Posted by trafego on 05 Novembro, 2021
Fear of balloons, kisses and even cheese! It may sound strange, but phobia is a disease and needs treatment!
Whether through horror movies or the fantasies that the dark provokes, fear is inherent to human beings and was an essential evolutionary factor for the survival of the species. In the beginning of human life on Earth, fear was the emotion that kept us alive in the face of dangerous situations.
Phobia is characterized as an anxiety disorder, therefore, it is an illness that needs to be treated. It is classified as anxiety-phobic disorder in the ICD 10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). The condition already affects about 20% of the world population, according to the American National Institute of Health.
the meaning of phobia
According to the MSD Manual, “Specific phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder. People who have a specific phobia avoid the specific situations or objects that trigger their anxiety or fear, or endure them under intense anguish, which sometimes results in a panic attack. However, they recognize that their anxiety is excessive and, for that reason, they are aware that they have a problem”.
According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), there are some subtypes of phobia referring to its classification:
Animal Type: caused by animals or insects. It usually starts in childhood;
Natural Environment Type: referring to aspects of nature, such as: storm, water, height;
Blood Type – Injection – Wound: the presence of these elements arouses the phobia;
Situational Type: caused by a specific situation, such as riding a plane, taking public transport, going through bridges and tunnels, among others;
The most peculiar types of phobia
The human mind is not linear, but rather an organized system that differs from individual to individual. Therefore, everyone's mind works in its own way, developing all sorts of thoughts, connections and ideas. Disorders live there and are born from the experiences that each one goes through, added to the design and functioning of their own mind. That's why there are all kinds of phobias, from the most common to the strangest.
1 - Vegetable Phobia: Lachanophobia
Going through the vegetable section at the supermarket can make some people mad. The fear of vegetables is real and has a name: lachanophobia! Everything bothers them: the shape, the smell, the texture… Generally, those who suffer from this phobia are excessively afraid of a specific vegetable
2 – Navel Phobia: Omphalophobia
Just seeing a navel, people with omphalophobia can have a real outbreak. They are terrified of seeing, touching or even imagining this part of their body. What if someone dares to touch your navel? Don't want to be that person...
3 – Phobia of big words: Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia
Ironically, this expletive “Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia” designates the phobia of long words or of unusual and technical usage, such as medical terms, for example. People who suffer from this phobia also do not use words foreign to colloquial vocabulary. Researchers suggest that the cause of this particular disorder may lie in fear of mispronouncing one of these words and being the target of jokes.
4 - Phobia of hair and hair: Caetophobia
For those suffering from caetophobia, Rapunzel, the long-haired princess from fairy tales, would be a real monster. Is that caetophobics are scared to death of people with very hairy or with a lot of hair. In general, these people cut their hair very short or shave their bald heads, and never let anyone touch these areas.
5 – Phobia of odors: Bromhydrophobia
Keeping personal hygiene up to date is more than a mere whim, it is necessary for one's health. But there are people who go a little overboard. The dread of feeling dirty and having body odors is called bromhydrophobia. These people take several baths a day and, by rubbing themselves so much, they can even get bruised skin. The fear of smelling can take these people away from many social events and physical activities that require sweating.
6 – Phobia of mirrors and looking in the mirror: Eisoptrophobia
The Evil Queen's famous quote in the fairy tale “Snow White”, “mirror, mirror of mine, is there anyone more beautiful than me?” it would never be said by those with isotrophophobia. Not because these people have low self-esteem, but because they're terrified of mirrors.
This phobia is linked to the supernatural, as people fear seeing ghosts and other beings in the mirror's reflection. Superstitions and horror stories have fueled this fear for generations, so it's easy to see why some people are so afraid of mirrors.
7 – Kissing Phobia: Philemaphobia
Not even romance movies can break the fear that those who have phylemaphobia feel when kissing or just imagine kissing someone. The aversion is such that these people may even feel shivering, dry mouth and nausea.
8 – Phobia of party balloons: Globophobia
The excessive fear of party balloons, balloons and anything that has this shape causes disgust for people suffering from globophobia. This fear is more associated with the noise they make than with their shape.
9 – Cheese Phobia: Turophobia
The “turophobic” could never go to the Cheese Festival, a typical event in Minas Gerais. Is that these people feel real horror to this delicacy, present in various foods.
10 – Flute Phobia: Aulophobia
It sounds bizarre, but the phobia exists and has a name: aulophobia is the fear of flutes. It is not the simple fear of the object, but of everything that surrounds it: the sound and the person who plays the instrument can make the “aulophobes” run away.
They may seem like weird phobias, but for those who have them, it's a real nightmare. The fear of being judged and ridiculed greatly affects treatment, which is why many people fail to see a psychologist. Phobia is an anxiety disorder, that is, it is a disease that affects about 20% of the world population, according to the American National Institute of Health. Like any illness, it needs to be taken seriously and treated.
“The techniques range from medications and relaxation therapies to the use of technologies. The specific procedure for the claustrophobic is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, also used in other phobias, making the patient gradually overcome the problem”, informs the UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro).
Like any illness, the phobia needs to be treated and taken seriously. See a psychologist and don't let fear play a leading role in your life.