Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
3K
3K
740
3K
Menu
Menu
static-img
Other Phobias

Asymmetriphobia: The Fear of Asymmetry

Share This Article
Share Post

What Is Asymmetriphobia or the Fear of Asymmetry?

Symmetry is often associated with beauty, but did you know it’s possible to fear its opposite, asymmetry, to such an extent that you become disgusted with it?

What is the fear of things that are asymmetrical? Simply put, asymmetriphobia is the irrational fear of asymmetrical things. Someone with asymmetriphobia will have an extreme reaction to things like a bad haircut, a piece of modern art, or the layout of a room. Anything with patterns, shapes, or colors that aren’t perfectly even from end-to-end can cause anxiety in a person with this disorder.

It may sound like an odd thing to fear, but it’s a real and legitimate condition that some live with. Is this type of fear something you experience? If you suffer from asymmetriphobia, don’t be discouraged. You can deal with it by learning more about its causes, symptoms, and treatments.

Asymmetriphobia Causes

Fears like asymmetriphobia are referred to as “irrational” because they don’t make any immediate sense to those who don’t suffer from it. That’s why it’s important to explore why people may feel this way, its underlying causes, and what can be done to alleviate the anxiety it causes. Asymmetriphobia hasn’t been studied as extensively as other phobias, so there’s a lot we still don’t know about its origins. However, there are a few worthwhile theories and explanations such as:

Genetics

Research about phobias has shown that it’s possible for phobias to run in families. You may be suffering from asymmetriphobia because someone in your family has it or a similar anxiety disorder.

Trauma

If you’ve had any strong negative experiences with asymmetry, whether in real life or in a dream, it’s possible for you to develop a phobia towards it. This is how most phobias begin.

Environment

Those who were raised in environments where perfection was constantly demanded may end up developing resentment towards anything imperfect. This resentment can evolve into fear or intense disgust when left untreated.

What Is Asymmetriphobia Like?

Take a moment to look around you. There are so many things in this world that are asymmetrical and simply looking at them is all it takes to arouse this fear. Having to cope with it is troublesome, to say the least. Asymmetriphobia, therefore, needs to be understood and dealt with early on. One of the worst ways in which this fear manifests itself is when sufferers fear people with asymmetrical features. Since perfect symmetry in human beings is rare, being around most people is enough to rouse asymmetriphobia. Do you have asymmetriphobia? Let’s take a look at its symptoms for additional validation.

Symptoms of Asymmetriphobia

The level of fear a person experiences varies, but the one symptom consistent with all phobias is anxiety. Depending on how much you fear asymmetry, your anxiety can range from nervousness and repulsion to panic attacks. Panic attacks are not rare when it comes to someone with asymmetriphobia. They’re more common than you think. In severe cases, a person may even need to be hospitalized. Want to know if you or a friend may be suffering from asymmetriphobia? Here are some of the symptoms to watch for:

Physical Symptoms

  • Difficulty breathing and panic attacks
  • Extreme discomfort and irritability
  • Inability to focus
  • Trembling and excessive sweating
  • Inability to maintain eye contact with someone who has an asymmetrical face

Mental/Emotional Symptoms

  • Nervousness
  • Anxiety
  • Irritation
  • Obsessive-compulsive behaviors such as constantly cleaning or rearranging your things and throwing out things you still need just because they’re asymmetrical

How Can You Deal with Asymmetriphobia?

The first step to dealing with asymmetriphobia is to understand the difference between disgust and fear. Fear and dislike are not the same things. It’s possible for someone to simply dislike asymmetry, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have asymmetriphobia.

It becomes a phobia when the thought of asymmetry alone, not to mention the sight of it, causes chills to run up and down your spine, makes you feel unbearably uncomfortable, and/or arouses defensive behaviors. Once you’ve determined that asymmetry triggers an extreme and irrational fear or disgust in you, you can look for ways to change how you reflexively respond to it. Read on as we take a look at possible treatments for asymmetriphobia.

Asymmetriphobia Treatment

Depending on the resources available to you and the intensity of your phobia, you can opt for self-help or professional treatment. The best way to deal with it, however, is to consult with a professional while also practicing self-help treatments to ensure a holistic recovery.

Self-Help

Relaxation and Self-Care

There are a number of well-researched relaxation and self-care techniques that can help you overcome asymmetriphobia. You could look into ancient cultural practices like yoga, Reiki, and meditation which teaches relaxing deep breathing techniques.

Exercise

Many studies and professional associations credit exercise with the ability to relieve stress and improve anxiety disorders. Exercise works because it tires your body out and releases endorphins which send a calming message to your whole body. If you don’t lead an active lifestyle, psychologists suggest that a 10-minute walk can be enough to ease some of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Although brief, it can still provide relief for a few hours.

Professional

Since it’s difficult to pin asymmetriphobia to a root cause, it has also been a tricky phobia for medical experts and psychologists to treat. Medication can treat a lot of its symptoms, however, they don’t address the phobia. Nonetheless, there are traditional therapies you can try to rid yourself of asymmetriphobia.

Exposure Therapy

One of the most effective treatments for phobias is exposure therapy. Every professional will have their own way of doing this. Most psychologists will expose you to asymmetry in small doses at first and guide you as you work your way up. The purpose of continuously experiencing the things you fear in small amounts is to help you build a tolerance for them and allow you to realize that what you fear cannot do you any real harm. Ideally, your fear will dissipate little by little until you are no longer sensitive to asymmetry.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Another popular method therapists use is cognitive behavioral therapy. This entails talking to your therapist about asymmetry. During your conversations, your therapist will try to learn about your past experiences, your emotions, and the kinds of thoughts you have. This helps them develop a better understanding of your condition and recommend a tailored plan which usually includes more discussions but can also include exposure therapy in the final stages. The goal is to identify the root of your phobia and address it.

Coping with Asymmetriphobia in the Long Term

Therapy and self-help methods are effective but not foolproof. Some fears are rooted way too deeply and cannot be separated from who you are, even after years of exposure therapy with a professional. So, what do you do when you’ve tried self-help and professional help but still can’t overcome your fear?

Well, the first thing is to never lose hope or stop trying. Keep exposing yourself to the object of your fear from time to time. Keep discussing it with a professional or even someone close to you if you prefer. Doing so will help you understand your fear better. Additionally, the mere act of talking to someone who listens, cares about you, and is non-judgemental can really help reduce your stress and improve your mood.

Final Thoughts: Talk with Someone and Be Sensitive

Asymmetriphobia is painful to deal with. It gets in the way of everyday activities and inhibits you from having the kind of life you want. When left ignored, it can get worse and drive a person to isolation and grief. The most important takeaway from this article is you should never be afraid to ask for help when something bothers you deeply. Also, remember to practice sensitivity towards people who struggle with asymmetriphobia or any phobia for that matter.

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.
0LikesShare Post

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.
This Pop-up Is Included in the Theme
Best Choice for Creatives
Purchase Now