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fear of puppets
Other Phobias

Pupaphobia – The Fear of Puppets

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Pupaphobia: The Fear of Puppets Is Not a Child’s Game

Have you ever been gripped by the fear of a puppet coming to life? Does the sight of puppets send shivers down your spine? If your answer to these questions is a yes, then you might be suffering from pupaphobia.

Pupaphobia is defined as the irrational fear of puppets. Pupaphobia is similar to pediophobia, which is the fear of dolls. Pupaphobia is a “scary” type phobia, as the sight or even the thought of puppets can send some into a state of anxiety or panic. Untreated, pupaphobia can lead to the development of generalized anxiety disorder. However, like any other phobia, pupaphobia is treatable.

The beginning of any recovery journey is first acknowledging that you have a problem. In this case, it may be a phobia. Next, you can learn all about your fear, how it developed, and how it can be treated. Let’s start here.

fear of puppets

All You Need to Know about Pupaphobia

The word “pupaphobia” is derived from the Latin word pupa meaning “doll,” and the Greek word phobos meaning “fear.” Pupaphobia has been categorized as a form of anxiety disorder in the DSM-V. It’s a type of automatonophobia, which is the fear of human-like figures.

Historically, puppets were used to entertain people before television was invented. They were also bought as toys for children and occasionally used to enact a skit or play. Nevertheless, some films and TV shows have depicted puppets in a villainous manner.

How many times have you come across a movie where a puppet suddenly comes to life? Sounds scary right? The theme of puppets and figurines coming to life has become a common theme in several horror movies and shows, further instilling fear in those who may suffer from pupaphobia. Individuals with pupaphobia may believe that puppets are real and pose a danger to them. Not only will they grow anxious or terrified at the sight of puppets, but they may also suffer panic attacks.

What Happens When You Have Pupaphobia?

Although pupaphobia typically develops during childhood and fades as a person grows into adulthood, some grown-ups still carry the fear with them. Sometimes, children suffering from pupaphobia might even start to cry or scream when they see a puppet. As a result, such children and even adults will make deliberate efforts to avoid thinking or looking at puppets.

Those with pupaphobia may stop going to toy shops or even their own room if they have puppets at home. They may also refuse to take part in activities such as theater or stage shows involving the use of puppets. Such practices may act as defense mechanisms against pupaphobia, but they only further enable the fear, as they continue to instill the belief that puppets are dangerous to them.

Why Do I Have a Fear of Puppets?

Pupaphobia causes can be generic and often vague. Nevertheless, genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in developing any phobia. For instance, a family history of mental disorders and anxieties makes an individual more likely to develop phobias such as pupaphobia.

Another possible reason why someone might have pupaphobia includes watching films and TV shows that depict puppets as harmful creatures who pose a danger to humans. As a consequence, some individuals may start believing that puppets are terrifying. They may have recurrent nightmares about puppets, which further aggravates their pupaphobia.

Do I Have Pupaphobia?

Are you wondering if you suffer from pupaphobia? Let’s take a look at some mental, emotional, and physical symptoms of this phobia:

Mental/Emotional Symptoms

  • Heightened anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Avoidance behaviors
  • Fear that something bad will happen
  • Insomnia

Physical Symptoms

  • Increased heart rate
  • Shortness of breath
  • Muscle tension
  • Migraine
  • Nausea
  • Confusion and dizziness
  • Excessive sweating
  • Tremors
  • Hot or cold flashes
  • Butterflies in the stomach
  • Dryness of the mouth
  • Crying or screaming

Pupaphobia Treatment

Just like any other phobia, pupaphobia is treatable. You can either seek professional help or equip yourself with a range of self-help techniques.

What Can I Do to Help Myself with Pupaphobia?

In case you might be asking Can I overcome pupaphobia myself?, the answer is a resounding Yes! If you don’t want to attend therapy and feel you can treat pupaphobia on your own, there’s a wide range of self-help techniques that can help you do so.

Targeted Exercise

According to the American Psychological Association, exercise is one of the best ways to overcome pupaphobia. Exercises can either be in the form of a cardiovascular routine, aerobics, or yoga. High-intensity workouts such as cardio, weight-resistance training, and aerobic modalities like swimming, jogging, biking, and brisk walking, help to reduce stress. Exercise distracts the mind from negative and intrusive thoughts and releases endorphins, which are the brain’s feel-good chemicals.

Yoga

If high-intensity workouts are not something you enjoy, try practicing yoga. There are various yoga postures those suffering from pupaphobia can learn. Yoga poses can help to relieve some of the anxiety and panic associated with pupaphobia. Yoga helps direct the mind towards positive and productive thoughts.

Meditation

In addition to yoga, you can also practice mindfulness meditation. This helps divert your mind from negative thoughts by focusing on your breathing and the movement of the muscles in your chest and abdomen.

Professional Help

If you feel professional guidance would be useful in overcoming pupaphobia, then seeking therapy is the best option. Typically, therapists use techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) to treat patients with phobias.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common techniques used in the treatment of mental disorders. In CBT, your therapist helps you trace the source of your phobia, analyzes its causes, and explains why you may have developed the phobia. Your therapist will help guide you toward replacing your irrational thoughts with more rational ones. Together, you’ll also explore techniques aimed at helping you cope with your fears.

Exposure Therapy

Under exposure therapy, you are gradually and repeatedly exposed to your fears in a safe space. The aim of exposure therapy is to desensitize you to your phobia and reduce anxiety. For pupaphobia, you may be shown photos and/or videos of puppets or imagine situations such as watching a puppet show. At the same time, you’ll learn coping exercises. With exposure therapy, you’ll come to realize that puppets are in no way harmful, which will help you overcome pupaphobia.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a form of meditation therapy that is usually spread over an eight-week period. It’s generally used for managing stress and anxiety. Usually, MBSR includes group sessions where participants are taught mindfulness meditation and yoga. Group discussions and lectures are also conducted to talk about mental health. You’ll also learn how to overcome phobias and various other disorders.

How to Avoid Pupaphobia Triggers Altogether

If you believe pupaphobia is interfering with your daily activities, then it’s wise to avoid the triggers of your fear. Don’t read about puppets or watch movies or TV shows that depict puppets in a negative light. You might also avoid going to toy shops and stage shows, especially where puppets might be expected.

Conclusion

It’s true that the fear of puppets is an irrational fear. Those suffering from it hesitate to discuss it with others, fearing ridicule. However, with the right treatment, you can overcome pupaphobia, helping you lead a normal and happy life.

SOURCES:

https://www.tranceformpsychology.com/mental-health-problems/phobias/pupaphobia.html
https://optimistminds.com/pupaphobia/

 

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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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