Phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder, is defined as a high level of fear that a person feels against a certain situation, living-inanimate entity or place. People with phobias perceive certain dangers as much more threatening than they would normally be heard, and significantly avoid these perceived dangerous situations. When these people are faced with the conditions that are the object of the phobia, they experience great distress, which can manifest itself as a state of complete panic and horror.
What is Zoophobia?
Zoophobia, fear of animals is the status. This problem, which usually occurs in young children, can also be seen in adults. For sufferers, zoophobia can be quite stressful as most people make animals a part of their life and non-human animals are common in the world. There are various treatment approaches for people who have this problem.
Why Zoophobia Occurs?
People with this problem may develop a fear of various kinds of animals. This fear can be against any kind of animal, big or small. Sometimes patients with multiple fears of animals may experience one type of fear. The most common zoophobia in society is caused by dogs, cats and insects. The basis of these fears may be childhood traumas or different reasons such as disorders in the functioning of the brain. For this reason, the source of their fear should be determined by getting psychological support with zoophobia.
The feared animal species also show cross-cultural differences. For example, while fear of spiders is very common in England, spider phobia is not common in our country. Some people with animal phobias state that their phobia started after a bad experience with that animal (eg dog bite). In some, such an initiator cannot be found. The phobic patient typically has developed an avoidance behavior suitable for providing himself with a comfortable daily life. The friends who will or will not go to sit are certain (with or without a dog-cat).
Documents about the feared animal may not be watched on television. Where to roam depends on certain rules. In some cases, a photograph of the animal, or Even shapes resembling a can be feared (like the fear of curved lines in snake phobia).
What are the Reactions of People with Zoophobia?
- Increased heart rate
- Fear
- Panic state
- Rising anger
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Running
- Don't Cry
What are Zoophobia Treatment Methods?
Behavior therapy provides the best support for patients. In this treatment method, patients tell their phobia about the animal they are afraid of to the therapist and explain why it happened in their own way. In the treatment, desensitization sessions are organized for the patient, during which his reactions to animals and animal figures are evaluated and efforts are made to get the person used to them.
Otherwise, some medications can be used to help the patient cope with his fear. These drugs show effects that cause the patient to be unresponsive when he encounters animals that he is afraid of. But first of all, medicine is not recommended, the main method is to go over the fear.
For example, why are you afraid of dogs? Did it hurt you? Did you have a memory with dogs when you were little? When asked such questions, the patient will try to answer these questions. In addition, the subconscious plays an important role.
Zoophobia is an important condition; People who are afraid of animals should be treated patiently and persuaded to seek psychological support. If instead they humiliate or make fun of them, they should be avoided as they can cause more emotional stress and make the phobia worse.
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