The Fear Of Escalators (Escalaphobia): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

For many people, the fear of escalators is a very real and rational. After all, escalators are big machines with many moving parts, which can be catastrophic when something goes wrong.

So yes, the fear of escalators is understandable. But for some people, that fear is so intense that it paralyzes them. They might avoid escalators and go to places with escalators, even if that means avoiding shopping malls. Or if they’re forced to ride up and down escalators, they will do so with anxiety-ridden trepidation. For these individuals, even small escalators can feel like death traps.

Although no specific stats are available, escalaphobia affects hundreds of thousands worldwide. While the root cause of this particular phobia isn’t fully understood, it’s thought to be related to a traumatic event or exposure to media coverage depicting accidents involving escalators.

Whatever the case, if you have a crippling fear of escalators, know that you’re not alone. It’s not extremely rare; there are ways to manage your anxiety around escalators and even overcome escalaphobia altogether.

What causes the fear of escalators? 

There are many reasons why people fear escalators, and sometimes this can be a phobia that arises from a health condition. Here are some common reasons for escalaphobia. 

Physical health conditions

Examples of medical conditions that can cause escalaphobia include: 

• Vertigo. This condition produces a sense of spinning or losing balance, which can affect one’s ability to use an escalator safely and comfortably. 
• Balance difficulties. If you have a problem with maintaining your balance, this can make you feel unstable or insecure on an escalator. For example, if you suffer from balance disorders affecting the inner ear, using an escalator can be difficult because your inner ear senses your body is moving forward. In contrast, your legs and feet sense that you’re not walking. 
• Lack of depth perception. Difficulty judging distances and heights can make you misjudge the steps or gaps of an escalator. 
• Vision troubles. A health condition affecting one’s vision can disrupt one’s perception of movement and speed on an escalator. Looking at parallel lines, such as those on an escalator, can even trigger migraines in some people. 
• Sensory issues. Experiencing hypersensitivity to stimuli such as noise, light, touch, or motion can make one feel overwhelmed or disoriented on an escalator. For example, motion sensitivity can cause side effects like dizziness and nausea. 

The presence of other phobias 

For some people, a phobia of escalators is caused by the presence of another phobia. Examples include the following: 

Basophobia: the fear of falling. Some people who have a fear of escalators also have a fear of falling. They may worry that they will lose their balance, slip or trip on the moving escalator steps, or get caught in the gaps or edges of the escalator.

Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces. Some people who have a fear of escalators also have claustrophobia, which can be exacerbated by an intense fear of crowds and people on the escalator at the same time as them. 

Agoraphobia: the fear of being trapped in a situation-controlled environment where escape is difficult or impossible. Someone who experiences this may feel trapped, suffocated, helpless, or vulnerable when on an escalator, especially if it’s crowded or the escalators are malfunctioning. 

Neophobia: the fear of new things. Some people who fear escalators also feel fear when trying new things. They may be unfamiliar with how escalators work or how to use them according to escalator safety procedures. They might also be afraid of the unknown if they’ve never used escalators before.

Acrophobia: the fear of heights. Some people who are afraid of riding on escalators also fear heights. They may feel dizzy, anxious or have a panic attack when they look down from the top of the escalator.  or when they descend on the escalator. People who fear heights might also experience anxiety in other situations, such as in sports stadiums. 

Bathmophobia: the fear of stairs and slopes. Some people who have a fear of escalators also have a fear of stairs and slopes. They may be afraid of simply being in the presence of a slope or a set of stairs or thinking of them, even if they are not expected to climb or descend them. The constantly moving metal steps of an escalator could be even more terrifying for them.

Climacophobia: the fear of climbing. Some people who have a fear of escalators also have a fear of climbing. They may be perfectly comfortable being around stairs and slopes but become fearful when expected to use them. The anxiety and dread that they feel can cause them to avoid situations in which they have to engage in climbing. Sometimes escalators stop working and require you to climb them as regular stairs, so this fear could come into play in such a situation. 

Illyngophobia: the fear of vertigo. Some people who have a fear of escalators also have a fear of vertigo. They may worry that they will experience a sensation of spinning or losing balance when they are on the escalator and look down. People with this fear aren’t necessarily afraid of heights but of experiencing vertigo when they look down. 

Other reasons for escalaphobia include: 

• Previous negative experiences. Some people may fear escalators due to previous negative experiences with them, such as catching a shoelace in them, slipping, or losing their balance.
• Fears of escalator myths. Other people could fear escalators due to myths and legends that make them seem more dangerous than they are, such as that they move too fast or can reach out and grab people. 

Symptoms of the fear of escalators

When you fear escalators, you might experience one or more symptoms. 

• Shivering, shaking, or sudden trembling when faced with an escalator or the thought of using one. 
• Feeling dizzy, nauseated or faint when on or near an escalator.
• Experiencing shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain, or sweating when confronted with an escalator.
• Feeling like running away, crying, screaming, or freezing when forced to take an escalator.
• Avoiding escalators at any cost, even if it means taking longer routes or missing appointmentsAvoidance is a maladaptive behavior in response to the experience of excessive anxiety and fear.
• Full-blown panic attacks when exposed to an escalator or the anticipation of using one.

How to overcome the fear of escalators with therapy and self-help strategies

There are many treatments available to help you treat and overcome your escalaphobia. These include the following. 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, helps you identify and challenge your negative thoughts and beliefs about escalators and replace them with more realistic and positive ones. You will also learn coping skills and techniques to manage your anxiety and face your fear of escalators gradually and safely. 
• Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a type of talk therapy that puts you in a relaxed state to access your brain’s subconscious and change your emotional responses to escalators. 
• Exposure therapy: This form of CBT involves exposing yourself to your most feared object or situation in a controlled and gradual way. You will start with the least scary scenario, such as looking at pictures or videos of escalators, and work your way up to the scariest scenario, such as riding an escalator in a crowded mall. 
• Breathing exercises: This is a simple but effective way to reduce your mental and physical symptoms because of fear, such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, or nausea. You can practice breathing slowly and deeply before and during your elevator rides, focusing on your breath and relaxing your body. During anxiety, your breathing can become shallow, so deep belly breathing is a good way to calm your body. 

Distraction techniques: This is a way to divert your attention from the main trigger or underlying cause of your intense fear and focus on something else that is pleasant or interesting. You can distract yourself by listening to music, checking your phone, or talking to a friend while riding an escalator. 

Conclusion 

An escalator phobia can get in the way of your everyday life, such as going to malls, hotels, airports, and other common places. Although an intense phobia of elevators can be terrifying, you can treat it successfully with hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy, and breathing exercises.