6:47 am - Wednesday May 22, 2013

Insectophobia – Fear of insects


Insectophobia – Fear of Insects

Insectophobia or entomophobia is nothing but fear of insects. It can be characterized by Insectophobia Causes a range of Insectophobia Symptomsan abnormal, persistent and often unwarranted fear of bugs.

It is an abnormal fear or dislike of insects. Insectophobia causes a range of emotional reactions, anxiety or a full blown panic attack.

While adults with insectophobia understand that their fears are irrational, they often discover that facing or even a thought about facing such feared situation triggers anxiety or a panic attack.

Know your Insectophobia Causes

It is widely accepted that insectophobia, like other phobias occur due to a combination of traumatic events in life or because of heredity factors.

Insectophobia causes can be linked back to a triggering event that generally comprises of a traumatic experience during early stages of childhood.

Experts believe that a combination of heredity, genetics & brain chemistry together with life experiences may play an important role in development of phobias.

Identify Insectophobia Symptoms

Though it is a fact that most insects do not harm humans and are not a threat people with insectophobia start experiencing anxiety by a mere thought or sight of insects.

To avoid a confrontation, they may engage in activities such as cleaning floors, windows, rooms & doors. Entomophobia also includes a fear of spiders, mites & other insects.

Here is a list of Insectophobia Symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating
  • Numbness
  • Shaking
  • Panic
  • Trembling
  • Palpitations

Your fear increases when you are closer to the object of fear. An individual with entomophobia has as strong reaction just at the sight of or by thinking about the feared object.

Insectophobia Treatment

Insectophobia treatments generally involve counseling & therapy combined with medications. These treatment options help the patient deal positively with the related phobia and also bring relief from its symptoms.

Discussing openly with your therapist regarding your fears about insects is an important part of insectophobia treatment that can encourage you to overcome your fear.

Medicines help relieve panic attacks. Therapy sessions aid in revealing root causes & treatments help you deal with anxiety causing situations.

Treatment for entomophobia also involves systematic desensitization, a behavior technique which follows methods of classical conditioning.

The main goal is to prepare the sufferer to easily & successfully cope with the phobia & gradually eliminate his or her fear.

Related posts:

  1. Entomophobia: Fear of Insects
  2. Belonephobia: Fear of Pins & Needles
  3. Bathmophobia: Fear of Stairs or Steep Slopes
  4. Anthophobia: Fear of Flowers
  5. Elurophobia: Fear of Cats

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One Response to “Insectophobia – Fear of insects”

  1. Selini
    March 13, 2012 at 4:30 pm #

    I have a fear of basically, Well MOSTLY butterflies, moths, spiders, but also other loads of insects.. so this means i have Entomophobia right? Yeah, i guess, but I am mostly scared of butterflies, moths, spiders. I used to have fear of cats, But its gone now ahaha :) cause of someone.

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