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Beliefs

Stygiophobia – The Fear of Hell

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The Fear of Hell Explained

Does the thought of hell or its possible existence leave you in a state of panic or weariness? Do you get sweaty and fidgety just thinking about it? Do nightmares of hell wake you in the night? Well, you’re not alone.

Many people, especially those who are religiously inclined, have a morbid fear-of-going-to-hell phobia. And why wouldn’t they? It’s touted to be the suffering capital of the great beyond. No level of suffering or pain on earth can compare to the kind that is said to occur in hell. No wonder you experience a great deal of anxiety at the thought of the place.

What is the fear of hell called? This phobia is named stygiophobia or hadephobia, is not unconnected to the fear of death that exists in most humans. If the thought of hell keeps you awake at night or distracted during the day, it’s safe to say you are suffering from stygiophobia.

Treatment is possible though. Others who suffer with this phobia have successfully learned to manage it, including those who are devoutly religious. The first step is to learn what your phobia is and what triggered its existence in you.

What Is the Fear of Hell?

Ancient Greek mythology, the Bible, Quran and many other religious documents all speak of a place called hell. A place where the souls of those who did not live according to certain religious tenets are sent to be tortured for all of eternity.

It is used as a cautionary tool to uphold morality and keep followers obedient to a god. Its counterpart, heaven, is known as a place of abundant goodness and rest, a reward for those who do live according to the dictates of their religion. Scientifically speaking, there is no irrefutable evidence of the existence of this place called hell.

Following the logic of its existence, the only people who could prove or disprove its reality are the dead. It is, therefore, a very peculiar type of phobia. Even though its victims understand there is no proof of its reality, they still can’t seem to shake off their morbid fear of hell.

What this means is that the basis of your fear is based purely on the knowledge you’ve assimilated from the different religious sources that speak of hell. You’ve then built up an unhealthy fear of a place you’re not entirely sure exists. Your fear is very understandable though.

Beyond even religious texts, a quick online search of “hell” leads to the most graphic descriptions of a torture chamber that is as mentally haunting as it is physically grueling. Manned by a devil and his league of demons, their only job is to cause pain and haunt your soul for an eternity.

Honestly, what’s not to fear?

Symptoms of Stygiophobia

As you already know, the mind is a phenomenal entity that can translate even the most baseless scenarios into physical symptoms. Most phobias are both psychologically and physically threatening to your well-being and stygiophobia is no exception.

Physical Symptoms

  • Anxiety disorder
  • Insomnia
  • Extreme theism
  • Panic attacks
  • High blood pressure
  • Loss of appetite
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Hyperventilating

Psychological Symptoms

  • Depression
  • Bad dreams
  • Constant guilt
  • Restlessness
  • Fear of death
  • Fear of the dark

How to Overcome the Fear of Hell

Thankfully, all hope is not lost. Those with stygiophobia can overcome their fear-of-hell phobia and go on to live a very healthy, fulfilling life.

Self-help

The following are some of the ways you can help yourself get over your fear-of-going-to-hell anxiety.

  1. Seek Out Survivors
    Many people have overcome stygiophobia. Seek them out. Contact them or join their online community. This will save you from feeling lonely in your pain and you can learn what others who struggled with this fear did or are doing.
  2. Limit Exposure
    If the only thing you get from religious texts or a certain religious environment is fear-mongering and panic-inducing messages, perhaps consider limiting your exposure to such things.
  3. Talk to a Counselor
    You can speak to an experienced counselor who can help you understand that you don’t have to live in perpetual fear of hell.
  4. Help Yourself
    Practice breathing exercises and meditation. Seek out your own truths by studying and asking questions. Develop an innate sense of morality stemming from your personal and social values. You shouldn’t need the threat of hell to encourage you do the right thing.

Professional Help

Beyond self-help, you would need the experience and expertise of a psychotherapist or other mental health specialist. This would enable you access to evidence-based and proven procedures administered by professionals. Expert’s study and prep for cases such as yours, give them a chance to help you. Some methods of professional therapy include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This procedure is popularly used on those with an anxiety disorders or irrational phobic tendencies. The process ensures that the patient grasps the nature of their phobia from its roots. Broken down into smaller easily digestible units, CBT helps the patient by identifying patterns of thinking that fuel their anxiety and providing them with alternative, healthful routes to mindfulness and mental health.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

This is another procedure used by experts to treat mental disorders, anxiety, and depression. Benefits of this treatment include emotional regulation, mindfulness, cognitive reorientation, stress, and anxiety management.

Speak about your fear to those you trust both within and outside your circle. Seeing a problem through someone else’s eyes can help provide some perspective on what is real or imagined danger.

You Can Work through the Fear of Hell

It’s important to remember that you’re not helpless or powerless in the face of your condition. Like other survivors, you’re capable of doing the mental and physical work needed to live a more rewarding life. The tips above along with prescribed professional therapy are the best ways to go from being a victim of stygiophobia to a survivor.

FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any 'fear of' or phobia. If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, we welcome your submission. If the story fits with our content and guidelines, we'll add it to our site.
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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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