their teeth rot rather than visit the dentist (p522). It is very important that people suffering from phobias be treated, in order to be able to enjoy their lives to a higher extent, literally speaking for those individuals suffering from acrophobia.Claustrophobia and acrophobia are two types of phobias that are usually treated by therapists. Acrophobia is the situational phobia in which there is a fear of heights. Being on a bridge, in a tall building, flying, or in any situation in which height will cause discomfort would fall into this category. Prior treatments for acrophobia would make the patients confront their fear. Acrophobes would be treated by gradually riding a glass elevator floor by floor or by standing on high balconies, going to a higher floor every other time over and over until they feel comfortable with the situation. Now and days acrophobes can be treated for their phobias by using virtual reality. Virtual reality therapy is being widely used at present time. It is so widely used that is has become very cost effective. Treatment for acrophobia takes place in the doctors office and no longer requires taking trips to tall buildings or bridges. Virtual reality therapy requires the phobic sufferer to wear a helmet, reading sensors, and to stand in a certain designated area. Stover (1995) states that virtual reality therapy gives patients a greater sense of safety and control over their environment. According to students who tested in virtual reality, the elevation-intensive stimulations look very realistic. In Stovers article, he recalls the story of Christopher Klock, and how he would walk up 72 flights of stairs, avoiding the glass elevator, to meet his friends for dinner. As crazy as it sounds, this is a good example of a phobia being irrational. Klock, as explained by Stover (1995), is among the first people to be treated for acrophobia with virtual reality technology. Both researchers are examin...
