The Challenge Of Escalaphobia

For years now I have faced escalaphobia, the fear of escalators. I really cannot fathom how it started, I’ve read episodes of people with similar fears and theirs were triggered by past events such as falling from an escalator, fear of heights and a combination of other phobias. It’s carried on for years now, and I can’t seem to face it despite how embarrassing it tends to be.
We all have phobias, one thing that gets us really scared and anxious, an unwanted feeling we might not be able to control and can have effect on our lives.

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The world has developed technologically, and escalators are now commonly found in majority of places, shopping malls, gaming stations, cinemas, airports, event centres of hotels etc. It has become quite uncomfortable for me seeing as I no longer feel comfortable going to these places because I feel bothered using the escalators and most of them don’t have substitutes such as elevators or stairs. I honestly don’t mind climbing any amount of stairs so long as I escape using escalators.

When I walk towards an escalator, seeing it move I get really scared of placing my foot, what happens if I fall? Just like the movies, I’ve seen crazy stuff happen and I refuse to participate in such lol. Most times I have tried to face my fears, some securities have actually tried to help me but to no avail. I stopped trying because at a point all I felt was embarrassment.

Remembering the last incident I had makes me cringe, I was at the airport with my family, about to travel. To get to the boarding check, I had to use an escalator and i felt my heart cut ’oh God help me’ as usual my family climbed like it was nothing and I was stuck below thinking and pondering on how I would climb. I barely had time as it was almost time for passengers to board. At that point I felt like crying but no!! I’m not a baby, I could try….

The security tried to help, he showed me how to step on it and maintain balance and offered to hold my hand throughout, despite that I failed to get on. While pondering with a sad face, a girl about my age walked up to me (vikkie), she calmed me down and told me to relax. For some reason her words encouraged me and helped me. ’when you see a new step about to form step on it, I’m here, you won’t fall, I’ll hold your hold all the way okay?’ And that was how I stepped on the escalator.

Now will we alighted upwards, i began to have panick
Attacks, at a point a felt dizzy and I’m certain people around could hear the sound of my heart racing. At this point people began to stare, I held unto Vikkie’s hands as she assured me that I was doing fine and we were almost at the end. Immediately we reached the end I ran off, happy that it was finally over. I won’t lie I felt really embarrassed but look on the bright side, I made a new friend. We exchanged our contacts and it turned out that we were boarding the same flight. Since then we have been friends and our friendship grows stronger. From time to time we think back on the incident and laugh about it.

Anyways since then, my fears have increased especially after watching a movie where a lady fell from an escalator and broke her neck. How do y’all get on them with ease anyways?? Some may term
This fear as ’local’ thank you very much but I rather not live with a broken neck.

Do you have phobias as well? Care to share?

Thanks for reading guys
Have a good day