Fear of Elevators
Fear of elevators affects large numbers of people, some of whom will be able to ride an elevator only with other people, while others avoid elevators altogether. Since the trigger for the fear of elevators is a catastrophic expectation, which causes a sense of helplessness, the way
to help people overcome their phobia is by helping them to gain control over their catastrophic expectations.
After treating many people who suffered a fear of elevators, I concluded that there are three catastrophic expectations that trigger such a
fear:
• Claustrophobia
• Being stuck in an elevator for a long time
• An engine malfunction causing the elevator to crash
Inthe chapter:
"Visualization"
I discuss how to cope with dangerous situations. I suggest that there are two types of threats in everyday life. Some, where human powers are sufficient to overcome them, and others, where superhuman powers are needed to escape defeat. In accordance with this idea, while my patients' eyes are closed, I lead them to fantasize that they are the directors of a movie, and at the same time the heroes of that movie. After they visualize their catastrophic expectations almost actualizing, I lead them to overcome the dangerous situation by applying
human or superhuman powers. Below are presentations of three such cases.
Case Presentations:
Case 1
Jacob, 40 years old is a successful lawyer, who avoids elevators since an early age. Up to now, his phobia did not effect his life. Since his company planed to move to another office building on the 12th floor, he knew that it might force him to quit his job unless he overcame his phobia. During our first meeting, I inquired about his catastrophic expectations regarding the use of elevators. Jacob answered immediately: "I am claustrophobic. To date, it did not bother me; I learned to live with it. Now I have to make a decision either to continue to avoid
elevators and change my job or learn to overcome it. Since I love my job, I decided to come to you. Can you help me?"
I shared with Jacob my assumption of how claustrophobia contributed to the survival of our ancestors,
(For more details, review chapter:
"Claustrophobia, Agoraphobia & Acrophobia).
Since Jacob found the theoretical explanation interesting, he decided to give therapy a try. During the following session Jacob learned various relaxation techniques, which he could use inside elevators.
(For more details, review the chapters within: Methods of Relaxation)
During the following two sessions, we met in the lobby of my house, which has an elevator that is opened with a handle. At the beginning of our practice, Jacob entered the elevator and I held the door wide open. I suggested to him to make believe the elevator is transparent and he can visualize the view outside the building, in all three directions. Since he was able to do it, I entered the elevator and gradually closed the door while practicing a variety of relaxation techniques that I had taught him previously. When he felt relaxed, we went up and down a few floors. After some more practicing, he was able to go up and down by himself. Between meetings, Jacob practiced together with his wife. At
the end of the therapy, Jacob felt relatively comfortable using elevators and did not need to quit his job. He accepted the fact that if he has to use elevators for only three floors he prefers to climb the stairs up and down.
Case 2
Rebecca has been living ten years on the sixth floor of a building. Until last month, she never had any problem taking elevators. However, last month she came back home at 11:00 PM and was stuck for two hours in the elevator, between the fourth and the fifth floors. Although she screamed, knocked on the door and used the alarm button, no one heard her. At last, she gave up, sat on the floor and cried. At 1:00 AM,
a neighbor that came home from a party was aware that someone is stuck in the elevator and he called for help. Since that traumatic experience, she has used elevators only with other people. Rebecca expressed a strong wish to overcome her phobia.
"Do you avoid using elevators by yourself because it makes you feel helpless to be stuck again?" I asked her.
"Yes, you are right. I am afraid to be stuck again in an elevator. Using an elevator with other people does not scare me so much," she said. "Whenever we encounter a frightening situation, we have two choices: either to avoid the situations that remind us of the previous one, or using the negative episode to grow emotionally and become a more experienced person. If I understand correctly, your first reaction was
avoidance, now you wish to become more experienced." Since she nodded her head in approval, I suggested to her to close her eyes and to visualize herself being stuck again in the same elevator. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I feel like a little helpless girl." "May I speak to the grown up in you?" I asked her and continued, "If you know in advance that tomorrow you are going to be stuck again in the same elevator, how you would prepare yourself?" Rebecca thought for a while and said, "If I know in advance, I'll make sure that I have my cell phone with me, a sandwich, a book to read and a small flashlight. When I was young, I used to take hikes with the girl scouts. We used to sleep outdoors on the ground. If worst comes to worse, and I have to spend many hours in the elevator, I'll sleep on the floor. On a second thought, it might be very hard for me to fall asleep. I'll be too worried."
During the next session, I taught Rebecca a variety of relaxation techniques and I guided her to fantasize herself being stuck alone in
different elevators. Gradually she was able to imagine herself in elevators, without feeling helpless. In our last session, she came
equipped with her cell phone, a book and a flashlight and she practiced going up and dawn in the elevator of my building, while I was waiting for her in the lobby.
Case 3
Jim is afraid of using elevators ever since a few years ago, when the elevator he used suddenly fell down three floors. Jim was not hurt, but since then he voids using elevators. He is aware of the fact that it is more dangerous to cross a street or drive a car than use elevators, but logic does not help him overcome his phobia. Since Jim's fear is of a dangerous situation that human power cannot cope with, I helped him by using a mental imagery technique based on applying super-human power. After a few sessions, Jim overcame his phobia. (More information about applying super-human power is illustrated in the following two chapters:
"Visualization" and
"Fear of Flying" Case number 2)
I encourage everyone who suffers from fear of elevators to try to help himself / herself by practicing relaxation techniques and mental imagery. If these steps are not sufficient, it is highly recommended to seek professional help.
People suffering from fear of elevators, generally tend to have a cautious personality more than their peers. Since “knowledge is power”, it eases for self-acceptance and for positive coping with fear of elevators, reading of the chapter
"Cautious vs. Daring" is recommended.