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Other Phobias

Automatonophobia – Fear of Statues

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Fear of Statues, Chip Away the Fear

Do you avoid looking at mannequins arranged in store windows? Does the mere thought of statues and dummies creep you out? Has the idea of wax statues at Madame Tussaud’s, or maybe even robots, left you feeling filled with anxiety?

If that’s the case, you are most probably dealing with automatonophobia, which is the phobia of statues, automatons, humanoid robots, wax figures, and other figures that look like humans.

Automatonophobia may seem like a silly thing to be afraid of. But given the rapid technological advancements, dealing with a fear of things that look human is no joke. This seemingly trivial phobia can significantly affect one’s quality of life.

Fortunately, like other phobias, automatonophobia can be treated. With proper guidance and a positive mindset, you can overcome your phobia!

 

What Is Automatonophobia?

Automatonophobia is the fear of large statues, humanoid rotors, audio-animatronics, and other human-like figures. It is a rather unusual phobia included in the official list of phobias.

This is because a phobia of human-like figures would not have been acknowledged in the past. However, the advancements in technology have exposed the common man to new things, many of which can seem terrifying.

And while everyone feels some degree of unease or nervousness around human-like figures, this statue phobia goes way beyond mild discomfort.

Automatonophobia is a specific and irrational fear phobia, which is different from a disgust phobia. In a disgust phobia, a person is disgusted by their trigger, while in fear phobia, the person is afraid of the object of their phobia.

A fear-based phobia thus causes a person to adopt an avoidance behavior, making drastic changes in their lifestyle to avoid the object of their fear.

Automatonophobia Causes

Getting to the root cause of any specific phobia is largely dependent on the patient. The fear may stem from the possibility of the statue falling on them and killing them, or the lifeless human-like figures may remind some of corpses. Also, the statues may seem scary to some, because they look like creepy people who stare without moving a muscle. Others may think the statues are looking at them or judging them.

It is almost impossible to pinpoint the exact cause of automatonophobia. However, there are a few theories as to what leads a person to develop this phobia of mannequins and other human-like figures.

Genetics

Having a genetic predisposition to mental issues, especially anxiety disorders such as automatonophobia, greatly increases the risk of developing a phobia.

Past Experience

If someone had a traumatic experience involving statues or other human-like figures, they may develop a phobia towards them.

Learned Behavior

Phobias can also be learned. If a family member or friend is suffering from a phobia, their vivid explanation of how or what they feel when facing the object of their fear may cause you to develop a fear of the same object.

 

Automatonophobia Symptoms

Symptoms of automatonophobia vary from one person to another and depend on the severity of the phobia. Here are some of the most common symptoms observed in those with this phobia.

Physical Symptoms

  • Sweating
  • Nausea
  • Increased heart rate
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shakiness
  • Dizziness
  • Disorientation
  • Diarrhea

Psychological Symptoms

  • Anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Fear or dread
  • Fear of dying
  • Insomnia
  • Decreased concentration

 

Automatonophobia Treatment

The treatment plan will depend on the individual’s symptoms, the severity of the phobia, and the impact it has on their life. The main treatment routes are:

Self-Help

There are several things you can practice yourself to overcome your phobia. Often, you are aware of the symptoms you face, your triggers, what calms you down, etc., so self-help works great for coping with phobias.

With self-help, you can work at your own pace. Additionally, you can always take a step back if anything feels overwhelming.

One of the tried and tested methods for dealing with phobias is journaling. You can write down your thoughts, fears, and triggers and keep track of whether your symptoms improve or worsen over a period.

You can also try different methods of self-help and document your response. Compare them to determine which is working best.

Some things you can try are:

  • Relaxation techniques like deep or rhythmic breathing
  • Exposure therapy
  • Meditation
  • Yoga

These techniques help you calm your nerves and have a better understanding of your thoughts and fears. However, if your case has worsened and you still do not feel comfortable about your triggers, it’s best to consult a professional.

Professional Help

Counselors or therapists have extensive experience dealing with people with mental issues including anxiety disorders. They have more in-depth knowledge of phobia and how the symptoms can be treated, so they will know the right course of action to help you recover as early as possible.

Some of the therapies used to treat the fear of statues are:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Systematic desensitization
  • Exposure therapy
  • Hypnotherapy

Medication

In rare cases when a person is not responding to therapy, the doctor may prescribe medication. Medication is given alongside therapy and is tapered off as  the patient starts responding to therapy.

Medications are given to cope with the symptoms of anxiety and to help the individual stay calm. Most times, antidepressants or beta blockers are prescribed.

These medications should only be taken as prescribed by a medical professional to avoid developing a dependency on the drug.

 

Learning to Cope with Automatonophobia

The fear of statues is difficult to live with in today’s modernized world. With automatons considered a sign of technological development, they are proudly displayed almost everywhere. So, whether it is a carnival, a museum, or even a park, there is a very high probability of spotting such human-like figures.

This fear can affect both your professional and social life. However, with professional help and self-help techniques, you can retrain your mind to stop fearing statutes.

Work toward rationalizing your thoughts and remind yourself that the phobia is just in your head. With the right support and care, you will be able to live your life to the fullest.

 

Conclusion

Statues, mannequins, and automatons can be found at every corner of shop windows or malls, so living with automatonophobia can be difficult. However, it is possible to get past your fear and live a healthy and happy life.

Talk with your loved ones, consult a doctor, and take the necessary steps to help you cope with your symptoms and overcome your phobia.

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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