Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
3K
3K
740
3K
Menu
Menu
static-img
Ichthyophobia – The Fear of Fish
Animal Phobias

Ichthyophobia – The Fear of Fish

Share This Article
Share Post

Working through the Excessive Fear of Fish

Do you have an exaggerated fear of fish, regardless of their size?

Do you exhibit an uncontrolled and irrational fear of fish or anything that looks like a fish?

Do you experience immense anxiety from the mere thought of fish, let alone seeing one physically? Is walking through a fish market a thing of nightmares for you?

If you find yourself exhibiting intense anxiety over fish to the extent of experiencing panic attacks, you may be suffering from ichthyophobia, or the excessive fear of fish. Other signs you’re likely to experience include increased breathing rate and trembling.

This phobia can be frustrating not just for the sufferer but even for those in their social circle. It affects various facets of an individual’s life.

Individuals with this phobia might recognize that the feeling of discomfort around anything with gills and scales isn’t normal. Yet they feel powerless to control the physical symptoms related to their fear.

Let’s Learn How to Solve the Problem

The fear of certain animals is to be expected, especially when those animals may pose a real risk to health and safety. However, if this fear is dominating you and changing your behavior, it’s time you sought help.

Although admitting you have a phobia can be uncomfortable, it’s the initial step toward seeking help. Thankfully, self-help and professional guidance can help patients conquer fear and lead a life without phobias. We say phobia(s) because the fear of fish often goes hand-in-hand with the fear of water.

Since the cause of the phobia is generally unknown, there are no treatments designed specifically for the condition. However, various treatment methods offer coping skills for managing the fear. These methods can help you improve symptoms dramatically.

What Is the Deep Fear All About?

Itchyophobia involves the persistent or irrational fear of fish. This somewhat rare phobia includes situations where a sufferer fears eating fish, seeing a dead fish, being around an aquarium, smelling fish, touching a fish, and so on.

In some cases, the fear is of a specific fish, say for instance, sharks. Despite statistics revealing that the odds of a shark attack are extremely low, one may experience a phobia of sharks.

Most with this condition accept that their phobia is irrational but continue experiencing it. While some might feel tense around fish for different reasons—such as the likelihood of being harmed—these feelings can develop into a phobia when it restricts someone’s daily functioning.

Like most phobias, fear of fish can manifest differently in each of us. This is because we have different thought patterns when it comes to fish. Unlike the reaction of caution one might exhibit when encountering fish in a natural setting, for instance, at the beach, those with this phobia simply feel extreme fear.

Wherever fish are present, one will likely experience a range of emotions and physical symptoms that are typical of a very intense state of anxiety or disgust.

Some even exhibit panic or anxiety attacks. One may experience elevated blood pressure, trembling, muscle tension, and excessive sweating. While panic attacks might not always be among the symptoms, they may still arise, particularly if the symptoms are severe.

Those with a phobia might find themselves avoiding their source of fear feeling they simply can’t face fish exposure in any way. For instance, they might avoid any body of water to make sure they don’t see fish.

However, fish can be hard to avoid unless you live in the desert. You’re likely to run across fish in grocery stores, restaurants, art, department stores, the media—the list of places that may have fish or related items is endless.

Such irrational thinking and excess worry is a major source of mental anguish for some. Although those with the condition might avoid their fear to decrease the likelihood of experiencing anxiety, this is counterproductive, because it will merely escalate the symptoms in the long term.

Ichthyophobia Symptoms

Since this condition is a part of the broader category of anxiety disorders, it shares symptoms with other phobias. Symptoms can be mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral. It’s worth noting that although most display similar symptoms, the intensity and frequency of symptoms can differ from person to person.

Physical Symptoms

In this case, the phobic stimulus, which is fish, sets off a chain of events in the autonomous nervous system, which may produce the following reactions:

  • Trembling and dizziness
  • Increased sweating
  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Pressure sensation in the chest
  • Shortness of breath

Emotional Symptoms

  • Panic attacks
  • Anxiety
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Needing to escape

Mental Symptoms

When you have a preconceived notion or association with fish, a phobia may develop. You may begin to dwell on irrational thoughts concerning fish and their traits. These thoughts can manifest in the following ways:

  • Obsessive speculation with fish
  • Feeling of unreality
  • Fear of the loss of control and being unable to handle the situation satisfactorily
  • Intrusive and uncontrollable thoughts regarding fish

Behavioral Symptoms

Like any specific anxiety disorder or phobia, a series of behavioral symptoms accompany ichthyophobia. These behaviors happen when the person encounters fish in any way, even in their thoughts in severe cases. Those with this phobia seek to avoid or escape  the dreaded situation. These behaviors are termed avoidance or escape behaviors.

Some exhibit avoidance behaviors to avoid encountering fish. They do so to prevent the feelings of anxiety and anguish triggered by these animals. Escape behaviors may emerge when one hasn’t been able to avoid encountering the stimulus in question. Such behaviors may help offer speedy escape from the present situation.

Ichthyophobia Treatment

There are several methods of treatment available for those suffering from the phobia of fish. Whether you choose self-help methods or professional guidance, you’ll find techniques to help you better manage or even learn to overcome your phobia of fish.

Self-Help

Although it can be challenging to deal with this condition, some self-help strategies can help ease your fears. When you find yourself exhibiting fear-related symptoms in reaction to fish, try a relaxation method to calm your body and mind. You can also learn to work on the phobia from a self-exposure angle.

Deep Breathing

This type of breathing helps you avoid the fight-or-flight response to situations that are physically or mentally terrifying. Relaxation techniques can help decrease nervousness while improving your relaxation reaction.

Visualization

This powerful technique can help you relax and alleviate stress. It entails using mental imagery to attain a more relaxed mental state. For instance, during an episode of panic you’re likely to dwell on the worry and other distortions that serve to worsen your fear. Visualization seeks to expand your relaxing ability by focusing your mind on calming images.

Self-Exposure

Although professional treatment under a therapist is ideal, you could adopt a self-help approach to ease your fears. Begin by visualizing yourself near fish, and then adopt relaxation approaches to calm yourself. Over time, expose yourself gradually to the stimulus. You’ll find it easier to attain a calm mental state. Just make sure you confront the fear in a well-controlled setting.

Professional Help

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This therapy works by helping you uncover the reason behind your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors when it comes to fearing fish. Understanding such aspects might help you adopt a more pragmatic approach when reflecting on your phobia.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

This evidence-based program provides intense mindfulness training to help those suffering from a fear of fish. In such a program, you can learn various skills to help alleviate the intense anxiety that accompanies your phobia.

Help Yourself Tackle Ichthyphobia

Consider these tips when you find yourself asking the question: How do I overcome my fear of fish?

Reaching Out

Consider joining a support or self-help group where you can link with others who identify with what you’re going through.

Self-Care

Obtain sufficient rest, be physically active, and eat healthy foods. Avoid caffeine because it could worsen anxiety.

Learning how to cope with ichthyophobia can go a long way towards normalizing your life. To overcome it, try one of the suggested strategies the next time you encounter fish. You’ll be well on your way to a fear-free swim.

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