Acrophobia

Acrophobia, also called hypsophobia, is an extreme or irrational fear of heights, especially when a person is not particularly high up, and belongs to a category of specific phobias called space and motion discomfort that share similar causes and treatment options. It is related to but distinct from the more universal fear of falling, and someone with little fear of exposure to heights is said to have a head for heights, an advantage in pursuits such as hiking, mountain climbing or work as a steeplejack or wind turbine mechanic. People with acrophobia can experience a panic attack in high places and become too agitated to get themselves down safely; roughly two to five percent of the general population has the condition, with women affected about twice as often as men.