VIII – Climacophobia: The Fear of Falling Down Stairs

“This is essentially a companion phobia to the fear of height, although here another element probably enters in more strongly. The climacophobiac sees himself tumbling from the staircase into a cavernous darkness, a phantasy identified by the Freudians as an unconscious longing for self-immolation manifesting itself in a desire to return to the mother’s womb. Moreover, the rhythmic act of climbing is a sex symbol. The punishment theory may here again be applied in the climacophobiac’s fear of punishment (falling) for the transgressions symbolized by the act of climbing. As in all phobias, the victim suffers from the conflicting elements of his imaginings – the desire for suicide and release warring against his fear of those conditions favourable to self-destruction.

"It is possible, nevertheless, to read a different explanation into many cases of climacophobia. As climbing means success, so, conversely does falling signify failure, and the social obligations burdening us all make us too morbidly conscious of the disgrace of failure. Here, in addition to the fear of falling, there may exist a superimposed fear of the climb itself, so closely akin to acrophobia.”

John Vassos

New York City

May 25^th, 1931