ve Climbed But Thought This Was A Cool Picture

Not The Highest Tower I’ve Climbed But Thought This Was A Cool Picture

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LMW
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Men and women that work these types of jobs are fearless. I love it!

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#36

Shasta Dam

Shasta Dam

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WinterBlossom
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone feel like sliding down it? Probably not the best idea haha, but that was the first thing I thought of when I saw this picture

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#38

Thanks God Ledge - Yosemite

Thanks God Ledge - Yosemite

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Michelle M
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As he looked down the Thank God Ledge, he finally realised why his wife had suggested the trip to him, one month after they took a hefty life insurance policy on him. "Carol, you b***h!" (Pls continue)

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#39

Us Highline Record Broken At 1km — Moab, Ut

Us Highline Record Broken At 1km — Moab, Ut

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maryjohnson_1 avatar
Ak artist
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m glad there is is combination of brave and stupid people out there to give us photos like this to look at.

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#40

At The Top Of A Tower Somewhere In Russia

At The Top Of A Tower Somewhere In Russia

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debbiebarnes66 avatar
Debbie Barnes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just risking their lives everytime they do this.. At some point, their luck will run out.

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Note: this post originally had 130 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.