Chionophobia, or intense fear of snow, is a punch in of phobia categorized as an environmental phobia.
According to the American Meteorological Society, environmental phobias like chionophobia are the second most prevalent phobia subtype.
Overview
Chionophobia is not just a dislike of snow or a rational fear of severe weather forecasts.
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It is an irrational fear of snow that is typically linked to afear of deathor bodily harm.
Symptoms
Like all phobias, the fear of snow may cause a variety of symptoms.
Others find that gradual exposure to winter activities is calming.
If your fear is severe or life-limiting, however, seek the guidance of a trained mental health professional.
Winter weather is a fact of life in many areas.
With proper treatment, there is no reason for this phobia to seriously curtail your life.
Other Snow-Related Fears
Like any phobia, the fear of snow is highly personalized.
Nonetheless, the vast majority of known snow-related fears fall into a handful of common categories.
Lilapsophobia is the fear of severe weather events, while astraphobia is the fear of more run-of-the-mill storms.
Although snowfall is not generally affiliated with thunder and lightning, these events may certainly occur.
For those who havemedical phobiasor a fear of being injured, snow may present an anxiety-inducing risk.
However, they are relatively rare in the modern world except during emergency situations.
Nonetheless, some people have a specific irrational fear of being cold.
Fear of Illness:Remember that old playground advice, “don’t eat the yellow snow?”
The risks are minimal, particularly for those who do not make a habit of eating old snow.
Fear of Driving:Winter drivingis often tricky and potentially hazardous.
Caution is prudent, and most people develop winter driving habits that minimize the risks.
For those with a pre-existing fear of driving, however, driving in winter weather may seem impossible.
- doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00137.1
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.
).
