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Situational Phobias

Fear of Anime – Animephobia

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Fearing Anime. Rare but Real.

Have you ever watched an anime and felt the intense urge to turn your head away? Does the mere thought of anime give you anxiety? Can you not tolerate people around you talking about anime?

If you answered yes to these questions, you may be suffering from animephobia, or the fear of anime.

Animephobia? Sounds strange, right? Anime has been wildly popular, not only in Asia, but also in the West. You’d think there wouldn’t be a problem with something so well liked. And yet, animephobia is a very real condition.

Keep reading to learn more about this phobia and how you can deal with it effectively.

What Is Animephobia?

Anime is a Japanese term that refers to a certain style of animation. Many genres of animation are famous for having their own style.

Animephobia is related to otakuphobia, a phobia of all forms of Japanese cartoons, including anime and manga. And since the art form of anime originated in Japan, the phobia of anime may also extend to a fear of all things related to Japan.

If you’re confused about the meaning of animephobia, it is essentially the fear of anime. When a person with animephobia encounters anime, they usually attempt to avoid it. They might try to shut off their screens as quickly as possible or close their eyes, so the image is out of sight.

Those suffering from this phobia may even experience panic at the sight of anime. They might try to run away. In extreme cases, one suffering from the phobia may become violent towards others who like or talk about anime.

Animephobia is a rare phobia. Because of this, those suffering from this fear find it difficult to convey their feelings. They may fear being judged or ridiculed.

If you have a fear of anime, you’re not alone. Given the different kinds of phobias that exist, animephobia is just another irrational fear. But it can be treated.

Animephobia Causes

The causes of animephobia are unknown. However, like most phobias, animephobia may be due to a childhood experience like watching a horror anime or coming across an anime with too much gore.

There is also a possibility that the fear of anime was acquired from a family member as a hereditary trait. Environment is also a possibility. Watching someone suffer from this fear can trigger the same fear reaction in others.

Animephobia Symptoms

Like any other phobia, animephobia can significantly impact a person’s physical and mental well-being. It’s important to recognize the symptoms early, so you can get the necessary treatment.

Here are some of the major physical and psychological symptoms of animephobia.

Physical Treatment

  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Trembling
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry mouth
  • Hyperventilation
  • Tightness in chest
  • Hot flushes or chills

Psychological Symptoms

  • Fear of dying
  • Feeling of dread
  • Feeling anxious
  • Confusion
  • Fear of harm or illness
  • Fear of losing control

A person suffering from animephobia may experience a few or many symptoms simultaneously, depending upon the severity of the phobia.

Animephobia Treatment

Those suffering from animephobia might typically avoid any situation that may expose them to anime videos or images. This avoidance behavior can cause them to believe they can handle the phobia. They may not even consider being treated.

However, it is not always possible to avoid fear triggers. You may find yourself in a situation where you encounter anime. For example, your spouse or child could be a die-hard fan of anime, or you may have a neighbor who loves anime so much that they wear anime t-shirts.

This is why, regardless how trivial you may think your phobia is, professional help is recommended. Take a look at some of the ways in which you can address your animephobia.

Self-Help

Self-help is one of the first forms of treatment for any type of phobia. As the person suffering from a phobia, you are well aware of the situation or object that triggers your fear and your symptoms, and realize that the fear is irrational.

One way you can deal with your animephobia is by keeping a journal in which you detail every thought related to the phobia. It can help you rationalize your thoughts and overcome your fear while documenting your progress.

You could also consider practicing yoga and meditation to help reduce the anxiety and nervousness accompanying a phobia.

 

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a type of talk therapy that primarily focuses on recognizing negative thought patterns and modifying them.

In the case of phobias, your fear influences your thoughts and vice versa. The fear reaction is influenced by your perspective of the object of your fear. CBT can help identify these negative thoughts related to the object of your fear, in this case anime, and help you replace them with positive ones.

CBT aims to help you develop a more accurate depiction of reality. It will help you realize that the characters in the anime are only fictional and pose no real threat.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is one of the most commonly used techniques used by therapists to help their patients overcome fears and phobias. In exposure therapy, the object of fear is gradually introduced to the patient in a controlled environment in the presence of a health professional.

For animephobia, the patient will typically be first asked to talk about anime and then visualize it. They will then be exposed to photos of anime one at a time. Later, once the patient is able to be around images of anime, the therapist may even introduce anime videos and gradually increase the length of the videos.

This is a gradual process, but it is known to be highly effective in helping people overcome their phobias, including animephobia.

Medication for Animephobia

In extreme cases, when self-help and different types of therapies are unsuccessful, the therapist may put the patient on medication. However, this is a last-resort, short-term therapy in order to avoid long-term dependence.

Antidepressants, SSRIs, and beta-blockers are typically used for the treatment of all phobias and would also be suggested for animephobia.

Combination Therapy

When a single therapy doesn’t work, the therapist may employ a combination of therapies to help you make progress. Additionally, in cases where the patient is experiencing extreme symptoms, the doctor may combine therapy with medication.

Learning to Cope with Animephobia

Anime is a global phenomenon. One may encounter pictures of anime on t-shirts or mugs or just stumble across someone watching anime in public spaces. And with the increasing popularity of this genre, it will not be a surprise if someone from your family becomes an anime fan.

This is why simply avoiding the object of your fear is not a healthy option. The good news is that animephobia is treatable with self-help and help from health professionals.

Practicing mindfulness or calming activities like yoga or journaling can help reduce the anxiety that results from animephobia. You can also share your thoughts and feelings with your close friends and family so you have a support system as you work to better manage your fear.

 

In Conclusion

Animephobia is the fear of anime, an animation style that originated in Japan. As with any other phobia, those suffering from the phobia of anime may go to extreme lengths to avoid coming into contact with anything anime related. It is important to remember that this phobia can be treated. It is always better to get help and learn to manage your fear rather than avoid it.

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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