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Body Phobias

Stomaphobia – Fear of Mouths

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Discussing Stomaphobia or the Fear of Mouths

Do you experience fear and anxiety when you watch big-mouthed characters on programs such as anime? Does the sight of mouths leave you sweating, trembling, or nauseous?

If so, you might have stomaphobia–or also known as merinthophobia.

Even if you have studied a list of phobias and meanings, you might not have encountered stomaphobia.

Stomaphobia is an uncommon and lesser-known phobia. However, like any other phobia, it can lead to severe distress and affect the day-to-day function of the person who has it. Though it can be limiting, you can overcome the fear.

The first step to conquering your fear is to acknowledge it. Talking to an expert or even a close family member or friend can work wonders. Self-help, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication are other options available to treat the phobia.

Stomaphobia Definition

The fear of mouths is called stomaphobia-merinthophobia. It comes from the Greek words stoma meaning mouth and phobia meaning fear. People with stomaphobia cannot tolerate the sight of mouths, particularly large or unusual ones.

Causes of Stomaphobia

Observing someone close to you in your youth who had stomaphobia may have caused you to develop this fear as well.

Stomaphobia, like many other specific phobias, can run in families. So, if your parents or grandparents had similar phobias or mental health issues, you may have inherited the tendency from them.

Samantha’s Story of Stomaphobia

Family meals were always something Samantha disliked and did not look forward to attending. It was not the food or even the intense political discussions, it was all of those mouths. Samantha had over the years developed stomaphobia, a severe dread or intense fear of mouths, a rare but real phobia. Sams journey into excessive fear began when she was young, a dreadful dental appointment during which the dentist’s mouth appeared huge and mis formed. This incident may have been the result of a bad reaction to medication used by the dentist or for any number of reasons. This terrifying 30 seconds of her childhood imprinted in her mind a deep-rooted fear of open mouths.  Since then, she has been nearly intolerant of the sight of mouths opening or being open. An open mouth of a sleeping person, a long-drawn-out yawn, or even a Doctor saying open up and say “ahh”, to Samantha these sights could send he into a full blown panic attack.

Samantha tried to avoid face to face discussions at work. She sat where she could see her notes or the presentation rather than the mouths of her coworkers. Social gatherings were mostly un-doable. Finding reasons to cancel at the last minute, she shied away from events and even basic coffee dates with pals. This fear had started to control too much of her life, friends and family were starting to notice.

The individuals closest to Samantha were aware of her phobia and made an effort to support her as best they could. They would avoid using large, dramatic gestures and speak quietly. Her boyfriend Alex was encouraging and did his best to accommodate Sam’s symptoms. Knowing she was uncomfortable, he would eat with his mouth closed and talk softly, he would set activities and their time together carefully.

Samantha had enough after too many events were missed and after seeing how much effort the people she loved put into accommodating her needs. She began working with a phobia specialist therapist and having general online talk therapy sessions. With the help of professionals her stomaphobia started to be manageable. The support from loved ones helped spur success as well. Sam established little daily coping mechanisms for her nervousness and learnt to look at people’s eyes rather than their mouths. Therapy including exposer exercises really helped Sam understand how the fear was not founded, there was no need to be afraid of a mouth. Over a two-year period, Samantha worked he way to being almost free of excessive fear. A true success story and an inspiration to those suffering from severe phobias.

 

Stomaphobia Symptoms

Stomaphobia is a body part phobia. A person with stomaphobia will experience the same symptoms as someone suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Some of the physical and psychological symptoms associated with stomaphobia are listed below.

Physical Symptoms

  • sweating
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • trembling
  • pain or tightness in the chest
  • a sensation of butterflies in the stomach
  • hot flashes or chills
  • nausea
  • dry mouth
  • a sensation of choking
  • headaches
  • numbness or pins and needles
  • feeling faint
  • disorientation
  • hyperventilation
  • dizziness
  • ringing in your ears
  • tightness in the chest or chest pain
  • a rise in blood pressure
  • rapid heartbeat

Psychological Symptoms

  • fear of losing control
  • self-blame
  • fear of fainting
  • shame
  • feelings of dread
  • hopelessness
  • fear of death
  • fear of harm or illness
  • guilt
  • isolation
  • sadness
  • confusion, difficulty concentrating
  • anger, irritability, mood swings
  • anxiety and fear
  • feeling disconnected

Stomaphobia Treatment

People with stomaphobia may not always need treatment. They can often avoid the object of fear, giving them a feeling of control over the situation. However, it may not be possible to altogether avoid the feared object. In this case, treatment is recommended.

Stomaphobia, like most phobias, is treatable. The same treatment plan that works for most phobias is applicable and effective for stomaphobia.

The treatment or combination of treatments that may work successfully for each individual varies. This depends on the severity of the symptoms and other factors.

Self-Help

Self-help is the first option. It allows you to work at your own pace to convince yourself that your fear is irrational and find measures to overcome it. You can write down your thoughts and triggers and focus on how to deal with the related negative behavior. You can try relaxation techniques when faced with situations that can lead to anxiety.

Talk Therapy

Talk therapy includes counseling and is a very efficient treatment for stomaphobia. This non-intrusive, laid-back therapy involves conversations with highly trained professionals.

The therapist reaches the root of the phobia and guides the patient to overcome their fear through counseling.

There are several kinds of talk therapy which all aim to:

  • Help the patient recognize irrelevant and unhelpful thoughts and actions and suggest measures to overcome the same.
  • Help you identify feelings that may have led you to develop the phobia and find ways not to be triggered by them.
  • Help you develop rational thoughts and understanding.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

What we think and perceive has a direct and constant influence on our behavior. CBT targets your perception of your fear and helps you face the object of your fear without having it trigger an extreme response.

For example, through CBT, the person who has stomaphobia realizes that the fear and anxiety they experience are irrational and an inaccurate depiction of reality.

Medication

Generally, phobias show a good prognosis with therapy alone. There is no specific medication to treat stomaphobia.

However, in some cases, psychiatrists may prescribe medication to help relieve symptoms like anxiety and depression. They may prescribe three classes of medication:

  • Antidepressants
  • Tranquilizers
  • Beta-blockers

How to Avoid Stomaphobia Altogether

Although you may not be able to get rid of the fear entirely, treatments and self-help methods can help you manage it to a large extent.

Remember that you are in control of your fear and not the other way around.

It is possible to overcome your phobia once you have replaced the irrational thought patterns with more adaptive ones. Try to confront your fears gradually, as avoiding them makes them more frightening. With time, your fear won’t have the same grasp on you as it once did.

Wrapping Up
Stomaphobia might keep you from seeing your loved ones and going about your regular activities, but overcoming it is possible. With the support of family and friends and proper treatment, you can reclaim your life.

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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