Category Archives: Passion

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Fears Episode 18: Ornithophobia

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The following blog post serves as the inspiration for the entire Fears blog:

 

“It’s not all birds, just most. I’d say crow and bigger. I get really uncomfortable and just want to get away. I tried to get indoors somewhere or completely avoid the area. I get really paranoid walking in cities or parks. I almost never, ever go to the beach even though I love the beach. People often poke fun at me over it, and I get how it can be funny, but it’s really not. I’ve gotten better at controlling myself – definitely a lot better than when I was younger – but I still can’t help it. It’s just very frustrating because I know that they can’t actually hurt me, but something just comes over me when I’m around them. My parents think they know why, but I don’t have memory of a reason. They say that when I was a few years old we were on a beach in the Bahamas and my mom took out some chips. All of a sudden, a swarm of seagulls swooped down towards the food and she says that when I looked up there was pure terror in my eyes. I have no idea if it that’s what it is or not, but whatever has made me like this has sure had a huge impact on my life.”

Ornithophobia is defined as an abnormal, irrational fear of birds. It is termed an irrational phobia. It is relatively uncommon, affecting approximately 0.9% of the U.S. population. Signs and symptoms of Ornithophobia vary depending its severity. While some people may fear only large or wild birds, some may be afraid of birds who have undergone taxidermy. In more extreme cases, an Ornithophobe may even fear pictures or videos of birds. Possible signs and symptoms when forced to confront a bird may include shaking, crying, freezing in place, running away, attempting to hide, and/or even anticipatory anxiety in the days leading up to a likely confrontation with birds, among many others. Possible causes of Ornithophobia could include a negative encounter with a bird. Many birds can be somewhat aggressive in hunting for food, and childhood run-ins with pigeons or seagulls bent on stealing popcorn or other snacks are common. Many people, whether or not they have a full-blown phobia, are wary of snacking in areas with large bird populations. Sometimes these encounters are not so direct. Birds sometimes fly through open windows or down chimneys, causing an uproar in the home. Seeing the reaction of a loved one, such as a parent or sibling, could be enough to trigger a phobia. Throughout history and popular culture, birds have been portrayed various way. Depictions that may trigger forms of Ornithophobia include their association with symbols of death, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film The Birds, and Edgar Allen Poe’s poem “The Raven”. As of right now, there does not seem to be any major evolutionary basis behind Ornithophobia. Potential treatments for Ornithophobia may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, consulting a trained therapist, positive self-talk, relaxation techniques, systematic desensitization, hypnosis, and/or medications.

Fun Fact: The Ornithophobe featured in this episode is yours truly.

 

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Fears Episode 15: Glossophobia

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Glossophobia is defined as the fear of public speaking or of speaking in general. It is categorized as irrational. It is thought that approximately 74% of the world population has some form of Glossophobia, one of the most common phobias. However, it is important to note that there are many levels of speech anxiety, social phobias, or social anxiety orders. Most of those who claim to have Glossophobia may not in fact suffer from the actual phobia. Possible signs and symptoms of Glossophobia may include intense anxiety at even thought of having to verbally communicate with any group, avoidance of events where such an instance is a possibility, physical distress, nausea, feelings of panic, trembling, sweating, stomachache, acute breathing, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, dilated pupils, increased perspiration, increased oxygen intake, stiffening of neck/upper back muscles, dry mouth, a tense voice, a quivering voice, vocalized pauses for comfort, and/or inability to speak. One of the most commonly-known symptoms of Glossophobia is Stage Fright. Possible causes of Glossophobia may be a traumatic life event, for example, an embarrassing moment concerning speaking in public at a young age or in early adulthood. Other causes include low self-esteem or expectation of failure. A lack of confidence and/or experience is a major cause of this. It has even been speculated that there is an evolutionary aspect behind Glossophobia; since early humans depended upon each other for survival, social rejection meant almost certain death – and poor public speaking can greatly magnify the opportunity for social rejection.  Possible treatments for Glossophobia may include, but are not limited to: training courses in public speaking, self-help materials, temporary drugs such as beta-blockers, practice and/or gaining experience, among many others.

Fun Fact: Some surveys have shown that most people fear public speaking more than they fear death.

 

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Fears Episode 14: Koumpounophobia

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Koumpounophobia is defined as the fear of buttons. It is classified as an irrational phobia. This phobia is relatively rare, affecting approximately less that 1% of the U.S. population, but is still more common that one would think. Signs ad symptoms of Koumpounophobia may include, but are not limited to, being unable to stand the sight, sounds, or texture of buttons, freaking out or losing control, nausea, hysteria, crying, screaming, panic, anxiety, increased heart rate, and/or trembling. There does not seem to be any known historical and/or evolutionary cause behind Koumpounophobia in particular. However, some psychologists could argue that it is tied to another fear that many scientists believe is evolutionary. The fear of circular objects is believed to have been gripping humans for thousands of years, as they remind us of ideas such as holes, resemble skin rashes, or and trigger thoughts of pits containing the unknown. Other possible causes could include a genetic predisposition to the fear or a close relative with the fear. Most likely of all, however, is a traumatic or negative experience in childhood involving buttons; such as choking on a button, being mocked for not knowing how to button, or even childhood abuse or neglect by someone wearing clothes with buttons. Potential treatments for Koumpounophobia may include talk therapy, cognitive/behavioral therapy, virtual reality exposure, help groups, and/or hypnotherapy.

Fun Fact: It is believed that Steve Jobs had Koumpounophobia.

 

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Fears Episode 13: Atychiphobia

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Atychiphobia is defined as the the abnormal, unwarranted, and persistent fear of failure. It is classified as a type of specific phobia, which means that it amounts to an irrational fear. Between 2 and 5 percent of the American population is affected by it. However, as is the case with many phobias, this represents the number of people who have an actual phobia of failure. Especially with Atychiphobia, we must once again note that the severity of a fear can range quite widely – and most often than not may not even be technically classified as a “fear”. For instance, it would be hard to come across an individual who liked the idea of failure, but still those affected by the phobia are much more rare. Possible signs and symptoms of Atychiphobia may include irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, nausea, overall feelings of dread, nervousness, stomach disorders, flushing of the face, perspiration, muscle tension, tremulousness, and faintness. An Atychiphobe could have an impaired willingness to attempt certain activities thus leading to a loss of self-confidence and motivation, and therefore even depression. Possible causes of Atychiphobia could include demeaning parents or family members, traumatic and/or embarrassing events that arise from minor failure early in life, or an individual experiencing a significant failure and being ill-equipped to effectively cope with it. In addition, some individuals who struggle with phobias have a genetic predisposition toward anxiety, exacerbating their Atychiphobia. Society also plays a role by being inherently competitive, and thus creating another climate where failure has large implications. Society also places much emphasis on perfection, causing an Atychiphobe to base themselves solely on this value. Possible treatments of Atychiphobia may include among others self-help, Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SRI), a combination of behavioral /cognitive and medicinal therapies, counseling, the development of healthier belief systems, or more serious and general methods such as hypnotherapy and systematic desensitization.

Fun Fact: Atyches, the root of Atychiphobia, is Greek for “unfortunate”.

 

 

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Fears Episode 12: Sciurophobia

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Sciurophobia is defined as the fear of squirrels. Although it is a less common phobia, it is more common than one would think, affecting over 250,000 Americans. However, especially in the case of this phobia, it should be noted that only the most severe forms of a fear of squirrels can be termed Sciurophobia, as many people may simply dislike them or prefer to avoid them. A few possible signs and symptoms of Sciurophobia may include an increase in heart rate, sweating palms, rapid breathing, and knots in the stomach. However, these symptoms can be present in varying degrees, and are not the only possibilities. The potential causes of Sciurophobia are where this fear’s traits become a bit hazy. This is due to the fact that although the fear has become widely known and discussed, and although it is still scientifically treated, research on it is still being conducted and there is still major research left to do. Although some scientists are claiming that some causes of Sciurophobia may be genetic, through years of evolution, there is no real evidence there are any historical or evolutionary bases behind this phobia. However some psychologists are discussing the possible effect of Sciurophobia becoming a social trend, as seen through viral videos and much posting throughout the internet. Of course, there is always the most feasible cause, which is psychological trauma linked to squirrels, possible due to an imprinting incident of some kind. Possible treatments for Sciurophobia may include Exposure Therapy, Self-Help, Talk Therapy, Behavioral Therapy, and some medicines.

Fun Fact: The species of squirrel that has become such a legend at Penn State is the Eastern Gray Squirrel.

 

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Fears Episode 11: Acrophobia

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Acrophobia is defined as the extreme or irrational fear of heights. It is therefore defined as irrational. It is one of the most common phobias, affecting up to approximately 10% of the US population. The degree of fear varies and the term phobia is reserved for those at the extreme end of the spectrum. Many people also confuse Vertigo with the fear of heights, which is more accurately defined as a spinning sensation when one is not actually spinning. Although it can be triggered by Acrophobia, the terms should not be used interchangeably. Possible signs and symptoms of Acrophobia include a panic attack in high places, breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, and the inability to speak or think clearly. Other side effects of Acrophobia may also include a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or even a full blown anxiety attack. Possible causes of Acrophobia may include a traumatic experience involving heights. However, the fear of falling is one of the most commonly suggested inborn fears. It has also been similarly theorized that the fear of heights is an evolved adaptation to a world where falls posed a significant danger.  Researchers have argued that fear of heights is an instinct found in many mammals, including domestic animals and humans. However, it should be noted that while an innate cautiousness around heights is helpful for survival, an extreme fear can interfere with the activities of everyday life, such as standing on a ladder or chair, or even walking up a flight of stairs. A more biologically-based cause is found in a person’s struggle with maintaining balance as height increases and the images sent to the brain cause dysfunction in equilibrium. Feasible treatments for Acrophobia include but are not limited to drugs such as traditional anti-anxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines, newer options such as antidepressants and beta-blockers, hypnosis, positive thinking, gradual desensitization, and even possible virtual reality.

Fun Fact: In the general population, twice as many women as men are affected by Acrophobia.

 

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Fears Episode 10: Ophidiophobia

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“I loved animals when I was little so I would watch Animal Planet all the time. The snakes just seemed vicious. I had never seen one in person but they looked like scary little dinosaurs. The way they stuck their tongues out made them look like demons and that hissing sound! And they can get so huge – like those Anacondas! It was just really traumatizing. We had a pool in my backyard and I always feared the garden snakes I thought were everywhere would come out and wrap around me and strangle me or bite into me – I mean they’re so quick! Even at the zoo, I usually avoided the reptile exhibit. I’d see the iguanas, but then I’d leave before I could see any snakes. Just a few weeks ago some friends and I took the bus to see a movie in downtown State College. When we got off the bus, there was a big field that we had to walk through to get to the theater. But I saw that there were snakes in it and I refused to walk through. I tensed up and got really hot. We ended up finally getting to the theater but I had made my friends take the longest way possible around the field.”

Ophidiophobia (or ophiophobia) is defined as the abnormal fear of snakes. It is sometimes called by a more general term, Herpetophobia, or the fear of reptiles and/or amphibians. It is termed an irrational fear. Approximately 1/3 of all adult humans are Ophidiophobic, which makes Ophidiophobia the most commonly reported phobia. However, as with many other phobias, it is important to note that there are also many people who simply do not like snakes. There are also some who simply fear them for their venom or the inherent danger involved, but do not undergo the same effects of the Ophidiophobia. Some signs and symptoms of Ophidiophobia include panic, anxiety, difficulty breathing, sweating, elevated heart rate, nausea, vomiting, shaking, crying. and/or an inability to remain near a trigger (i.e. a snake or a photo of a snake). An Ophidiophobe would not only fear snakes when in live contact but would also dread to think about them or even see them on TV or in pictures. The history/evolution behind Ophidiophobia is demonstrated by scientists who have theorized that humans may have an innate reaction to snakes, which was vital for the survival of humankind as it allowed such dangerous threats to be identified immediately. Other causes may include a traumatic experience surrounding the feared item, possibly early in childhood. However, there are even times that phobias arise without being connected to past experiences. Possible treatments for Ophidiophobia include cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, gradual exposure, and even Hypnosis to assist in relaxation.

 

Fun Fact: The fictional adventurer Indiana Jones is an Ophidiophobe.

 

 

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Fears Episode 9: Trypanophobia

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“I never liked getting shots. When I go to the doctor, that’s the only thing I fear. I see a needle and feel like something’s gonna go wrong. I am also not a fan of the prick when they stab you with it. One of the worse parts – obviously other than the shot itself – is watching them swab you with the anesthetic right before. I just got a flu shot, and it sucked.”

Trypanophobia is defined as the extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. Although sometimes referred to as aichmophobia, belonephobia, or enetophobia, these terms may also refer to a more general fear of sharply pointed objects. In the medical literature, fear of needles is known as Needle Phobia. Since it is a phobia, it is defined as an irrational fear. It is estimated that at least 10% of American adults have a fear of needles, but it is likely that the actual number is larger as the most severe cases are never documented due to the tendency of the sufferer to avoid all medical treatment. Possible signs and symptoms of Needle Phobia when confronted with the sight of blood or a needle may include anxiety, increased heart rate, a drop in blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, and (more with Needle Phobia that almost any other) fainting. Needle Phobes’ responses to injections may cause sufferers to avoid inoculations, blood tests, and in the more severe cases, all medical care. Possible causes of Needle Phobia may depend on the type. These may include an inherited vasovagal reflex reaction, a traumatic/negative event/experience (including vicariously witnessing one), violent resistance/flight, or an inherited hypersensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia). Some scientists believe that it is likely that the genetic form of Needle Phobia has some basis in evolution. Thousands of years ago, humans who meticulously avoided stab wounds and other incidences of pierced flesh would have had a greater chance of survival. One evolutionary psychology theory even makes the connection between the increased inter-group aggression during the Paleolithic Era and that some forms of fainting (one of the most common symptoms today as we previously discussed) may have been non-verbal signals she or he is not a threat, and directly linked to stimuli such as bloodletting and injuries. Possible treatments of Needle Phobia may include Ethyl Chloride Spray, Jet Injectors, Iontophoresis, EMLA cream, Ametop gel, Lidocaine/tetracaine patch, Behavioral therapy, Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas), Inhalation General Anesthesia, and Benzodiazepines.

Fun Fact: Needle Phobia, especially in its more severe forms, can trigger and coexist with many other phobias and psychological ailments; for example, Iatrophobia, or the irrational fear of doctors.

 

 

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Fears Episode 8: Coulrophobia

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“When I was little, both my parents used to dress up as clowns, doing puppet shows, birthday parties, etc. – even my birthday party. It just made me really uncomfortable and I hated it. I shared a room with my brother and had the lower bunk of a bunk bed. We had this old stuffed clown that had been in our family for years and in the middle of the night he would slowly descend it down from the top bunk and I would awake to it in my face. A few years later I also saw the movie “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” which was extremely horrifying to me at thet time – if you are ever looking for a good horror movie, that’s the one. Nowadays I try to rationalize my fear but I still get chills when I see creepy smiles.”

Coulrophobia is defined as the fear of clowns. It is an irrational fear, often termed “abnormal and exaggerated”. It is a relatively common fear, and believed to affect approximately 8% of the population. The term Coulrophobia only dates back to around the 1980s, and many experts believe that it was probably coined on the internet, as it does not appear in any previously published psychiatric or other dictionary. Possible signs and symptoms can include sweating, nausea, feelings of dread, fast heartbeat, crying or screaming, and anger at being placed in a situation where a clown is present. Causes of Coulrophobia could include traumatic experiences or exposure to negative imagery in the media. The disguise, makeup, and artificialty of a clown’s appearance and performance can bring a discomfort and unease, especially combined with the uncertainty of their true identity. Young children especially are very reactive to a familiar body type with am unfamiliar face, connected to something known as the ” uncanny valley” effect. Because clowns are a man-made/created phenomenon rather than a natural one, there is not much historical/evolutionary evidence related to Coulrophobia. Feasible treatments for Coulrophobia include among many others Hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Energy Therapy, and simple exposure therapy.

Fun Fact: The circus company Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey runs an active Clown College in Florida.

 

 

 

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Fears Episode 7: Claustrophobia

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“I can’t stand closed places – I feel like there are no escapes and I’m trapped. I just feel like you have no control in that position. People could attack me and I wouldn’t be able to get away. This happens in almost any tight space – elevators, tunnels, even a haunted house. Just the other day I was in the bell tower and it was really scary. To go up you have to climb up a narrow flight of stairs and there’s this line to go up it and you can feel the walls on either side of you and then there is someone right in front of you and right behind you. I started hyperventilating because I couldn’t go down or up and there was just no way out and I wanted to back out of the tour altogether.”

Claustrophobia is defined as the fear of having no escape and being in closed or small spaces or rooms. It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder and thus an irrational fear. One study indicates that anywhere from 5–7% of the world population is affected by severe claustrophobia, but the number of more average cases is believed to be quite a bit higher as Claustrophobia is generally common.  The two key symptoms of Claustrophobia are the fear of restriction and the fear of suffocation. A typical claustrophobic experiences these in at least one, if not several, of the following areas: small rooms, locked rooms, cars, airplanes, trains, tunnels, cellars, elevators, or caves.  Some claustrophobics thus fear trivial matters such as sitting in a haircutter’s chair or waiting in line at a grocery store simply out of a fear of confinement to a single space, or even sitting in a dentist’s chair, particularly during dental surgery. Often, when confined to an area, claustrophobics begin to even believe that there may be a lack of air in the area to which they are confined. Possible signs and symptoms of Claustrophobia include breathlessness, excessive sweating, dry mouth, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality, or a full blown panic/anxiety attack. Possible causes of Claustrophobia include past conditioning experiences or genetic predisposition. Past conditioning experiences include a traumatic childhood experience such as being locked in a closet, being shut into a box or pitch-black room and unable to find the door or light-switch, falling into deep pool not knowing how to swim, getting separated from parents and lost in a large crowd, getting stuck in a hole or getting his or her head stuck between bars such as of a fence, or being left in a car, truck, or van – all resulting in the mind connecting confinement with danger. Vicarious classical conditioning is also a factor – a person seeing another person exposed directly to an especially unpleasant situation – in this case, observing someone getting stuck in a tight space, suffocated, or any of the other aforementioned examples. Genetic predisposition goes along the lines of the acquisition of claustrophobia possibly being a part of a vestigial evolutionary survival mechanism, a dormant fear of entrapment and/or suffocation that was once important for the survival of humanity and could be easily awakened at any time. Hostile environments in the past would have made this kind of pre-programmed fear necessary, and so the human mind developed the capacity for response to certain classes of seemingly dangerous stimuli. Possible treatments include Cognitive therapy, In vivo exposure, and interoceptive exposure, and the still-being-tested virtual reality distraction and separation of the fears of restriction and of suffocation.

Fun Fact: The opposite of Claustrophobia, Claustrophilia, is the love or arousal of enclosed, tight places.

 

 

 

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