Contents
We are glad to welcome you, dear readers of the site! Anglophobia is the fear and dislike of everything related to England or the English language. Today we will analyze the causes, symptoms and treatments for this phobia.
What is it?
This type of phobia is not particularly dangerous, but it causes a lot of problems. Just imagine, a person is sitting in a cafe, calmly communicating with friends, drinking coffee. And then suddenly a popular English song starts playing on the radio.
Someone will start to dance a little to the beat, someone will even sing along. But the Anglophobe in horror will jump up from his seat and try to run away as soon as possible. Because he had a panic attack.
He is suffocating, from a sudden alarm he cannot move normally, which is why he overturns what is on the table and so on. So-so situation, right?
In general, such people try to hide from others as much as possible that they experience fear and horror of Great Britain and everything connected with it. Because they themselves understand how unusual this is and may well turn out to be socially unacceptable.
It’s normal to be afraid of closed spaces or heights. If only because these are common types of phobias that affect the instinct of self-preservation.
But what is terrible about the British or what danger do their songs carry? It’s hard to say if you take this question seriously, right? Therefore, all the forces of the Anglophobe will be spent on restraining their emotions. And this may well lead to nervous exhaustion, irritability and depression.
What difficulties does it cause?
Just imagine how much everything related to the UK surrounds us. At first glance, it seems that the fear of England in itself is not so terrible. But a person suffering from this kind of phobia is in fact very limited.
He cannot calmly watch TV, view the news feed on social networks. Because at any moment something will appear on the screen that will provoke a panic.
When choosing clothes, he needs to control which country produces them. Even a banal walk in the park or a trip to work by public transport brings a lot of inconvenience and suffering.
In addition, trying to urgently leave the place where the horror has overtaken, he risks getting lost, crashing into something and even getting hit by a car. Because at the moment of panic, such a person experiences disorientation. His consciousness narrows, as it were, becomes a tunnel.
That is, he sees and understands only what his emotions are connected with at the moment. He does not notice time, people, environment, and so on in this state. This does not excite him as much as the need to quickly calm down and be safe, without feeling suffering and fear.
Main features
In principle, the signs are like those of other types of phobias. Dizziness appears, blood pressure and heart rate increase. It seems to a person that he will now suffocate or die because of something else, but he will definitely not be able to cope with what he was so excited about.
He also looks unimportant. His hands are shaking, his pupils are dilated, he is either too pale, or vice versa, becomes red, sweaty. And even in the cold season.
There is general weakness, nausea and even vomiting with diarrhea. In some cases, loss of consciousness, hysteria with pleas for help.
Causes of appearance
Genetic code
You will learn more about the causes of the development of phobias from the article, which is devoted directly to this issue. Now I want to pay attention to the historical nuances of its origin.
England has always sought to conquer the lands that belonged to its neighbors. For example, the territory of Spain, Scotland, France. And the population of these countries to subdue.
She was radically opposed to other cultures, traditions and language. Therefore, as a reaction to the persecution, representatives of other countries began to develop hostility towards the aggressor. Who was considered mercantile, racist, inhuman and selfish.
And this unpleasant, painful experience of «communication» with England was passed down from generation to generation at the genetic level. Therefore, a person born today cannot really explain why he is so categorically opposed to the English language and, in principle, the British themselves. Especially if you have never crossed paths with them before.
Psychological trauma
People are different, some, especially suspicious and impressionable, may well be injured, injured by criticism due to ignorance of the English language. Perfectionists after failing a test at school. And someone in general, after a meeting and unsuccessful communication with a representative of this culture. Especially if he had a close relationship with him, which, through his fault, suddenly ended and brought pain, disappointment, and so on.
Education
Parents who are categorically opposed to this country and its representatives can inspire their children with similar hatred from childhood. Each time paying attention to the evidence of the correctness of their opinion.
Or vice versa, an authoritarian mom or dad forced me to learn English. Severe punishment for mistakes and disobedience. Usually a child has no right to show anger towards despotic adults. Because they don’t allow it.
But it is inevitable in tough and violent relationships. Where to put her? Children most often direct it at themselves, destroying their health. Naturally, unconsciously.
And it happens that they are looking for another object on which they can drop it. Such an object may well be the language itself, which is forced to learn. Only because of the constant tension, the feeling of injustice and other things, the psyche, let’s say, does not stand up and fails in the form of the formation of a phobia.
Stereotypes in society
Suggestible people, and even with a tendency to develop mental disorders, run the risk of getting this particular variety after watching movies. Naturally, in which the representatives of Great Britain are positioned as cruel and inhuman, not deserving of love and respect.
Even after watching the news. The media have an impact on the minds of people, as they use various techniques to manipulate them.
Treatment
In this case, psychotherapy is best suited. It is important to understand why and at what point you developed Anglophobia.
It would also not hurt to start learning the language in order to gradually get acquainted with the culture and traditions of such a frightening country.
In severe cases, when a person with this disorder is overly aggressive and poses a threat to himself and those around him, a psychiatrist’s consultation is necessary.
No, not to «put» him in a psychiatric hospital. And to prescribe a number of medications to reduce anxiety, fear and aggression. Naturally, such treatment should take place in combination with psychotherapy.
Completion
Raise your children with respect for other peoples, people who are different from you. After all, think for yourself, why cultivate hatred of otherness in little men?
Thus, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of not only Anglophobia, but also other types of obsessive fears.
By the way, do you know what the fear of losing your mind, going crazy is called? If not, but you are interested, click on this link and you will get detailed information on how to deal with it and in what cases it appears.
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Take care of yourself and be healthy, calm and happy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina