Everyone has experienced fear. Whether it was from an emergency or a fake haunted house, that feeling of terror is unforgettable. Everyone has felt their stomach drop, the hairs on the back of their neck stand on end, and the cold sweat that all comes with fear. Some people feal in more often, with phobias.
One of the reasons I love watching scary movies so much is the way it tackles phobias. It takes the fear out of my brain and puts it on the screen in an easy-to-digest way. And oftentimes, there is an ending that squashes whatever was causing the fear. It’s cathartic.
Most people have a phobia. Whether you are scared of snakes, heights, or death, it is pretty common to have a phobia. However, some people have fears so deep and present, that it impacts the way they live, like myself.
Over the past year, I have seen a lot of people talking about one specific fear, trypanophobia, or fear of needles. With a huge influx of people getting the COVID vaccine, this very common phobia has become much more present in media. Along with that awareness comes people’s misunderstanding, and judging that fear.
I have had to deal with judgment with my phobia my whole life. It is exhausting trying to prove the validity of what I’m feeling, and it hurts to watch others going through the same thing. I have witnessed the comment sections of videos created to spread awareness of trypanophobia. People laugh and say things like, “it’s only a little needle” and “it doesn’t hurt that bad.” These comments may seem harmless, but they are the opposite.
Trust me, people with phobias know that their fears aren’t rational, and reading comments as I mentioned above make it tough, and they trivialize what people are feeling.
I am very passionate about phobias and all that comes with them. I have dealt with it a lot throughout my life, and I have heard all the responses that come with them. So, I wanted to talk about them on my blog, and I thought October would be the perfect month for it. The month when fears and phobias are all over the place.
What is a phobia?
A phobia is an intense fear of sometimes, so much so that it interferes with your life.
There are so many different kinds of phobias, you can find extensive lists by simply googling, “list of phobias.” But here are a couple of common phobias:
- Claustrophobia- fear of enclosed spaces
- Aracnophobia- fear of spiders
- Trypanophobia- fear of needles
- Hemophobia- fear of blood
- Acrophobia- fear of heights
- Aerophobia- fear of flying
- Ophidiophobia- fear of snakes
- Phasmophobia- fear of ghosts
- Necrophobia- fear of the dead
The list of phobias is endless and extensive. People can develop phobias for a whole host of reasons. Sometimes it is because of experience, sometimes it is completely random. I have never encountered a snake, but I definitely have some form of ophidiophobia. Something about their wiggly bodies freaks me out.
What is my phobia?
As I mentioned above, I have a phobia. I have multiple phobias, but only one impacts my daily life. It is a very common phobia, but one that most people don’t like to talk about. I have a phobia of doctors. It is called latrophobia, and it is the fear of doctors and hospitals.
And no, I’m not “scared” of doctors, in the way you see fear in the horror movies that you watch this time of year. But I experience anxiety and panic attacks surrounding my health and going to the doctors.
I have had all the reactions when I tell people about my phobia.
“Aren’t you a little old to be scared of the doctors?”
“That’s not a good phobia to have.”
“Come on, there is no reason to be anxious about doctors. they are just trying to help you.”
I have heard all of these and so much more. Never once has any of these helped with my phobia, and what I was experiencing.
The biggest problem is, I have heard most of these things from doctors themselves. I have had medical staff make jokes about my anxiety, and belittle me. In a situation where I should be advocating for myself, I was infantilized because of my phobia.
Why am I talking about phobias today?
Well, Halloween is a time that many people face fears. Whether it is watching a horror movie, or walking through a haunted house, there is so much fear going around in the month of October. So what better time than now to talk about it.
I also think it is so important that people are aware of the reality of phobias. I can only talk about my experience, but the pain that comes with people making my fears feel small is unmatched.
People simply do not know the reality of phobias and the deep fear that people feel when they are facing them. People just don’t know, and it leads to misunderstanding and ignorance.
I have even had doctors who did not know what latrophobia was. In a field surrounding so much anxiety for everyone, it baffled my mind that so many of my doctors and nurses have no idea what the word latrophobia means.
What does Halloween have to do with phobias?
Halloween is the holiday of fear. All of the ghosts, ghouls, and monsters thrill and excite us. Think of all those Halloween decorations being sold in stores. Most of them relate to a different phobia. You have ghosts, giant spiders, and creepy skeletons. There are even Halloween costumes of evil doctors covered in blood.
Because of this, Halloween is a fantastic time to confront your fear in a controlled environment. You know that fake spider is not real, but getting near it might still make you anxious. This is step one in exposure therapy, one of the main forms of therapy used with phobias.
Disclaimer: Don’t attempt exposure therapy without the help of a medical professional.
Halloween mixes fun with fear, and it can make talking about things that scare us a little more accessible.
How should you respond to someone telling you their phobia?
So, your friend, sibling, or parent has decided to tell you about their phobia. How should you react, and how can you help them.
First off, be thankful. This person has decided that they trust you enough to tell you a very vulnerable piece of information about them. Something that you could exploit, and they are trusting you not to do that.
Second, think before you respond. It is easy to laugh it off. You might even think this will help, making the fear less real. But it doesn’t. So take a moment, and think about what you would want to hear if you were revealing this information. Here are some examples.
“Thank you so much for telling me this.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult it has been to deal with this phobia.”
“What can I do in the future to help you when you are struggling?”
Some simple words of reassurance can go a long way. When I divulge to friends my fear, I immediately know who I can trust, and what relationships I need to back away from. Because my phobia is very prominent in my day-to-day life, in regards to anxiety levels. So I know I need someone who can help me, talk through what I’m feeling, and maybe even go to appointments with me.
Is there anything you can do about phobias?
Yes and no. Phobias are always going to be a part of life. You can develop new ones in a matter of minutes, and it is difficult to lose them.
But, there are ways to help. I am no expert in this subject. I am not a psychologist, just someone who has done a lot of internet research. But there are therapists that specialize in treatments of phobias, usually using exposure therapy or hypnotherapy.
So do some research, and look into the recourses available to you.
I have spent years learning to manage my phobia so much so that I can go to most of my medical appointments alone. It is possible to make improvements! I don’t think I will ever lose my phobia, but it sure is getting smaller with every step I take.
I want to end this post with a big thank you to anyone who read this. This was a very vulnerable thing to write, as I have been made to feel horrible time and time again about my phobia.
But it is Halloween season, the season for fear! This is the perfect time to confront your fear. Or, if you aren’t ready for that, even acknowledging, learning, and researching your fear is a huge first step to taking the power away from your nervous system. Sometimes that baby gets a little too overactive.
If you are comfortable, let me know in the comments below what your fear is. I would love to continue this conversation down below!
