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Political Phobia

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Political Phobia Meaning

 

What is meant by “political phobia”? Although the term may seem like something from a strange online quiz, it’s actually becoming more and more popular, particularly in the highly charged political environment we live in today. Although the phrase “political phobia” isn’t officially recognized in psychology (yet!), it’s more often used to refer to an extreme, illogical dread or aversion to politics or political discourse.

Imagine this: As you browse through your social media feed, a barrage of negative content, incessant fights, and intense political debates appear out of nowhere. Alternatively, you could be at a family meal when the topic of politics comes up. In that case, the atmosphere changes, tensions increase, and your heart starts to race. If the mere notion of these situations makes you want to hide from the world, you may be suffering from what many refer to as political phobia.

This “phobia” might take on different forms. When politics are brought up, some people experience extreme anxiety. Some, on the other hand, have a deep-seated antipathy that makes them completely avoid engaging in or talking about politics. In severe circumstances, it may potentially cause panic episodes or very strong stress reactions. However, why does this occur?

Why Develop a Political Phobia?

To begin with, politics can cause division. It frequently pushes people to face underlying differences in values and ideas, which can be quite difficult. In the modern world, when politics permeates practically every part of our existence, it can be challenging to avoid the never-ending onslaught of facts, viewpoints, and—let’s face it—drama. This setting has the potential to develop into a full-blown phobia for someone who is already prone to worry or stress.

The dread of confrontation or disagreement is another aspect that exacerbates political phobia. It’s a fact that political conversations may rapidly become heated, and not everyone can handle such a high degree of intensity. Another important factor may be the fear of destroying connections or facing rejection because of one’s opinions. It’s similar to treading carefully because saying the incorrect thing could cause a rift with friends, family, or coworkers.

The worst part is that staying away from politics completely isn’t always a good idea. Whether we like it or not, politics has an impact on a wide range of areas of our lives, including social issues, the economy, and the environment in which we live. How then may a person suffering from political phobia manage?

Examples of a Political Phobia

Different people experience political phobia in different ways, depending on their background, level of sensitivity, and exposure to diverse political environments. To demonstrate how political phobia could manifest in a person’s life, consider the following four hypothetical examples:

1. Social Media Takedown

Emma used to love using social media to keep up with friends and remain informed. She began to feel overpowered, though, as political arguments on these forums grew more regular and heated. She began to feel a great deal of anxiety from the nonstop onslaught of political viewpoints, news, and disputes. Despite the fact that this meant losing contact with some facets of her social life, Emma’s response to the stress was to totally shut down her social media accounts and withdraw from online networks.

2. Fear of Family Get-Togethers

Michael despises family get-togethers. Not because he doesn’t love his family, but rather because politics constantly comes up at family events. He had previously watched and participated in tense arguments that resulted in yelling bouts and wounded sentiments. He gets anxious now just thinking about those conversations. Consequently, Michael frequently justifies his absence from family gatherings, particularly during politically tense periods such as election seasons.

3. Staying Away from News and Current Affairs

Sara used to be quite interested in current affairs and pride herself on knowing a lot of information. But the nonstop barrage of divisive political news began to wear on her mental state, causing her to have insomnia and a persistent sensation of unease. Sara decided to cut herself off from all political news sources, podcasts, and articles. By doing so, she felt more detached from the outside world but also more at peace.

4. Aversion to Talking Politics

Alex likes to have in-depth conversations and hang out with pals. But if the conversation drifts into politics, Alex shows signs of anxiety and seeks to change the subject. His dread is a result of a few instances in which voicing his ideas provoked arguments and insults. Because of his phobia, Alex is now reluctant to make new friends or speak up in social situations for fear of unintentionally starting a political argument.

The people in each of these cases suffer from a type of political phobia that affects their ability to communicate with others, how they take in information, and how they live their lives in general. Finding healthy coping strategies and methods to interact with political content without being overwhelmed is essential for preserving a balanced viewpoint and general well-being, even if these reactions are understandable given how politics can be so controversial.

Managing a Political Phobia

First, it’s important to establish limits. It’s acceptable to avoid difficult conversations and to restrict your exposure to political content, particularly on social media. This is about safeguarding your mental health, not burying your head in the sand.

Participating in politics on your own terms has its own benefits as well. Learn as much as you can about the topics that are important to you. Your self-assurance will increase as a result, and you might even develop a constructive interest in politics.

And let’s not undervalue the significance of conversation. Talking politics in an open and courteous manner can help dispel some of the myths surrounding it. Finding common ground and realizing that it’s acceptable to disagree are key.

Finally, receiving assistance from a mental health expert might offer you with coping techniques customized to your needs if your political phobia is significantly affecting your life.

Political fear may not seem like much in the big picture, but it is a reflection of the times we are living in. It emphasizes how important it is to be polite, understanding, and most importantly, able to listen. Ultimately, our mental health should not be sacrificed in order to successfully navigate the turbulent waters of politics. So, the next time politics comes up, remember that it’s acceptable to stand back and take care of yourself, take a deep breath, and set your boundaries.

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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