Month: February 2020

5 Comments Posted on Passion Blog

Mysophobia: The Fear of Germs and Dirt

Are you constantly afraid of germs on public surfaces, or do you have a hard time trusting food that you did not prepare yourself due to the possibility of contamination? Though it is important to be aware of germs, being perpetually afraid of any possible pathogen or bacteria is very difficult in the interconnected world that we live in today. Mysophobia, or more commonly known as “germaphobia”, is the intense fear of dirt and germs of any kind. The phobia is frequently associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and often the two go together. OCD obsessions are associated with urges to repeatedly and continuously perform certain actions that can create distress or anxiety for a person.  Most germaphobes feel the strong need to constantly be washing their hands and take other measures to avoid coming into contact with contaminated surfaces of any kind. 

Photo from: https://undepress.net/mysophobia/

Symptoms of mysophobia arise when a person either comes into contact with a potentially contaminated surface or is exposed to dirt of some kind. These symptoms include shaking, increased heart rate, crying, or sweating. Though not all people experience mysophobia in the same way, typically, responses occur regardless of whether the perception of germs can be physically observed or not. For example, they can occur when the object of the phobia can be seen, such as dirt and dust on a computer keyboard, or just when the germ contact is perceived to have occurred, like touching the handle when flushing a toilet. 

Typically, one can recognize signs of mysophobia in other individuals based on the preventative measures that they take within daily tasks. Individuals with mysophobia may profusely wash their hands until they almost bleed, or spend excessive time cleaning their belongings. Others may avoid physical contact with others, avoid public spaces believed to be germ-filled, or refuse to share any items with others. What makes mysophobia different from an awareness of germs is the manner in which it inhibits daily interactions with others and personal relationships. Travel and work may become virtually impossible as a result of the phobia as well. 

In regard to the cause of the phobia, mysophobia can often be linked to anxiety and depression if it runs in your family. The phobia can manifest as a coping mechanism for anxiousness and worry. Others may experience a traumatic event with germs, or a debilitating illness in their past that leads them to become perpetually afraid of even day-to-day germs. Other experts have taken a more learned approach in investigating the cause and the phobias increased frequency in recent years. They attribute an increase in mysophobia to the increased abundance of cleaning materials and hygiene products. New items like toilet seat covers and constantly accessible hand sanitizers can positively increase awareness of germs to the general public, but can also trigger a fear or need in others to constantly be cognizant of the potential germs on every surface around you. The newly perceived need to continually sanitize and clean can create unrealistic expectations for cleanliness and add the intensity of the fear of contamination.

Because the fear of germs is frequently associated with OCD tendencies, medication is more frequently used as a treatment plan for mysophobia as opposed to treatment for other phobias. However, if seeking to get to the root of the fear, exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapies can be more beneficial in the long run and help the patient grow out of the phobia. 

Be careful when making fun of someone or claiming someone to be a “germaphobe”! It is a serious phobia that can be detrimental to a person’s day-to-day happiness and comfort!

Information from: 

https://www.psycom.net/mysophobia-germophobia

https://www.verywellmind.com/all-about-msyophobia-fear-of-germs-2671871

 

4 Comments Posted on Passion Blog

Arachnophobia: Fear of Spiders

Very few people like spiders. Turning and seeing a Daddy Long Leg in your garage can create responses ranging from immediately wanting to kill it to sprinting out of the house and not looking back. Spiders are adverse looking creatures that make many people uncomfortable, but the actual phobia of spiders is much more irrational and can invade the lives of many people around the world.

Arachnophobia is an intense fear of spiders or other animals in the arachnid family, such as scorpions.

It is actually the oldest phobia in Western culture. The root cause of arachnophobia is much more obvious than phobias I have talked about previously. Venomous spiders have long been a danger and have been linked to illnesses and infections. This fear is learned through the general knowledge that many species of spiders are poisonous and can bite victims, through scientific evidence, television and media, or even a direct experience. Therefore, the evolutionary response to being adverse to all spiders, regardless of whether they are poisonous or not, makes sense in regard to human’s innate desire to avoid dangerous and potentially fatal situations. 

If you have arachnophobia, you will likely take action, either consciously or subconsciously to avoid situations and environments where spiders may be present. Unfortunately, spiders are in abundance in most places of our world. They are especially necessary in their abilities to “eat about the equivalent of the weight of the entire human population in insects each day”. Imagine a world without spiders! Though they may incite fear in many, the benefits they provide are invaluable to the earth and its ecosystems as we know them. Therefore, it is important that a person with arachnophobia is able to contain their fear symptoms or work to overcome the phobia as a whole in order to enjoy many of the everyday aspects of life. The positives truly do outweigh the negatives for spiders, despite the small and rare percentage of fatal incidents that are caused by spider venom. In some instances, victims of arachnophobia will choose to miss out on particular travel destinations due to the fear of the known spiders in the area. 

Some symptoms of Arachnophobia include increased heart rate, dizziness, hot flashes, sweating, nausea, or even hysteria. In some arachnophobic people, these symptoms can be a result of other things that are associated with spiders. For example, the sight of a cob web can trigger similar fear-induced responses that would be experienced with the sight of an actual spider. 

There are treatment options for people that face arachnophobia, just like there are options for other phobias as well. The most common types are exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). An example of CBT treatment would be a therapist attempting to replace the scary thoughts associated with spiders with more rational thoughts about the way in which spiders live. Additionally, there are relaxation methods and even medications that can help ease the anxiety associated with the sight of spiders and other arachnids. 

In most cases, spiders will not bother you unless you bother them. Avoid a possibly scary situation by letting them be! They will rarely hurt you if you do not instigate any type of contact with them.

Information from:

https://www.psycom.net/arachnophobia-fear-of-spiders

https://www.phobiaguru.com/fear-of-spiders-arachnophobia.html

https://www.verywellmind.com/spider-fears-or-arachnophobia-2671679

Photo from:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fear-of-spiders-became-part-of-our-dna-during-evolution-say-scientists-10156573.html

Posted on RCL

Extra Credit Blog: “Writing Hope for Democracy: Translating a Decade of Deliberation”

 

Photo of book cover from: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/hope-for-democracy-9780190084523?cc=us&lang=en&

I attended the presentation on “Writing Hope for Democracy: Translating a Decade of Deliberation” in Willard Building on February 8th, 2020. The event was hosted by the college of Communication Arts and Sciences, and it was ultimately led by two people, John Gastil and Katherine Knobloch. John works here at Penn State now, but Katherine was one of his doctoral students a few years ago. Upon meeting and working together, they decided to collaborate on a project of their own in measuring and researching democratic deliberation across the country. Katherine discussed how during her years in academia, she has watched how this country has alienated the regular citizen in its democratic practices. She has done extensive community engagement work to investigate this phenomenon and work to include more citizens into the political process, and she and John have taken extensive data on many attempted scenarios of new democratic deliberation across the country. However, they recognize that social scientific methods do not provide a one way roadmap. That is why, together, they have written a narrative nonfiction book called Hope for Democracy on how to tap down on hyper-partisanship and get the everyday citizen back into politics.

In terms of inspiration, the Citizen’s Jury that began in the 1970s and ultimately intervened in Pennsylvania senate’s race proved to be an introductory example of what could come from citizen reviews, but ultimately, it was not super successful because of how it was conducted through the government. The question then arose, what if the citizens came to a conclusion about a topic, and used that information to educate voters for an upcoming election? 

The central example that Katherine and John discussed during the lecture was the creation of Citizens’ Initiative Reviews, also known as CIRs, in order to involve more citizens into the political process. The first few took place in Oregon and Seattle, and the process of the review took 3 total steps. It began with taking a stratified sample of the area, proceeding with a four day deliberation, and finally, publishing a statement to be distributed to other citizens. The statement would be for voters to use when casting their own votes, and it would consist of arguments for and against the measure at hand. From the experience, there were some difficulties that arose, but Katherine and John were careful to take note of what could come from these obstacles. For example, it proved to be difficult writing a single statement as a committee after key findings were discussed. Creating a cohesive piece of text to be interpreted by the voter was a challenge. However, a final statement was read to a handful of reporters in front of the state capitol. In reflecting after the fact, panelists recognized that they had talked and learned a lot about the issue through the deliberation process. Perhaps, these new facets to democracy could really work and involve citizen discussion and improve voter education.

Most CIR panelists reported being highly satisfied with the CIR process, and they felt that they had been treated with respect. John and Katherine began testifying on the observations/work they had done. Ultimately, the CIR was signed into law in 2011, and is now a permanent part in Oregon’s governing process. Its ability to inform the electorate can have a huge impact in the area through its delivery to citizens in the official voter guide produced by the state.

Since the CIR has been implemented, data shows that voters’ choices usually move in tandem with CIR panelists’ support for measure. Additionally, CIR statements have a modest positive effect on voters’ issue knowledge. After reading the CIR Statement, voters report being more likely to vote on that issue. All of these statistics were delivered during the lecture via graphics that John and Katherine created to share their findings. I really bought into the idea that these processes have potential to regain people’s faith in democracy because voters will feel like they are given opportunities to be unbiasedly educated on issues that are on the ballot.

Since they have been implemented, however, CIRs have not been foolproof. Funding is scarce, and there are a handful of advocates who clearly still hope to kill the process. They steadily plug along, often hopping a number of hurdles to get their information onto voter guides regardless. Also, Pilot CIRS have been conducted in states across the country, not just in Oregon, and Finland and Switzerland have pilot-tested a few just this year. Their goal of seeking to directly empower the public is resonating with certain groups and spreading to others around the world. 

The story that Katherine and John presented through this lecture is just one example of deliberative democracy movements taking place in this country. There are institutional barriers, hurdles, marginalization that can feel overwhelming when trying to make steps like this. However, there is still hope in their book and from the CIRs that have made progress across the country. To me, the most inspiring part of the talk is the fact that this growing democratic movement started with a group of graduate students. A story of grad students is changing the world! I left the lecture holding a message to have hope and seize our agency in everything that we do. Though sometimes it feels like only baby steps are being made, it is stories like this that create big change and make it into history books. I am so glad I attended the lecture, and I would love for Citizen Initiative Reviews to make it to the East Coast and become a staple for local governments.

 

5 Comments Posted on Passion Blog

Trypanophobia: The Fear of Needles/Injections

Photo from:
https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/emotions/fear-of-needles

Trypanophobia is the intense fear of needles and injections. This fear often begins in the early years of childhood, when children are scared of what the sensation of being stuck with a sharp object might feel like. However, most adults grow out of this as they get older and recognize that the severity of the pain often does not outweigh the positives that can come out of certain medical procedures. For those that the fear sticks with, trypanophobia can prevent medical treatments and be a significant roadblock in terms of maintaining their health. 

The fear of needles is actually very common, affecting almost 25% of people. This number is greater for children and adolescents, and normally starts to taper off as people grow older, but still, a high percentage of the general population claims to be afraid of needles and injections to a certain degree. In fact, according to PSYcom, about 7% of grown adults avoid vaccinations because of their fear. This can pose a danger to people’s immune health and put them at a great risk of contracting potentially life-altering illnesses. Though it may start with just needles, if trypanophobia is not addressed early on, it can expand beyond just the injection and become a phobia of medical treatment as a whole due to its association. In the most extreme cases, people who face the fear will avoid and choose to not attend routine medical checkups altogether. It is important that if you face trypanophobia, you are able to manage it in a way that does not harm your opportunities for medical care. Recognizing that the fear is there and practicing calming techniques to get through the process is the most common way that adults push past their fear in order to continue to take care of themselves.

Where does trypanophobia come from? Perhaps this seems obvious, because most of us have experienced immunizations or blood work in our lifetime to know that the sensation is less than enjoyable for the patient. Though often manageable, the pain that is associated with needles is a primary factor that scares many people and produces a fear that stays with them. However, medical professionals have been unable to pinpoint where this fear actually comes from, other than due to the coupled sensation of a sharp prick that only lasts temporarily. There is ultimately no long term danger associated with injections, and for that reason, doctors have had a hard time figuring out the root, long-lasting cause behind the phobia. Some consider the fact that during the era of antibiotics, puncture wounds were difficult to treat and posed potentially fatal effects. It is possible that this approach has been passed on through generations, despite the fact that today we have manners in which to treat these types of injuries. Another theory resides in a totally biological response called vasovagal, which can trigger a person to pass out at the sight of a needle or blood of any kind. This is solely dependent on genetics and is often attributed to all high stress situations.

The most common symptoms of trypanophobia are pretty consistent with other phobias. They can include, but are not limited to, dizziness, fainting, anxiety, high blood pressure, quickened heart rate, and even insomnia, perhaps the nights leading up to a doctor’s appointment. However, like most phobias, the fear of needles is treatable and should be addressed to ensure that the person can endure the necessary medical care that they may need in their lifetime. Treatments consist of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy, and if need be, there are certain medications that doctors can use like anti-anxiety and sedative pills that can calm a person down enough to perform the injection. 

The most important thing to remember about trypanophobia is that unlike some other phobias, the consequences of avoiding needles and injections altogether is not necessarily feasible in today’s world of medical treatment. In order to properly take care of yourself, one must recognize trypanophobia early on and find ways to live healthily with its effects. 

Information from:

https://www.verywellmind.com/trypanophobia-2671700

https://www.psycom.net/trypanophobia-fear-of-needles

https://www.healthline.com/health/trypanophobia#treatment

4 Comments Posted on Passion Blog

Claustrophobia: The Fear of Confined Spaces

Photo from: https://phobia.wikia.org/wiki/Claustrophobia

Though I do not experience it myself, claustrophobia is a fear that I have seen present in many peers as well as in the media. Claustrophobia, or the fear of tight and crowded spaces, is one of the most common phobias, and it can be triggered by a wide variety of scenarios. Some examples of these triggering situations can include riding on a crowded elevator, driving through heavy traffic, being in a windowless room, or even riding on an airplane. Any situation where the possibility of being permanently trapped or forced to remain inside arises, there is a chance that a person with claustrophobia could face the negative symptoms associated with the fear. For most patients, this is attributed to the fear of not being able to obtain the needed amount of oxygen to breathe, rather than simply being afraid of a small space. The confined space is normally just a trigger to induce a fear of what could possibly occur within that small area. Of course, it depends on the person to determine what a “small space” is, depending on the severity of the phobia.

The symptoms of claustrophobia are quite similar to what a panic attack would feel like. These can include sweating, shaking, chest tightness, nausea, intense anxiety, hyperventilation, or even feeling disoriented. As a result of these quite debilitating feelings, many people who experience claustrophobia take preventative measures to avoid fear-inducing situations, like opting to take the stairs rather than an elevator, or standing near the exits in crowded rooms. Granted, claustrophobia is a fear that is very dependent on the defined “personal space” of the person. Say that a man’s “personal space” bubble is eight feet around him. If another person happened to be standing six feet away, he could begin to panic. Therefore, it is hard to discern a general rule of thumb for how claustrophobia can affect different patients.

Now, where does claustrophobia originate from, and how does a person acquire such a fear? The general consensus is a fear of not having enough oxygen, as mentioned before, but if this is an innate human concern, why does it not affect everyone? Many subjects of claustrophobia trace the fear back to traumatic events in their past. Some examples of such can include being trapped in a closet for an extended period, being abused/bullied, or even being stuck on a crowded subway. However, another common theory as to why some people become claustrophobic is because they see their loved ones experience it. If, as a child, someone sees their mom experience symptoms of claustrophobia in a small space, they might associate fear with those types of situations. It is almost like a type of classical conditioning in this way. Perhaps then, this creates a theory that fears like claustrophobia are simply passed on between generations because we see adults act in fear, so we associate those negative emotions and carry on the phobia!

Claustrophobia is very common, yet it varies significantly from patient to patient.  The phobia is treatable with psychotherapy, though many people outgrow it as they grow older. 

It is important to recognize the fear in your family and friends and take action to avoid putting them in situations where symptoms of the phobia can arise!

Information from: 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37062.php#causes

https://www.healthline.com/health/claustrophobia#treatment