Hitler, His Elevator and Claustrophobia

In 1938, the Nazi party in Germany completed the construction of the “Eagle's Nest,” a house sitting on atop a 6000-foot peak in the Austrian Alps. It was a gift for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday. With a breathtaking view and impressive architecture and interior design, the place is truly spectacular and it is one of the most visited spots in the country. One of the most jaw-dropping parts of the nest was the golden, polished brass elevator. You might be thinking why the elevator had to be made of this material. Well, there was a really good reason for it.

One of the most common phobias in the world is claustrophobia, the extreme, irrational fear of being in enclosed spaces. It is a form of anxiety disorder that may or may not be a part of GAD or generalized anxiety disorder. It is classified under situational phobias or phobias triggered by a specific situation.

It is easy to understand why some people develop claustrophobia. It can be caused by either a traumatic childhood experience like being trapped inside the closet while playing hide-and-seek or an agonizing experience as an adult like being stuck in an elevator.

When a person experiences such a traumatic event, a panic attack may occur. This response is programmed in the brain, which establishes an association between anxiety and being in a tight, enclosed space. This leads to claustrophobia.

When a claustrophobic finds himself / herself in a tight, restricted space, the body responds with several symptoms which include excessive sweating, nausea, accelerated heartbeat, fainting, shaking, hyperventilation and light-headedness.

If you think a family member or a friend suffers from claustrophobia, observe how he / she reacts when he / she is in the following places or situations. Some of the common responses are listed accordingly.

• inside a room --- always looks for and at the exit

• inside a car --- avoids driving on major roads with heavy traffic

• inside a building --- refuses to take the elevator

• at a party --- stays near the door

One of the best signs of claustrophobia is that the individual avoids situations in which he / she thinks he / she will have a panic attack. If the individual constantly refuses to enter a small room or enclosed space, then he / she may have this condition.

Remember that claustrophobia cannot be cured. However, there are numerous forms of treatment available that can help the individual deal with her condition. These include exposure therapy, behavior therapy, drugs or a combination of any of those treatments.

Exposure therapy may either be flooding or counter-conditioning. Flooding is the treatment in which the individual is exposed to a situation again and again until the anxiety attack passes. Counter-conditioning is a less extreme form, in which the individual is taught relaxation and visualization techniques before being exposed to the trigger situation.

Behavior therapy involves identifying trigger points and recognizing that the individual can learn reacting to these triggers properly. The individual is expected to disassociate feelings of anxiety and danger with confined spaces through positive thinking and visualization.

Medications include anti-depressants and beta-blockers. The latter helps in relieving the heart pounding that the individual experiences during an anxiety attack.

You may be asking what Hitler has to do with claustrophobia. In case you are still wondering, the elevator in Eagle's Nest wasn't intended to be made of golden, polished brass just because of Hitler's expensive taste. Polished brass reflects light, which makes the elevator look wider. Adolf Hitler was claustrophobic.