Hello dear readers! Blattophobia is the panicky fear of cockroaches. Few people like them, usually these insects are disgusting, but phobes experience horror even at the thought of them.
And today we will consider what causes the development of this disorder, as well as how to get rid of it.
What is it like?
Cockroaches, as already mentioned, few people are able to touch, as they have a rather unpleasant appearance. In addition, no one is immune from meeting with them. Since these insects have the peculiarity of actively multiplying in absolutely any conditions.
They are the most ancient inhabitants of our planet, having managed to survive in moments when most representatives of the animal and plant world disappeared forever.
In fact, they have existed for more than 300 million years. Imagine this figure, it is really impressive.
Only here the feature of survival and adaptation is the only thing that deserves respect. In fact, they bring a lot of harm to the owners of the houses in which they live.
For example, they damage food, valuables, carry infection, and even worm eggs.
The term itself comes from the Latin word «blatella», which means «cockroach», and, of course, fobos, that is, strong fear.
A person with this disorder experiences a panic attack even at the thought of the existence of these terrible insects. What then to say about a chance meeting with them.
Therefore, usually the fob carefully inspects the room from the threshold before entering it. In severe cases, he does not leave the house at all, devoting all the time to the search for such dangerous cockroaches.
Sometimes it seems to him that they are sitting on him, which is why he tries to throw them off, to coward them. In general, the level of anxiety goes off scale, he is not able to relax, fall asleep soundly, restoring strength and resources spent on experiences.
And this leads to exhaustion, depression, loneliness and degradation.
In the times of Russia, the presence of Prussians in the house was considered a sign of well-being. After all, if they are wound up, it means that there are products and other valuable things that can be spoiled. They have nothing to live in poverty. Accordingly, people did not fight them, but even vice versa. Only now, Peter I was a blattophobe, and demanded that they be carefully swept out of every hut where they had to stop for lunch or an overnight stay. If he happened to notice even a dead insect, he immediately tried to leave the room, having previously given a slap in the face to the owner.
Symptoms
In a panic attack, the fob experiences discomfort in the chest, resembling a heart attack. There is also dry mouth, shortness of breath.
It becomes so hard to breathe that it seems as if death from suffocation is about to come. This, of course, frightens even more, only aggravating an already difficult condition.
Breathing becomes so shallow and frequent that there is an excess of oxygen in the blood. Causing dizziness, loss of consciousness and, paradoxically, a feeling of asphyxiation.
Blattophobia also makes itself felt by an increase in blood pressure, which can cause a sharp headache, redden face and neck. Tremor of the limbs, to the point that a person will not be able to hold something in his hands.
His voice trembles, his chin trembles, his movements become uncertain and clumsy. Sweating intensifies, and throws into the heat even in the cold.
Sometimes there are stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, along with diarrhea. A person loses control over his behavior, because he cannot stop being afraid by the power of thought.
Therefore, it makes no sense to invoke logic and use willpower. He understands that his fear is irrational, but at the moment of meeting with the one who instills horror in him, he is not able to think of anything else but salvation.
So reckless actions are quite likely, for example, loud crying and pleas for help from complete strangers. Then, when the panic passes, he experiences intense shame for the behavior, which only increases the development of the phobia.
Causes
Negative experience
A phobic disorder also appears in the event of an unpleasant situation associated with this pest.
Suppose a person woke up in the middle of the night from the fact that a Prussian was climbing on him. This, besides being scary, is also disgusting. Such an incident is truly remembered for a lifetime.
Media
Modern cinema is rich in horrors involving various insects. If an impressionable person watches, for example, «House with cockroaches», «Hominovores», «Invasion of cockroaches» and other films, then this may well provoke the development of blattophobia in her.
Especially if this happened in childhood, when the child’s psyche is not yet able to cope with information that is difficult to perceive.
If Chukovsky’s «Cockroach» can easily injure him, then what can we say about horror films.
Education
If mom or dad suffers from blattophobia, or is simply afraid of insects, then it is likely that the child will repeat their style of behavior and reactions.
Especially if parents talk about how dangerous and unpredictable animals they are.
Infection
If a person is afraid of contracting diphtheria, tuberculosis, leprosy, or even just “catching” worms, he will be critical of everything that surrounds him.
And realizing that the Prussians are the source of these infections, obsessive ideas about their presence in his home will literally drive you crazy.
Treatment
The fear of cockroaches can be completely cured, it is only important to do this with the help of qualified specialists, which are psychotherapists and psychiatrists.
If you self-medicate or even let everything take its course, waiting for recovery just like that, there is a risk of aggravating an already difficult condition.
Phobias are mental disorders that may well be a sign of the presence of a more serious illness, for example, schizophrenia.
That is why it is necessary to go for a consultation with a doctor who will either refute the diagnosis or confirm and prescribe treatment.
With the help of a psychotherapist, you will have the opportunity to find out from when and why you developed blattophobia.
Work through your emotional traumas, explore what behaviors are limiting, destructive for you.
Release accumulated emotions and get a new experience of contact with the object of fear that does not destroy.
This is how behavioral therapy works, the client gradually gets used to what was frightening to the point of horror, at first just trying to talk about it without tension, then looking at pictures and so on.
If necessary, the psychiatrist prescribes sedatives and tranquilizers. This is if a person is sufficiently anxious, aggressive. When depression makes itself felt — antidepressants, insomnia — sleeping pills.
In general, he prescribes medications that improve the somatic condition, so that the blattophobe has the opportunity to work directly with his experiences in the process of therapy.
Completion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Finally, we want to recommend an article about arachnophobia — the fear of spiders. By the way, it contains detailed methods on how to overcome a phobia.
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Take care and be healthy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina