Fear of cockroaches phobia. Blattophobia

Meeting with a cockroach at home or in a cafe will cause a lot of negativity in any person. But there are people who are not just unpleasant cockroaches, but the mere thought of these insects scares them. What is the name of the fear of cockroaches, why it arises, and how to get rid of fear - psychology will tell.

Blattophobia - what is it

Blattophobia is the fear of cockroaches. Insectophobia is the general term for the fear of insects. There is an opinion that it is more characteristic of women, but in fact the phobia occurs with the same frequency among both sexes.

On the one hand, the negative attitude towards cockroaches is justified. They carry diseases, spoil things and soil food, create unsanitary conditions, and are a source of allergies. Pests must be controlled for health reasons. But you need to do this rationally, and not in a fit of panic, burn your own house or poison insects, yourself and your neighbors with poison.

It is interesting! During the reign of Peter I, cockroaches were considered an indicator of the well-being of the house. No one thought to fight them. But Peter himself was afraid of cockroach-like insects.

Reasons for fear of cockroaches

There are several general prerequisites for the development of a phobia:

children's psychotrauma, stress (life in a house with cockroaches, a dysfunctional childhood, falling into a pit with insects, punishment or bullying by peers in the form of a rash of cockroaches on the head, etc.);
copying the reaction of adults (not all cockroaches are dangerous, but children do not understand this, but blindly copy the reactions of their parents);
fear due to children's horror stories or fairy tales (for example, the work "Cockroach" can scare a young child);
fear of becoming infected with something from insects (insects carry deadly infections, contaminate food);
fear that the insect will bite or crawl into the ear, nose;
suggestibility (media and horror films tell scary stories about the meeting of a person and a cockroach).

Let us consider in more detail the mechanism of the formation of fear as such.

Freud's Psychodynamic Theory

According to Freud's theory, irrational fear is the result of transferring anxiety to a neutral object. Man has been using defense mechanisms and suppressing his desires for so long that he has driven them deep into the subconscious. Influencing from there, they cause anxiety, the subject of which the person himself does not understand. It soon finds an available object to which the alarm can be linked.

Suppose a child was born into a dysfunctional family. Alcoholism of parents, scandals between parents, violence against a child, poverty, unsanitary conditions and, as a result, cockroaches. The child was afraid of his parents (or one of them), but the subconscious transferred the fear to cockroaches.

Behavioral behavioral theory

According to behavioral theory, fear is the result of learning along the modeling path or the classically conditioned path.

Conditioned path

The classically conditioned path implies that a person at the moment of discomfort saw some object and perceived it as the cause of negativity. That is, a person was scared, hurt or disgusted at a specific time in a specific place, and a cockroach (or its image, a toy, something else) suddenly appeared there and the person concentrated on it. In the future, each time seeing an insect, a person will expect the same negative emotions and sensations.

simulated path

Fear is passed down from parents to children or from movies and books. That is, a person sees, hears and imagines how an insect harms another person.

Manifestations and signs of blatophobia

The phobia of cockroaches has four characteristic manifestations:

irrational actions (frequent pest control at home, frequent hand washing, attempts to destroy cockroaches in any way);
obsessive ideas and thoughts (about killer cockroaches, about infection of products, about the night penetration of an insect into the human body);
autonomic signs (tachycardia, sweating, breathing problems, dizziness, nausea, trembling);
panic at the sight of an object of fear (screams, sudden movements of the hands, running or jumping, etc.).

Some people at the sight of a cockroach fall into a stupor, others begin to cry, others try to run away (they can run out of the house). If it seems to a person that an insect has crawled into his ear, then the blattophobe will run to the hospital or try to get (poison) the insect himself. The latter is very dangerous, because in a state of panic a person can harm himself.

The danger of blatophobia, which is what neglected cases lead to

In the advanced stages of the disease, even viewing photos or advertising cockroach remedies can cause a panic attack. In uncontrolled attempts to kill an insect, a person can harm himself or other people. And another panic attack can result in a heart attack, stroke, paralysis, or death.

How to get rid of fear

At an early stage, you can deal with fear on your own. With a phobia of moderate severity, it is better to consult a doctor; in a severe stage, medication may be needed. But first things first.

Help from a psychologist

For professional treatment, one of the following methods can be chosen:

Hypnosis. The psychologist introduces the client into a trance and reprograms the mind, changing the negative attitude to a healthy attitude towards cockroaches. This method is suitable for suggestible people without secondary mental disorders and at a mild stage of phobia.
Virtual approach to the object of fear. With the help of a virtual reality helmet, the client plunges into the world of cockroaches, the psychologist helps to control the state, reminds that these are virtual insects. This method can only be used under the supervision of a psychologist, at a mild stage of the disorder. At an advanced stage, such therapy will cause shock, severe fright and a panic attack.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The client and the psychologist make a list of frightening situations. After that, they are played back in turn. For example, first the patient looks at a photo of cockroaches, then a video, then at live insects behind glass, etc. At each stage, the specialist reminds about the methods of self-control and new (previously developed) response models.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming. During the sessions, the client realizes the irrationality of his perception, together with the specialist he creates a new picture of reality.

For the treatment of children, art therapy and fairy tale therapy are used. You can make up your own story. It is important that the cockroach is described there in a positive way. But as part of art therapy, you can depict how a child conquers his fear, defeats an evil cockroach. When working with school-age children, you can study the encyclopedia, get acquainted with the characteristics of individual insects, and approach fear with the help of illustrations. And, of course, parents should control their reactions, not react with screams to cockroaches.

It is important! The method of treatment is selected individually depending on the characteristics of the client and the medical history. Sometimes a combination of several methods of psychotherapy is used.

Condition correction methods

As an additional treatment for the rapid correction of the condition with severe anxiety, sleep problems, hallucinations and panic attacks, the psychotherapist prescribes antidepressants, beta-blockers, tranquilizers, psycholeptics.

We independently get rid of the fear of cockroaches

As part of self-help, you can use auto-training. First you need to relax the body and brain, take a comfortable position, turn on soothing music or retire in silence and repeat the setting for self-hypnosis: “I conquer my fear”, “I created my fear myself, now I let it go”, “I am not afraid of cockroaches ".

It is recommended to consider auto-training as an auxiliary means of self-treatment. The main method is a gradual approach to the object of fear. Only busting yourself and looking fear in the eye, you can get rid of the phobia. Do auto-training, and then look fear in the eye. If it gets bad, repeat the affirmations and breathe deeply. You can invite a person who does not have blattophobia to visit, and with him look your fear in the face.

It is interesting! In some countries, certain types of cockroaches are considered a delicacy. Why don't you bite the head off your fear, literally?

Panic

To know, how to overcome fear of cockroaches, you need to understand the primary sources of its occurrence. Dislike for cockroaches is a very common feeling. These insects have an extremely unsightly appearance, they are carriers of diseases.

However, disgust in some people can develop into a real fear of them, a disease called blatophobia.

Reasons for fear of cockroaches

Most often, a phobia occurs during childhood:

This may have been an earlier experience involving a cockroach. Even if all the details have been erased from memory, but the mere mention and glance at this insect brings back those moments of horror that a person had to endure as a child.
The second reason for fear of cockroaches is "rewarded" by the child's parents if they themselves are blattophobes. By their reaction to an insect, they demonstrate to a small person a model of behavior that is perceived by him as truly true.
Another source of fear of cockroaches is the modern film industry. For the most part, it also affects children more. However, an impressionable adult, when watching a lot of action films where these insects are present, also postpones the thought of their danger.

Important! Blattophobic adults should resolve the issue with their fear of cockroaches, not only for their own psychological health. This is necessary so as not to transmit fear of them to their children, who repeat all the emotions, feelings and behavior of their relatives.

In addition to these main reasons, one can single out as a separate item the disgust that arises when they are seen, justified by their unpleasant appearance and the stereotypes associated with them about various diseases. Unfortunately, as stated in the preface, this is true.

How to overcome the fear of cockroaches in modern conditions What recommendations do psychologists give? The appearance of fear of a crawling insect can in some special cases cause paralysis and a state of shock, which is extremely dangerous for a person. This may help:

Hypnosis. This procedure should be carried out by a certified psychotherapist. Qualified psychologist. A specialist creates such a fictional situation in which the patient is left alone with his phobia. Knowing that you are completely safe.
Meditations. This is a visit to specialized yoga classes. cognitive sessions. During such sessions, the psychotherapist discusses and identifies the causes of fear, discusses its real danger, and eliminates it.
Neuro Linguistic Programming. With such complex practices, a blattophobe person is reprogrammed to look at this fear, eliminating it. Such activities are quite new in modern society compared to the rest. However, it is quite popular.

Pills for fear of cockroaches (blattophobia)

If fear prevents the body from functioning in a normal, healthy rhythm, then experts recommend using medications. These are sedatives, beta-locators, psycholeptic pills that help block blatophobia.

Attention! Medications should be used only when prescribed by your doctor. The exception is sedatives, available without a prescription. It is necessary to strictly follow the dosage attached to the purchased drug.

Anyone can be overcome at home, taking him under his own control. And it’s worth making a start by cleaning the house / apartment. And also talk with neighbors, teaming up with them to eliminate the possibility of these insects migrating throughout the living space. However, if the blattophobe cannot cope on its own, it is worth listening to one of the above recommendations.

Reading 17 min. Published on 18.08.2019

How to get rid of myrmecophobia - fear of ants: treatment

Among the factors provoking the development of blattophobia, the following can be distinguished:

Stressful situation. This is more for small children. After all, they are more prone to stress, as they are very susceptible to the world around them. A child may be frightened by a certain situation in which there were cockroaches. After that, the baby begins to treat the insect as an aggressor.
Upbringing. Some parents who suffer from a fear of cockroaches also instill this attitude towards insects and their children. When a child sees that his mother is horrified at the sight of a cockroach, then in the future he begins to show the same reaction.
Literary works for children. Of course, the characters in children's fairy tales are very different from real ones. So, for example, Chukovsky's poem entitled "Cockroach" shows the insect as a frightening hero that everyone was afraid of. The developed imagination of the baby can form during the reading of this work a not very pleasant image that is capable of many not positive things.
Watching movies with cockroaches. Currently, there are many film projects, the main characters of which are such insects. It is horror films that are capable of forming a misconception about cockroaches. In them, such small insects are shown as huge monsters, destroying everything in their path.
Unpleasant appearance. Of course, cockroaches cannot boast of their attractiveness. Often people are afraid of them because of this.
Infections. Insects are often carriers of a variety of infections. People who are terribly afraid of picking up something try not to run into them. The fear of cockroaches is even more likely to develop in a person who has already suffered any disease after contact with insects.

Fear of cockroaches is a fairly common problem. These insects live in apartments and houses and multiply rapidly. In appearance, they are rather unattractive, therefore they cause hostility, disgust and disgust. But for some these negative emotions turn into real horror.

It is believed that women are more prone to blatophobia, because their skin is more delicate and sensitive, and the touch of an insect causes a lot of discomfort. In fact, men also often experience a fear of cockroaches.

First of all, it is necessary to understand the reasons why this phobia occurs. Psychotherapists identify several of the most common causes:

Negative experience. Most often this happens in childhood. If a child is very frightened of some cockroach-related situation, negative memories of the event can become fixed in the mind and develop into a phobia. Small child does not know that the cockroach is a harmless insect and perceives it as a dangerous aggressor.
Upbringing . If parents themselves are afraid of insects and panic when they appear, then the child can adopt a phobia.
Fairy tales . A small child who is read fairy tales, where cockroaches appear as negative characters, may think that these are very dangerous insects that you should stay away from. A prime example of such a story is famous work Korney Chukovsky "Cockroach".
Horror films. Modern cinematography often injures a fragile child's psyche, especially when it comes to horror films. The directors of such creations often expose insects in a terrible light, thereby causing negative emotions in the viewer. These include the films "Invasion of cockroaches", "Hominovores". If a child watches such films, he may develop a fear of cockroaches.
Unattractive looking insect. Cockroaches look rather unattractive and even repulsive, and few people are sympathetic. In some individuals, hostility to these creatures can reach panic fear.
Spread infections. Cockroaches, like many other insects, not only spoil food, but also spread dangerous infectious diseases. Fear of contracting a serious illness can cause fear.

Fear of cockroaches is a very complex disease, because it is difficult to correct. Treatment of blatophobia can take a short period of time, if you approach this issue with all responsibility.

With mental pathologies of any nature, one cannot do without the use of medicines. Therapy for getting rid of blatophobia usually consists of the use of the following miracle pills:

Tricyclic antidepressants. When they are taken, certain substances in the human body are activated, which in medicine are called neurotransmitters. With blattophobia, the psychotherapist usually prescribes Sertraline, Moclobemide, or Fluoxetine to his patient.
Benzodiazepines. These developments in medicine are considered tranquilizers of weak potency. At the onset of a panic attack, these drugs should be taken. Phenazepam, Imipramine or Alprazolam have proven themselves in the treatment of blatophobia.
Beta blockers. First of all, they are used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, panic attacks make a crushing blow to this area of the human body. Therefore, they are essential in complex treatment blatophobia.
Psycholeptic drugs. The use of voiced drug therapy necessary to relieve increased anxiety at the sight of cockroaches. Buspirone is one of the best medicines when it comes to fear of insects.

Any specialist will immediately tell his patient that one medication is definitely not enough. Tranquilizers and antidepressants will only help temporarily relieve tension if you do not undergo the following therapy:

Method of "virtual cockroaches". With this method of dealing with blattophobia, a situation is created in which the patient is alone with the object of his fears, while being completely safe. A helmet is placed on the patient's head, which is equipped with displays and video cameras. Therefore, a person who is afraid of cockroaches is simply surrounded on all sides by these insects, which are just virtual objects.
Hypnosis Therapy. With any phobia, the therapist will advise the affected party to release their “inner beast” out. This happens best when the patient is in a trance state. In the future, only blattophobia will decide on the appropriateness of the announced event, because most people are simply afraid of it.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming. This method allows us to understand the model of reality that a person has created for himself. During NLP sessions, the so-called “reprogramming” of consciousness and the creation of a new attitude to the surrounding reality take place.
Cognitive Therapy. During practical classes, the so-called simulation of situations is carried out. After finding out the cause of the problem, the patient begins to learn to control the ongoing unpleasant and frightening events in his life.

There are over 900,000 known species of insects on earth, but the most enduring of these creatures of nature is the cockroach. Many millions of years ago, a small insect appeared that survived the era of dinosaurs, the ice age and still lives side by side with humans, causing great inconvenience both in domestic plan as well as psychological. There are people who are terrified of these "creatures". What is the name of a phobia, is it possible to fight it alone?

Blattophobia - fear of cockroaches

Brief description of the phobia

Many of us dream of these nasty insects disappearing from the face of the Earth. They are associated with unsanitary conditions and infections. But there is a category of people in whom these insects cause not just disgust, but panic fear. They understand that their excessive anxiety is unreasonable, but there is nothing they can do about it.

The fear of cockroaches is a phobia that greatly interferes with a person's life. Officially, it is called Blattophobia.

According to research by the International Berlin University of Psychology, every tenth inhabitant of the planet suffers from this phobia, and this fear comes from childhood. In most cases, it occurs as a result of psychological trauma.

Injury can be caused by a variety of factors. In childhood, in our subconscious, ideas about the beautiful and terrible are formed, and cockroaches clearly do not fall into the first category. The children's consciousness is influenced by the example of parents who mercilessly beat a small insect with a slipper and scream heart-rendingly. The cinematography also strengthens this idea by shooting horror films, in which the red cockroach plays the “leading roles”.

Women are more afraid of cockroaches

Also, people with increased nervous excitability, when faced with cockroaches, experience a colossal stressful situation, which in the future can provoke the appearance of a phobia of cockroaches. Women are at risk. The fact is that tactile sensations are important for women, and bodily contact with a dangerous insect in them causes a feeling of disgust, which can degenerate into an obsessive fear of cockroaches.

Symptoms of the disease

The most common symptoms are the following, they can occur both individually and in a group:

inadequate actions and deeds (screeching, waving arms, etc.);
an irresistible desire to avoid contact with insects;
asthma attacks, heart attacks;
uncontrolled sobs, tantrums (a person understands the absurdity of his behavior);
fainting or fainting;
trembling in the body;
nausea, sweating;
spasm of the throat;
stupor;
panic.

Panic is common at the sight of a cockroach

Method of dealing with phobia

Taking the fear of cockroaches for granted is not a solution to the problem, but a doomed attempt to escape. Fear destroys a person's life, and it takes a lot of effort to become the master of your fear, and not remain a prisoner. Accept the problem, recognize it and start the fight using an integrated approach. Cockroach phobia can be treated using psychotherapy or medication.

Medical treatment

Drugs are prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Self-treatment can lead to serious consequences.

The following list of drugs is for guidance only.

Tricyclic antidepressants (Fluoxetine, Sertraline).
Weak tranquilizers ("Phenazepam", "Imipramine"). They must be used directly for attacks of panic fear.
Tablets that block the feeling of increased anxiety during a meeting with an insect. One of them is Buspirone.

But medicines can only help temporarily, directly during a panic attack, when the sick person needs to be calmed down by giving a soothing decoction or pills.

Medicines must be taken as directed

Other ways to get rid of the problem

The main help in the fight against blatophobia can be provided by qualified psychotherapists or psychiatrists. They will teach you how not to succumb to a phobia and reduce the negative impact of stress on the body. Treatment for each is selected individually, because it depends on many factors.

Hypnosis is a state in which suggestibility increases and the absence of fear of a phobia is imprinted in the subconscious. Not all patients will agree to this method of treatment, all because of the same fear, but all phobias can be treated with hypnosis. The doctor introduces the patient into a trance and, asking him leading questions, determines the true cause that provokes fear.

Hypnosis for phobia

The method of autogenic training consists in mastering the technique of self-hypnosis, in which a feeling of heaviness arises in the body, as a result of which a state of muscle relaxation is achieved, the so-called. relaxation. To do this, you need to turn on calm music, relax, even out your breathing, turn off emotions, close your eyes and start pronouncing self-hypnosis phrases: “I am brave (th). I easily conquer my fear”, “I know that my fear is created by me, so I can overcome it”, “I turn off my fear of (cockroaches) for the whole day.”
The practice of yoga is a good helper in the fight against phobias. Regular yoga classes give vent to our fears, gradually relieving the level of anxiety.
One of efficient technician in the fight is the way out to meet your fear. By overcoming yourself, you will overcome your phobia. The exit should not be swift, but gradual.
Sports activities on fresh air- a cure for many diseases, including blatophobia.

Alternative medicine in the treatment of fear of insects

As a sedative for neurasthenic conditions, a tincture of peony, motherwort, hawthorn is used, 25-35 drops 3 times a day, the course of treatment is a month. For general calming of the nervous system, fresh juice of motherwort herb is taken 30-40 drops 3-4 times a day 30 minutes before meals. In neurasthenic conditions, you can also use the following decoction: 1 tablespoon of peppermint leaf pour 1.5 cups hot water, cook for 15 minutes over low heat, take 0.5 cup three times a day.

The main thing is to recognize the presence of a problem in a timely manner, not to delay treatment and visit a specialist who will definitely be able to help you overcome your fears.

Cockroaches are rather unpleasant insects, but they do not pose an immediate danger to humans. However, some people experience a strong fear of these creatures. This fear is a mental disorder and is called blatophobia. Another name for this disease is catsaridaphobia. Let's see what this pathology is, the causes of its occurrence and how to deal with it.

Causes of fear of cockroaches

First of all, it is necessary to understand the reasons why this phobia occurs. Psychotherapists identify several of the most common causes:

Negative experience. Most often this happens in childhood. If a child is very frightened of some cockroach-related situation, negative memories of the event can become fixed in the mind and develop into a phobia. A small child does not know that a cockroach is a harmless insect and perceives it as a dangerous aggressor.

Upbringing. If parents themselves are afraid of insects and panic when they appear, then the child can adopt a phobia.

Fairy tales. A small child who is read fairy tales, where cockroaches appear as negative characters, may think that these are very dangerous insects that you should stay away from. A striking example of such a fairy tale is the famous work of Korney Chukovsky "Cockroach".

Horror films. Modern cinematography often injures a fragile child's psyche, especially when it comes to horror films. The directors of such creations often expose insects in a terrible light, thereby causing negative emotions in the viewer. These include the films "Invasion of cockroaches", "Hominovores". If a child watches such films, he may develop a fear of cockroaches.

Unattractive looking insect. Cockroaches look rather unattractive and even repulsive, and few people are sympathetic. In some individuals, hostility to these creatures can reach panic fear.

Spread infections. Cockroaches, like many other insects, not only spoil food, but also spread dangerous infectious diseases. Fear of contracting a serious illness can cause fear.

Symptoms of blatophobia

The phobia of cockroaches manifests itself in the form of a whole complex of symptoms. Blattophobes are not just afraid of these creatures, but experience the strongest uncontrollable horror at the sight of them. In addition, there are other symptoms of the disorder:

a feeling of panic, a desire to scream, to run away at the sight of one or more cockroaches;

trembling in the hands, weakness in the legs, dry throat, dizziness, rapid heartbeat;

inadequate behavior, inability to control their actions when confronted with a cockroach.

It is noteworthy that blattofobes can be quite calm about other insects, as well as snakes, lizards, spiders. They experience panic horror only for cockroaches.

A person suffering from a fear of cockroaches may experience fear even at the sight of a photograph or drawing of an insect. Many blattophobes try to keep their home in perfect cleanliness in order to protect themselves from the invasion of cockroaches. They acquire and keep on hand all kinds of pesticides against domestic insects.

Methods of dealing with a phobia

Real blatophobia prevents a person from leading a normal life. Cockroaches are found everywhere, so a person suffering from a phobia is in constant tension, knowing that at any moment he can encounter a frightening creature.

As a rule, a person is not able to overcome fear on his own. This requires the help of an experienced psychotherapist. The specialist will understand the causes of the disease and select the most effective method treatment.

Hypnotherapy has proven itself in the treatment of various phobias. The essence of the method is as follows: the patient is introduced into an altered state of consciousness and work with his fears. By removing destructive programs from the subconscious, the hypnotherapist helps the patient, and he ceases to be afraid.

Another method that gives good results is cognitive therapy. The psychotherapist teaches the patient new patterns of behavior, thereby helping him to take control of his fear, learn to manage it, and then completely get rid of it.

Exposure therapy or desensitization method involves the impact of the object of fear on the patient. Naturally, this happens under the strict supervision of a specialist. First, an indirect effect is used, and when the patient adapts to it, then a direct effect is used, that is, contact with the object of fear. The patient learns to manage his emotions, control the manifestations of the phobia and gradually overcome his fear.