Every person is afraid of something. Spiders, little green men or the end of the world according to the calendar of another extinct civilization. Psychologists say that in order to defeat fear, it is necessary to find the cause that gave rise to it. Of course, such work is the business of specialists.
But we can take the very first (and most difficult) step on our own: face our fears. Let's take a closer look at the most common fears and phobias - and perhaps they will cease to seem so frightening.
Let there be light
Perhaps the most common phobia is fear of the dark. Almost everyone feels uncomfortable in a dark alley or shudders when the lights in the whole house suddenly turn off in the evening. But people suffering from nykophobia (from the Greek nyktos - "night" and phobos - "fear") experience completely different sensations. For example, suddenly knocked out plugs can cause them an attack of a panic attack with increased heart rate, breathing, and increased blood pressure.
Adults rarely admit that they are terribly afraid of the dark, since this is considered to be a childhood illness: after all, only kids sleep with the nightlight on, the shadows from the curtain and the babayka hiding under the bed are scared. In fact, not only. Yes, adults are well aware that there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of in a dark room (at least in their own home).
But nevertheless they are afraid. They are afraid of the approaching night, under various pretexts they do not turn off the night light or leave the light in the hallway (they say, in the dark I bump into all corners). And they rarely go to doctors: it's a shame. Although there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.
Promotional video:
Man has been afraid of the dark for many millennia, so nytophobia can be considered the legacy of ancient ancestors who lived in caves and waited in horror for the onset of darkness. Which is quite understandable: they became defenseless in front of wild animals, most of which were perfectly oriented at night.
Over time, man learned to make fire, defeat predators at any time of the day - but the fear remained. And entrenched at the genetic level. Some of the descendants were more fortunate, some were less fortunate, some of them added personal negative experience to the common human fear.
In general, the fear of the dark is still alive today, even in megacities, which glow with neon lights at night. But for people suffering from nyphobia, this is not easier.
Do you know why? Because they are trying to hide from the darkness - instead of trying to make friends with it, or at least coexist peacefully.
In theory, they understand that there is no danger, but they continue to play along with their fear.
If the problem is not too serious, you can deal with it yourself. For example, while closing your eyes, imagine pleasant landscapes in bright colors. And when you wake up at night, think not about darkness, but about the approach of dawn. But if such techniques do not help, be sure to contact a specialist: understand that this is not childish fear at all, and you have nothing to be ashamed of.
Creeping reptiles
Another legacy of past centuries is ophidiophobia: a panic fear of snakes (from the Greek ophidion - "snake", phobos - "fear"). For primitive people, this fear was constructive: it helped to survive. The bite of a venomous snake was often fatal, and naturally there were no clinics with ready-made antidotes nearby.
But why are modern city dwellers afraid of snakes? Where they can meet them - perhaps in the zoo, behind the glass of the terrarium. But it is unlikely that a person suffering from ophidiophobia would want to visit this department. Panic can happen to him even at the sight of a harmless snake.
And many cannot see snakes even in pictures or on TV screens. In other words, today this phobia is absolutely irrational, and the reasons for it should be sought in early childhood. A sudden fright at the sight of a "crawling monster", a stupid joke of peers, a terrible tale, and possibly a real snake bite (in the forest, for example).
In order not to flinch every time you see toy snakes, not to get covered in cold sweat, accidentally turning on the program about animals, consult a doctor. Ophidiophobia can be successfully treated with psychotherapeutic methods, hypnosis. Agree: it is much more pleasant and calmer to live without fear and not shy away from every rustle in the park or on the lawn.
No windows, no doors
Claustrophobia (from Lat. Claustrum - "closed room" or "to be locked" and Greek. Phobos - "fear") - the fear of enclosed spaces - is more common than one might think. It's just that few people admit their fear.
However, thousands of people try not to use the elevators, almost never go down the subway, they are afraid to go into closets and cellars where there are no windows. Some researchers believe that claustrophobia is based on the fear of being left out of air, while others argue that it is the situation when there is "no way out" that scares.
Thus, people suffering from claustrophobia usually prefer to stay close to doors and windows (especially in unfamiliar places), they will never agree to do an MRI scan, fly in an airplane, and in a car, even in severe frost, they will certainly open a window.
A fear of confined spaces arises mainly due to psychological trauma, which in most cases a person does not remember. For example, a child was stuck in an elevator for a long time (especially if alone), or almost drowned (while suffocating), or “kind” adults locked the baby in a dark room for educational purposes.
But in any case, claustrophobia is successfully treated. So there is a way out of any enclosed space - the main thing is to want to find it.
About a mother-in-law with an ax and killers in white coats
Finally, let's talk about some rather strange phobias. It is no secret that many are afraid of doctors, such as dentists. Although for sure everyone has their own "favorite" doctor.
There is no need to explain why people feel fear of Aesculapius: unpleasant and sometimes painful procedures are unlikely to leave bright memories.
But until this fear (scientifically called jatrophobia - from ancient Greek iatros - "doctor" and phobos - "fear") has not degenerated into a phobia, the patient does not suffer much. And even in the office of a "beloved" doctor he gathers courage and behaves quite decently.
But if a visit to the doctor turns into torture, when a person cannot control himself, faints, drenches in a cold sweat, resists the examination with all his might, it is necessary to go to the doctor. Only to another. If, of course, you want to live happily ever after.
Another unusual, but recently very common fear is fear of the future, or futurophobia. It is clear that most adults strive for stability, reluctantly accept the changes, and even the general situation in the country and in the world does not at all contribute to confidence in the future.
However, such weaknesses are not directly related to futurophobia. But if unexpected changes (for example, an urgent move or the need to quickly get a new job) literally knock a person out of a rut, plunge into shock, cause a panic attack, then he needs help.
But jokes are considered the best way to deal with penteraphobia. It's about a pathological fear of … mother-in-law. Usually it intensifies when the mother of the beloved wife suddenly appears on the doorstep or informs that she is going to stay with the children for a month or two.
Of course, most men prone to this strange phobia do not fight in epilepsy at the sight of their dearest relative, but they experience constant internal stress, which is fraught with serious somatic diseases - up to heart attacks and strokes.
Some experts believe that penteraphobia is also the fear of the mother-in-law. But practicing psychologists assure that women, even those who, to put it mildly, dislike the spouse's mother, still do not experience pathological fear of her. Penteraphobia can, of course, be dealt with. And the most effective way is psychotherapy. Well, or a divorce.
Marina SHUMAKOVA