Fear of dizziness when looking down (illyngophobia)

Illyngophobia is a fear of feeling dizzy or getting vertigo when looking down. It often appears on balconies, bridges, escalators or tall stairwells, where people may freeze, grip rails or refuse to look over the edge. Because dizziness can have medical causes, any real or frequent dizzy spells should be checked with a GP.

About this phobia

Illyngophobia is a rarely used term found mostly on lists of phobias, with little clinical writing about it on its own. It is closely related to acrophobia, the fear of heights, and the two are often hard to tell apart. Vertigo itself is a physical symptom, while illyngophobia is the fear of experiencing it.

What it feels like

• Feeling unsteady or lightheaded the moment you look down
• Holding on tightly to rails on stairs, bridges or escalators
• Avoiding glass lifts, viewing platforms or high balconies

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Is it vertigo or a fear of heights?

Vertigo is a spinning or unsteady feeling that can have medical causes, such as inner ear problems, and should be checked with a GP. A fear of heights, or of feeling dizzy when looking down, is an anxiety response to height itself. Some people have both, which is why getting symptoms checked first is helpful.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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