Fear of looking up (anablephobia)

Anablephobia is a fear of looking up. It may show up as dizziness or unease when gazing at tall buildings, high ceilings or the sky. Some people find they keep their eyes down in city streets or cathedrals without quite knowing why.

About this phobia

The term is usually linked to the Greek anablepein, to look up. It is rarely reported and appears mostly on lists of phobias. It can overlap with fear of heights and with the dizziness some people feel when tipping the head back.

What it feels like

• A sense of the world tilting when looking at tall buildings
• Avoiding skyscrapers, domes or high ceilings
• Keeping the eyes on the ground outdoors

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

Common questions

Why does looking up make some people dizzy?

Tilting the head back changes balance signals, and for some people this can trigger dizziness, especially with inner ear problems. Anxiety can then build around that feeling. If dizziness happens often, it is worth checking with a GP.

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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