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Situational Phobias

The Fear of Crime – Scelerophobia

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 The Intense Fear of Crime

Do you almost shake with fear going out your door at night?

Do you hear a noise outside and get a lump in your throat thinking a burglar may be beyond your door?

Are you always rechecking the locks on windows and doors to ensure they locked?

If so, you may suffer from a fear of crime.

This fear may start innocently but can grow into a full-blown phobia. Fearing crime is normal, but once the fear takes over normal, everyday life it becomes more than just being cautious.

What Is the Fear of Crime?

The fear of crime, known as scelerophobia, is the fear of anything related to crime, individuals of ill will, or burglars. The word is derived from the Latin scelero, which is wickedness, and phobos, which is fear.

Fearing crime is normal. We see crime every day on the news in our modern society. However, the extent of the fear is what classifies it as a phobia. A person that suffers from scelerophobia becomes exhausted in their belief that they have to be watching over their shoulder at all times to ensure their safety and the safety of their homes and families.

The constant thought of being attacked or an intruder coming into their homes becomes overwhelming. Any new person in their neighborhood could be an assailant. They may believe a co-worker is stalking them, or that every noise outside at night could be a criminal.

What Causes the Fear of Crime?

There are many different factors that can cause scelerophobia, including one’s past experiences, gender, and age.

The fear of violent crime may be more prevalent in women mainly due to the higher possibility of sexual assaults.

Elderly individuals are also prone to suffer from scelerophobia as they often believe they are a target of break-ins and muggings. Research has shown that many elderly individuals suffer from scelerophobia even though there is no proof of actual crimes targeting the elderly.

Some individuals who have the fear of crime have seen a friend or loved one become a victim of crime. This can lead to them being over-cautious with their own lives. They may check the doors more often, look out the windows all the time, and hide valuables.

Different types of crimes that a person sees or has experienced can lead to different symptoms of scelerophobia such as a break-in, car theft, sexual assault, or a crime that involved a weapon. Each one can lead to hypervigilance, or being overly watchful.

Those living in large cities are more prone to suffer from fear of crime than those living in the country.

The media, of course, can play a huge role in the fear of crime. When one hears of rapes, teens being shot, or homes being robbed, it seems more likely that these crimes might happen to you.

In most cases, those suffering from an anxiety disorder may also suffer from scelerophobia after hearing reports of crime in their neighborhood.

Symptoms of Scelerophobia

The fear of crime can cause both physical and psychological symptoms.

Physical Symptoms of Scelerophobia Include:

  • Muscle tension
  • Shakiness
  • Sweating
  • Avoidance of certain areas
  • Hiding valuables
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fast heartbeat

Psychological Symptoms of the Fear of Crime

The psychological symptoms of crime include:

  • Anxiety
  • Inability to cope with anxiety
  • Worry about being attacked all the time
  • Feeling vulnerable
  • Low self-worth
  • Panic attacks

Treatments for Scelerophobia

Treatment for the intense fear of crime can start with self-help options, professional therapy, or a mix of therapy and medication treatments.

Self-help: What Can I Do To Help Myself with Scelerophobia

Scelerophobia treatment can be done at home for many, unless the fear is taking over their entire lives. A few of the self-help things to do consider are:

Exercise has been proven to help individuals with a variety of anxiety disorders including scelerophobia.

Cardiovascular exercise is often at the top of the list as it aids in relieving stress.

Weight resistance training as well as aerobic exercise can help as well. Aerobic exercise helps by releasing endorphins which are chemicals in the brain that make us feel good.

Other exercises that might help you with the fear of crime include biking, swimming, walking, skiing, and jogging. For those that love sports, many sports can help with relieving stress such as basketball, racquetball, and tennis.

Yoga is another great option for those suffering from scelerophobia. The main reason is meditation that can help in reducing anxiety. Beginning yoga can help you have a quiet time and not only reduce anxiety but relieve stress which is often at the root of the fear of crime.

Drinking less caffeinated drinks can help with scelerophobia. Caffeine causes the heart to beat faster, our bodies to become tense, and may escalate the flight or fight response. This can lead to panic attacks for those that have fear of crime.

Professional Help Options

If your fear of crime is interfering with your life, you may wish to seek professional help. There are several different types of therapies that can provide you with some relief.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is often offered for individuals with anxiety disorders. The main goal is to cope with the fear and learn that the fear is irrational. By analyzing your fear of crime, when you begin to feel the fear mounting, you can use the tools learned in therapy to cope with the thoughts. This will help reduce symptoms.

Exposure therapy is also used for anxiety disorders and has helped individuals with scelerophobia. This type of therapy will begin by exposing you to the fear whether in photos or videos. The idea is to help you grow stronger when the feelings mount so you can control the symptoms, including your thoughts and physical symptoms.

The therapist should understand your fear of crime very well and provide the therapy in a safe and controlled environment. The severity of your symptoms will play a huge role in determining if your therapy choice is best for you. If a therapy is not presented correctly, it may make the fear increase.

Medications Used for Scelerophobia – Fear of Crime

According to the severity of your symptoms, medications may be prescribed by your physician or therapist. Medications can help relieve symptoms, but without therapy, the fear of crime may not be controlled.

Anti-anxiety meds such as Klonopin, Valium, and Xanax are often prescribed for those with severe scelerophobia. These medications will help prevent panic attacks and are usually provided on an as-needed basis.

Antidepressants are usually prescribed to individuals suffering from depression. However, some patients with anxiety disorders have had success with such medications as Lexapro, Zoloft, and Paxil. Once again, these medications will only help to relieve symptoms.

Simple Tips to Avoiding Your Fear of Crime

You may not be able to completely avoid a fear of crime, however, there are a few tips to help ease your mind.

According to the severity of your fear of crime, there are a few simple things that can be done to help control your fear:

  1. When going out at night, take a friend.
  2. Park at night in a well-lit area, as close to the entrance as possible.
  3. Avoid parking garages if possible.
  4. Carry protection such as mace.
  5. Always let someone know where you will be when out at night.
  6. Avoid watching the news, especially before going to bed at night. This can bring on anxiety, especially if you live alone.
  7. Avoid alcohol, or drink less. Alcohol can cause anxiety. Those with scelerophobia have anxiety, which leads to being more fearful of crime.

If you have been a victim of a crime, it is best to talk with a counselor and receive proper therapy. Too many times, we blame ourselves for being victims, which can lead to not only scelerophobia but other anxiety disorders.

You can learn to cope with the fear of crime and live a very healthy and productive life.

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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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