It is one of the most common specific phobias. It is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person experiences anxiety and fear in response to seeing or thinking about animals. Dog, cat, mouse, insect, spider and snake are the most common phobic animal species, but the species may vary depending on culture and environment. For example; While spider phobia is more common in Europe, in Turkey it is predominantly snake, cat and dog.
Especially If animal phobia, which begins in childhood, is not treated, it settles in the person and continues to increase in the following years. . It is known that it is seen in 10% of the population. A fear of animals that does not negatively affect a person's life is not considered a phobia.
Based on World Mental Health research, 9.8% of women are reported to have a specific phobia compared to only 4.9% of men. It is seen that jokes made by scaring animals (snakes, mice, etc.) in the society are also effective in the fact that fear is more common, especially in women.
Why does animal phobia occur?
Although the cause of many specific phobias is not fully understood, The most specific phobias appear to emerge in childhood. A person may develop a phobia after a particularly stressful or frightening experience. It appears that it may occur as a result of social learning or witnessing the situation that causes fear, as well as exposure to a traumatic event related to the feared animal (such as dog bite, bird chase, insect sting, etc.). In fact, the presence of frightening expressions about animals in a fairy tale read during childhood and the person's current fear of this may cause the person to develop a phobia about the animal in question.
SYMPTOMS
A person with zoophobia may experience the following symptoms;
A feeling of uncontrollable fear and anxiety at the presence or thought of an animal that provokes the phobic response, or avoiding the source of the fear that causes the feeling of anxiety,
Controlling one's emotions despite recognizing that the fear response is excessive and disproportionate to the actual threat
Disruption of the flow of thought when exposed to the animal one is afraid of,
The emergence of some physiological symptoms along with the feelings of fear, panic and anxiety:
*Shallow and fast breathing
*Increased heart rate
*sweating, shivering, numbness
*Dry mouth
*Dizziness
*Nausea
In addition to these, behavioral symptoms that occur are
*Crying
*Shouting
*Tanger Tantrum
*Trying to hide behind a person or object
*Frozen or silent
TREATMENT
There are several treatment options that can help reduce or even completely treat phobias such as zoophobia.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), zoophobia and other anxiety disorders. CBT focuses on identifying and changing irrational thoughts and beliefs. People who receive CBT often work with a licensed therapist to develop a variety of skills to help them identify and manage irrational beliefs and negative behavior patterns.
Other Options A mental health professional may recommend a combination of exposure therapy, CBT, and medication for people with multiple phobias or anxiety disorders.
People with Animal Phobia may have other phobias and other anxiety and mood disorders. The presence of more than one mental health condition may require a combined treatment approach that includes both psychotherapy and medication.
Tips to help people with Animal Phobia;
Especially if your family or close circle have this If there are individuals with phobias, you should avoid statements such as 'Don't be afraid, I'm with you, nothing will happen' in order to help them. This phobia reflects the message to him/her that there is something really to be feared about the animal.
Again, sudden exposure to the extremely fearful animal is shocking. may lead to negative consequences. Instead, the degree of fear is reduced with approaches such as gradual exposure (showing the photo first, talking about it in a controlled environment, etc.) accompanied by an expert.
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