When anyone says phobia, what crosses your mind? What is a phobia? Phobia is a serious or irrational fear of something.
It is a type of anxiety disorder. Can any person say that I have no fear of any sort?
Absolutely not! Unless you have encountered a particular type of brain damage that prevents you from experiencing fear like S.M (SM-046), who by the way is pretty amazing! She cannot feel any fear. Say what!!
Okay, Let’s get into the subject. Have you ever heard of the fear of snow? In other words, Chionophobia. Interesting! And also weird, right. How can someone fear this pure white snow falls? as if they saw a ghost;)
…..
1. What Is Chionophobia?
It’s not like some random dislike of snow or fear of rational weather forecasts. The name originates from the Greek. “Chion” means snow and “phobia” means fear.
It can be categorized under environmental phobias. It is an actual fear of those white forms of H2O. This phobia is rare and very peculiar.
Living with such phobia can make life very hard especially in winters or in where snow is the kind of life, there.
This fear appears stupid for others but this is so real for the ones who suffer from it. We must learn to help them instead of bluntly commenting or judging those people.
…..
2. Causes
Chionophobia could be linked with the fear of becoming snowbound and being stranded in the snow or the fear of death.
This fear can be due to childhood traumas related to snow, been hit very hard with a snowball, or being in an accident caused by or when surrounded by snow, etc.
For example, Have you all watched the animated movie called Frozen? At the beginning of the movie, Elsa was scared to use her powers any further, after the incident, where she nearly puts her sister’s (Anna) life so close at its edge.
This happened when they were young and playing in the snow. This incident made Elsa anxious and shut off from Anna and the outer world.
She also develops a fear of her own powers which are ice and snow. But, eventually, after years, she gets out of her fear. This story explains a little about this phobia.
Chionophobia may also have developed from aquaphobia (fear of water), pagophobia (fear of ice or frost).
However, snow is mostly enjoyed for its merriness and wonderful games like skiing, snow skating, snowball fights, etc. Most Chionophobic people fear accidents that may occur due to these activities.
Persons with other phobias tend to overthink certain situations developing the possibility of new fears. For instance, someone with a fear of being trapped alive (taphophobia) could also suffer from Chionophobia.
…..
3. Symptoms Of Chionophobia
Normal phobic symptoms like:
- Rapid heart rate
- Trembling
- Shortness of breath
- choking feeling
- Stomach upset
- Sweating
- Trembling
- sense of unreality.
In extreme, most people often check on the weather reports and are very scared to step out of the door in the snow. They all experience panic attacks. When they get stimulated, they may scream, cry, or hide in response.
Claustrophobia can also be a phobic symptom. Incase of Elsa from the movie frozen, she experiences fear of losing control, self-blame, confusion, feeling disconnected which all comes under psychological symptoms that trigger this phobia.
…..
4. Treatment Of Chionophobia
Chionophobia can be treated by oneself when realizing that snow is just water that happens in winter, and is a portion of life. Snow is beautiful and not to be scared of. Family and friends can also help and support them.
Self-educating about various types of snow or weather conditions can also loosen up these fears.
If a person couldn’t overcome fear themselves, they should seek help from professionals. Treatment range depends on the severity and in combination with its effectiveness.
Hypnotherapy is a proven method to treat many social and specific phobias, including chionophobia. It relaxes the phobics deeply and helps the therapist to analyze the exact cause of the phobia.
It can help in reducing the intensity and frequency of panic attacks in them.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be helpful to relieve the anxiety and reveal the cause of fear.
Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation
The development of anxiety can be halted through the use of Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES).
It is a form of the neurostimulator. It is in use with the goal of treating a variety of disorders such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
To learn more about mental health, check out! How to relief from anxiety depression and insomnia without medication.
Certain medications like antidepressants, tranquilizers, and beta-blockers to treat depression and anxiety can be taken under the prescription from a doctor.
…..
Self-help Is The Best Help
Self-care is very important. The treatments and therapies will not work unless you want them to work. In other words, the placebo effect. So believe in yourself, and have confidence over your fears.
…..
Reference links
- https://fearof.org/chionophobia/
- https://www.verywellmind.com/chionophobia-2671736
- https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-snow-phobia-chionophobia/
- https://phobia.wikia.org/wiki/Chionophobia
- https://psychtimes.com/chionophobia-fear-of-snow/