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

Ornithophobia – Fear of Birds

Share This Article
Share Post

Diffusing Ornithophobia: Figuring Out Your Fear of Birds

When you step outside do you check the sky for birds circling? Do you shutter at the sight of ten birds perched in the tree in your yard? Is a certain Alfred Hitchcock movie crossed off your list to watch, EVER? If the answer is yes, then you might suffer from ornithophobia or the deep fear of birds.

The first step in conquering the fear of our fine, feathered friends is to understand the whys and wheres. Read on and hopefully this fear of yours will fly away.

From sitting in the same place on the couch each time, to the “Roommate Agreement,” to other seemingly anal tendencies like his signature door knock—“ Knock-knock-knock, Penny?”—Sheldon Cooper of the television show The Big Bang Theory could seem pretty quirky to say the least. One of the most popular characters on one of the decade’s defining sitcoms, Sheldon’s antics may seem unrealistic to some.

Unless you fear birds, of course.

It’s no small irony that one of Sheldon’s more “grounded” fears is of flying aviary menaces. Or at least that’s how he sees them. The season five episode “The Ornithophobia Diffusion” gives us both the fear of birds’ name as well as some insight into how some people approach their fear of bird phobia.

So, what is a fear of birds, how is it caused, and what can you do about it?

What is the fear of birds called? It’s called ornithophobia.

Similar Phobia: The Fear of Owls-Strigiformophobia

Strigiformophobia

How common is ornithophobia? Read on to learn more about that.

Ornithophobia 101

As the episode’s title indicates, ornithophobia is the answer to the inevitable question of “what is the fear of birds called?” This phobia toward birds is general enough to include everything from being afraid of the sight of birds to a specific fear of large birds and worrying that they may attack you and everything in between.

If you suffer from this particular phobia, you’re not alone. It is one of the most common personal social phobias in the United States, with at least 12 percent of the population suffering from some form of a fear of birds according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Causes and Symptoms

It should come as no surprise that birds are, after all, a trigger to this particular condition. That said, birds are everywhere and the overwhelming majority of the population get along with birds fine. Sure, pigeons may be pests in New York and London (and beyond), but most of us don’t shriek in terror at these ornithological nuisances like Tippi Hedren trapped in a phone booth while under aviary attack in Hitchcock’s The Birds.

So, what’s going on here?

Well, it’s films like The Birds that may be partly to blame for an irrational fear of birds among some. The degree to which media impacts social behavior is debatable. For instance, despite studies which indicate that violent video games don’t actually increase violence, people still debate that point today.

However, media can reinforce and exacerbate preexisting phobias. This is why, if you have a fear of the ocean or a fear of sharks, watching Jaws is probably a bad idea.

What Jaws did for sharks, The Birds did for, well, birds by cultivating a general fear of them. From Hitchcock’s film to Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” to their appearance in modern horror stories, birds (especially dark ones like crows and ravens) are often depicted as ominous characters or portents of doom and death.

 

To be fair to our aviary friends, of course, the reverse is also true, as from doves to mockingbirds to songbirds and everything in between, there are at least as many positive depictions of birds as negative ones. Shakespeare references ravens in Macbeth, sure, but also references turtle doves as an allegory for love in his long narrative poem “The Phoenix and the Turtle.” In Romeo and Juliet, ravens and doves are both mentioned: “Beautiful tyrant! fiend angelical! Dove-feather’d raven!” Juliet exclaims as she expresses her conflicted feelings after Romeo kills Tybalt.

As such, while the media may exacerbate your fear of birds, it is not likely to be the sole root cause. So what is? There are several potential causes of your fear of birds phobia including:

  • Personal Experiences
    This is the most common source of all social phobias. If you had something bad happen involving a bird previously in your life, that is terrible. It is also, however, something that is particular to you and thus can be hard to communicate to others.
  • Observational Fears
    This is where we might classify The Birds and similar media. Maybe you saw a film where birds were terrifying, or saw them do something scary in real life, or heard about either from a friend. Either way, you’re left with a learned fear of birds.
  • Informational Fears
    Sometimes, information can be a dangerous thing. You can research a topic so much and so obsessively that you can start to fall prey to the worst possible images, videos, facts, and biases about the thing in question.
  • Genetic Predisposition
    It may also be possible that some are born with a genetic predisposition to fearing birds.

Related and more focused fears include:

Avoidance of birds and places you might encounter them is easily the most apparent symptom of this condition. In addition, you may suffer from certain symptoms that are common to social phobias, including:

  • An overwhelming sense of dread
  • Feeling like you need to run away and escape your situation
  • Feeling like you’re out of control
  • Elevated heartbeat
  • Trembling
  • Excessive sweating
  • Chest tightness
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

Other People that suffer from Ornithophobia:

 

     

 

Self-Help Treatments

One of the most common methods for dealing with phobias of all kinds is exposure therapy. Sometimes the best way to tackle one’s personal phobias is to confront them head-on.

This is the method they use on The Big Bang Theory. After Sheldon has had enough comedic encounters with birds to satisfy the laugh track for one episode, Bernadette brings a Blue Jay for him to pet.

Of course, this needs to be approached with caution and care. There’s a fine line between the kind of calm, nervous petting Sheldon does to the jay Bernadette’s holding and making someone feel like they’re trapped in a scene from The Birds. While Bernadette’s initial calm and soothing attitude are good to emulate when trying to introduce birds to someone who fears them, adding her “Just pet the bird, you big baby!” is probably not a good idea.

In addition, there are steps you can take to conquer not just a phobia of birds but other anxieties in general. For example, deep breathing exercises and meditation can help imbue you with a deeper sense of calm. What’s more, a support group with people who also struggle with this phobia can help you tackle it, get over the shame of feeling alone, and maybe help you make friends along the way.

Professional Treatments

What if you’re as skeptical as Sheldon Cooper would typically be, consider all that self-help “hokum” and demand a more “scientific” approach?

Visiting a psychologist (albeit not one as caustic as Dr. Hofstadter) can help you get to the bottom of your phobia.

Finally, if your phobia is especially strong, your psychologist might consider prescribing you antidepressants or other medications to help you cope. Sedatives and beta blockers are also sometimes used. However, this is typically a last resort.

Ornithophobia may not be a quirky Sheldon Cooper-esque experience, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be an insoluble one either. With a combination of exposure therapy, support, and potentially additional psychological care, you can fly free of this phobia and bid it goodbye (or bazinga!).

 

A  story from Susan P.

I suffer quietly from Ornithophobia (fear of birds). I realized I was afraid of birds at a young age, but have not had my fear diagnosed by a physician, however, I honestly fear birds with pigeons causing the most fear.

When I was young my father placed a bird feeder on the back porch, in my play area. I would see the birds flying into and out of the feeder and would run back indoors as soon as I saw a bird. I told my dad that the birds scared me and asked if he would move the feeder farther away from the play area. My mom put her foot down and the bird feeder stayed right there. My mom loved listening to the chirping of the birds in the morning and wanted to be able to see the birds eating. I just tried my best to steer clear of the birds and stopped using the play area.

This battle with my mom went a step further as she also liked opening the windows (without screens) to let fresh air into our home. One day two birds flew in while I was watching cartoons and landed right above my head on the ceiling. I ran out of the room screaming. My mom just told me that the birds would not hurt me and to quit being a drama queen.

A similar situation occurred when I was in college and a professor left the window open and a pigeon flew in and landed on my desk. Before long there were at least 4 pigeons flapping around the room. Due to being terrified, I stood and yelled for someone to get the birds out of the room. I made such a scene, the windows would never be open again if I was in the classroom.

As an adult, I cannot stand the sight of a bird or its wings flapping even more so. My heart races and I have the flight feeling. I usually try to walk away cautiously, but sometimes I have a full-blown panic attack. I mainly steer clear of any place where I may see or hear a bird, including movies or TV shows that may have a bird chirping or flapping its wings.

 

Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Ornithophobia

I suffer quietly from Ornithophobia (fear of birds). I realized I was afraid of birds at a young age, but have not had my fear diagnosed by a physician, however, I honestly fear birds with pigeons causing the most fear.
When I was young my father placed a bird feeder on the back porch, in my play area. I would see the birds flying into and out of the feeder and would run back indoors as soon as I saw a bird. I told my dad that the birds scared me and asked if he would move the feeder farther away from the play area. My mom put her foot down and the bird feeder stayed right there. My mom loved listening to the chirping of the birds in the morning and wanted to be able to see the birds eating. I just tried my best to steer clear of the birds and stopped using the play area.
This battle with my mom went a step further as she also liked opening the windows (without screens) to let fresh air into our home. One day two birds flew in while I was watching cartoons and landed right above my head on the ceiling. I ran out of the room screaming. My mom just told me that the birds would not hurt me and to quit being a drama queen.
A similar situation occurred when I was in college and a professor left the window open and a pigeon flew in and landed on my desk. Before long there were at least 4 pigeons flapping around the room. Due to being terrified, I stood and yelled for someone to get the birds out of the room. I made such a scene, the windows would never be open again if I was in the classroom.
As an adult, I cannot stand the sight of a bird or its wings flapping even more so. My heart races and I have the flight feeling. I usually try to walk away cautiously, but sometimes I have a full-blown panic attack. I mainly steer clear of any place where I may see or hear a bird, including movies or TV shows that may have a bird chirping or flapping its wings.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

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