When does anxiety about insects rise to the level of a phobia?
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Entomophobia, sometimes known as insectophobia, is the fear of insects.
It may feel like a reflection on our own inability to manage our personal space.
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All of these factors can contribute to a fear of insects.
The DSM-5-TR lays out specific criteria for diagnosing aspecific phobia.
If you are diagnosed with a genuine phobia by a mental health professional, strategies likeexposure therapycan help.
Will it be gross?
The research shows that it can.
Is It an Insect Phobia, or Something Else?
For example, a fear of doctors may actually be a fear of needles.
An insect phobia can work the same way.
Honing in on the specific trigger of your fear can help overcome it.
Here are some examples of insect-adjacent triggers that may be at the root of some cases of entomophobia.
Fear of Contamination
In many cases, people with entomophobia are afraid of becoming contaminated by insects.
Many bugs, such as cockroaches and flies, can carry disease.
In addition, disgust reactions can contribute to feelings of anxiety.
That doesn’t mean you’ll respond any more positively to a fly, though.
Fear of Being Bitten
Some people worry that they will be bitten by an insect.
Specific worries launch the gamut from the fear of pain to the fear of illness.
Fear of Infestation
Some people worry about their homes or bodies becoming infested with bugs.
Researcher Phillip Weinstein points out that infestation fears may be indicative ofdelusional thoughtsrather than a simple phobia.
The fear of insects is relatively common but does not need to take over your life.
The fear responds well to a variety of short-term behavioral treatment methods.
With a bit of hard work, you’re able to beat even the most stubborn entomophobia.
Black specks that looked to my eyes like bugs.
All I could think about was little gnats crawling around inside the bowl.
So I stuck to burgers and hot dogs instead (much safer).
2019;10:354. doi:10.3389%2Ffpsyt.2019.00354
National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.
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Weinstein, Phillip.
“Insects in Psychiatry.
“Cultural Entomology Digest.
The University of Queensland.
“Researchers Unlock Snake and Spider Mystery.”
March 7, 2008.
