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Fear of Escalators

escalator-1Sports stadiums, malls, department stores and airports have them, yet many consumers will not use these common transportation devices. Escalators have become an object of fear and that fear is sometimes known as Escalaphobia although this is not an official designation.

This phobia may be more common than you realize. The line at the elevator and the number of individuals walking down the stairs may be an indicator or the prevalence of this fear.

The Underlying Fear of Escalators

The major source of fear among Escalaphobes may have to do with a more common fear of heights. Many individuals who have a fear of escalators will also say they have very few problems going up an escalator, but they freeze up when it comes to going down. It may well be the height and fear of falling that converge to make this a difficult fear to overcome.

The second primary fear inducer may have its roots in a traumatic childhood experience involving an escalator, or stories that may have been told about an escalator. Many who fear this object of convenience will recall stories of how children got their shoelaces caught in the escalator and were either injured or pulled into the escalator. While there is little in the way of support for this idea (in most cases) it seems to be a common story that provided the initial and growing fear experienced by Escalaphobes.

Fear Symptoms Associated with the Escalator

An individual who fears an escalator may not actually have a problem visiting a mall, airport or other location that may have an escalator as long as there are alternatives to going up or down floors. This may seem surprising to some, but the primary fear is the escalator. If the individual knows they do not have to use it they are typically able to function normally. escalator-2

More severe symptoms may include…

  • Nausea
  • Increased heart rate
  • Panic attacks
  • Visible trembling
  • Crying or screaming if forced to try

Overcoming Your Fear of Escalators

It may interest you to know that sometimes the fear you experience may be caused by a lack of depth perception. Sometimes individuals who experience this fear can find the courage to try if they can hold the hand of a trusted friend while riding the escalator. Others have experienced success by having a friend directly in front and other directly behind them while riding the escalator. This allows the individual to feel secure while blocking a view that may enhance the fear. A visit with your eye care professional can also assist in improving your depth perception.

It can also be a help to those who fear escalators to hold onto the railing and look straightforward while ascending or descending.

Additionally many experts recommend that consumers not wear Croc type footwear while using the escalator as they can occasionally become entangled.

We have included a video that deals with some of the typical scenarios associated with this type of phobia. This could potentially be a bit frightening for some, but we promise it does end happily and with one individual who found reason enough to ride the escalator.

Fear of Elevators Video

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5 Comments »

  • Sammy said:

    I have dealt with this phobia for most of my life. Back when escalators weren’t the only form of going between floors it wasn’t so bad because there were alternative means. Now there are places where you have to take an escalator to the elevator. There are certain parts of my job that I cannot do or am terrified to do because of an escalator. Going up is fine, its getting down that is the issue. I want to check that depth perception concept because yes, it feels like I am going to fall and I don’t or can’t judge putting my foot down on the step and can’t seem to get the other leg to follow. It comes down to a fear a falling face first down a steep slope.

  • Emzie said:

    I have a hug fear of escalators whenever i have to go on one my hands become all sweaty and i start crying because im that scared of them. I found it scary when going up and down an escalator either way i still find it extremely scary. I feel like im going to fall down and my hair will get tangled in the escalator and i will die or i will slip on my shoes and hurt myself badly. Sometimes when theres no alternative than the escelator i have to go down it and i get sweaty, upset and feel all panicky and my heart beat races i’ve always been afraid of escelators and i want to get over this phobeia but its hard to when i find them so scary and terrifying.

  • escalaphobicfourteen said:

    I also suffer from escalaphobia. People without it never seem to understand it, which makes it hard to cope when at the mall with friends. I’m always ‘that one’ taking the elevator. For me, going up AND down is a problem. I’m afraid of falling, or missing one’s step and falling face forward onto the sharp, constantly moving stairs.

    My dad has always looked down on my fear. When at the mall with him, he’ll reduce me to tears and embarrass me in front of everyone. He won’t let me go to certain stores or areas unless I use the escalators. I never do, and it always makes me very ashamed of myself.

    One positive thing is, you get more exercise because of the detour and possible stairs. =D

  • Branda said:

    I have dealt with this phobia for as long as I can remember. I suffer from panic attacks when attempting to get onto one. I have been able to overcome the fear to some degree (if it’s not very high or if i can’t see around me) but if it is tall, I am taking the stairs. I have been told since i was very young, “that’s ridiculous! No one ever gets hurt on an escalator!” When in fact it is more common than you would think. I am afraid that the escalator is going to collapse while I am on it and I will die on impact, or worse, be seriously injured and survive but be paralysed from the waist down. Hence, the longer the ride, the scarier it becomes. I’m happy to know that other people deal with this as well. Very helpful. :)

  • Winnie said:

    When I was a child, I would ask my mother to take the elevator when we went shopping in departmnt stores. I felt panic when I stetped to the top of an escalator and would fear that I was going to fall. This phobia has followed me throughout my life. I especially fear the very long escalators at places like cruise terminals where that is the only way to go an pick up my luggage. I start to feel anxiety even before it is time for me to approach the escalator. This is just one symtom of my fear of heights.

  • Gigi said:

    I hate Escalators. When I ride them I get sweaty, my heart races and my hands shake. I found it interesting that reading the information above said that most people are alright if they have other alternatives to taking an escalator if other means are available. I will not take an escalator. I will walk the long way around to get to the stairs and/or search for the elevator. My issue is not that I am afraid of heights or as I think most people feel that I am afraid that I will get “sucked into” the bottom as I am trying to get off the escalator. My issue with the escalator is that visually it makes me nauseous. I can’t even watch other people on the escalator. If I am near the escalator I will purposely look in the other direction because watching someone move while standing still makes me dizzy and nauseous.

  • Whererthestairs said:

    I recently had an interview in a building with lots of escalators. After passing dozens of escalators moving between 4 floors, my palms were sweaty, heart racing, and feet seemed glued to the floor as if I couldn’t move. I had to walk up stairs that were right next to the escalator. I held on to the railing and tried not to look at the escalator. People were moving about the escalator as if it was no big deal which made me more panicked. I got to the interview and the whole time was wondering how to get out of the building without running into the sight of an escalator. I took the first elevator to the lowest floor, but then there was the escalator next to the stairs. I saw an elevator but would have to walk past the escalator. This caused severe panic. I saw a door outside and darted for it. My car was in a lower garage and I had no idea how I was going to get to it. I walked into a nearby building and saw a sign for an elevator that would take me below to the parking garage. I shook for several minutes after I was eventually safe from the escalator trauma. Obviously, I did not get the job! Nor would I have been able to accept it! It’s comforting to know I’m not alone with this fear…

  • Jessi said:

    I find this fantastic. The fact that other people actually have this problem because I have dealt with it as long as I can remember. The more people on the escalator the more nervous I become. I don’t like to be touched on them or bothered in any way. I can’t have anything in my hands and I leap from the last step the the ground so I won’t touch the opening with my feet. I was on a feild trip once and my teacher forced me on to one in Washington D.C. and it was the longest one I had ever seen and extremly crowded. I immediantly started crying and freaking out until the emergancy stop button had to be pushed. I hate them and I am so tired of people making fun of me for them. It’s such an odd phobia to have. I am glad to know I am not alone.

  • Stairmaster said:

    Wow! I have extreme fear/panic while going UP on an escalator.I did have the traumatic experience when I was a child with my shoe lace getting caught.I was in Washington D.C., I got off the metro and had to ride up that 17 story escalator. I was terrified the whole time while riding it, even after I was on land I cried. But now any escalator is not scary , no panic at all. It may be the hardest thing you ever do but try to make yourself ride an tall escalator. I am not sure if I am totally cured, but for now I am all-right. (I do prefer stairs to an escalator and elevator)

  • Suzi said:

    I totally understand all of these comments about the fear of escalators. I prefer the stairs and will go out of my way to find stairs. I don’t especially like elevators either, but prefer them to escalators. It does help to have someone stand with me. I use to not mind the older escalators in some department stores that were more narrow and I could hold onto the rails with both hands but the ones now are so much wider and I can only hold onto one side. I sometimes make my self go on them and I prefer going down to going up because I know I am gradually getting lower. It is so crazy and actually makes me laugh to hear about others having fears of them, too! I also have a fear of heights, riding in cars as the passenger, big crowds and being confined. I am a Christian and know that God has not given me a spirit of fear and I am trying to overcome these phobias, but it isn’t always easy! I guess you have to make yourself do the things your afraid of. I get so dizzy and panicky when I ride the escalators, it’s not a good feeling. I watch others if all ages get on like it’s nothing and that bugs me! Happy free of phobias to all of us out there!

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