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It’s a type of phobia -

Fear of animals has a name. It’s called zoophobia. Some people are afraid of specific animals, but others are scared of them all.

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Zoophobia -

Zoophobia is a type of specific phobia that manifests through anxiety and an exaggerated fear of animals.

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How common is it? -

Specific phobias are pretty common, generally speaking. In the US alone, over 12% of adults experience a phobia at least once in their lifetime.

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How common is it? -

A 2018 research review found that zoophobia was one of the most reported types of specific phobias.

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Causes -

Zoophobia can’t be attributed to a specific cause, but there are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of the condition. One of them is negative experiences with animals.

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Causes: negative experiences -

For example, if someone was bitten by a dog, the person is more likely to develop a fear of dogs.

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Causes: learned behaviors -

Such phobias can also be learned behaviors from those around us. For instance, if you grow up in a household where your parents are terrified of spiders, it’s more likely that you will also be terrified of spiders.

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Causes: Genetics -

Genetics may actually influence specific phobias. There seems to be a link between anxiety and genes. People who are more anxious by nature are more likely to develop a fear of animals.

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Triggers -

For symptoms to occur, a person doesn’t even have to be in the presence of animals. Zoophobia can kick in just by looking at pictures or videos of an animal.

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Triggers -

In fact, hearing an animal, or even just thinking about an animal, can trigger fear.

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Symptoms -

Specific phobias manifest through an overwhelming fear of something, and zoophobia is no different. The fear is usually disproportionate to the threat.

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Symptoms -

In addition to fear and anxiety, there are a number of physical symptoms people with zoophobia may experience. These include increased heart rate, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, and trembling.

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Symptoms -

Other symptoms include nausea and vomiting, as well as chest tightness or pain.

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Symptoms -

Children who are afraid of animals may also cry uncontrollably, throw a tantrum, freeze up, or cling onto their caregiver.

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Diagnosis -

A high level of avoidance when it comes to thinking about animals, or interacting with them, is a clear sign of zoophobia.

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Diagnosis -

Fear, distress, and panic that is disproportionate to the threat the animal(s) in question poses is also a sign. This is especially true when the animal is not even present.

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Diagnosis -

Growing levels of anxiety when the person knows that they might see an animal.

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Types of animal phobias -

Although one can develop a phobia of all animals, some animal phobias are more common than others. The most common ones are arachnophobia (fear of spiders) and ophidiophobia (fear of snakes).

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Types of animal phobias -

Other common types of animal phobias include cynophobia (fear of dogs), entomophobia (fear of insects), musophobia (fear of mice and rats), and ornithophobia (fear of birds), to name a few.

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How to manage zoophobia -

People with zoophobia who are aware of their condition should avoid places such as zoos, or even going over to a friend or a family member’s home if they have pets.

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Avoidance -

People with such phobias should avoid watching certain nature documentaries or other material that may trigger symptoms.

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Strategies -

Having strategies to manage stress and anxiety in general may be helpful in such instances. Activities such as meditation and breathing techniques can help.

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Healthy lifestyle -

Having a healthy lifestyle, including eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting quality sleep, can also help manage symptoms.

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Connecting -

Connecting with others and talking about the phobia can be helpful. This can be with friends, family, and/or support groups.

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When to seek professional help -

Zoophobia is mostly manageable. But if it starts to interfere with your personal or work life, then it should be addressed professionally.

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Treatment: exposure therapy -

Gradually exposing a person with zoophobia to animals (or a specific animal) is a great way to desensitize them. This is done in a gradual manner. The process usually starts with thinking about the said animal(s), followed by talking about it, then looking at pictures, and so on.

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Treatment: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) -

CBT is also commonly used to help people deal with their fear of animals. Reshaping the person’s thoughts and feelings about animals in order to reduce fear and anxiety is the goal.

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Treatment: medication -

Medication may sometimes be required, even when undergoing other types of therapy. These may include beta-blockers and benzodiazepines.

Sources: (Healthline) (Cleveland Clinic)

See also: The most common things that cause anxiety

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