Many people still think that phobias are simple hobbies and that they could be easily changed, but none of that. A phobia is not a hobby, but a disorder that can complicate your life a lot and can isolate you. This is the case of heliophobia or fear of the sun, a problem that we talk about in our dictionary of phobias.
What is heliophobia?
Heliophobia is the fear of the sun, sunlight, or sunlight. It is not photophobia, which is a hypersensitivity to light, but an irrational and excessive fear that prevents the person who suffers from being in contact with sunlight. Like vampires, this disorder is most limiting.
Because when it comes to phobias, the first reaction is to avoid the stimulus that produces fear, in this case the sun. And how do you avoid getting sunlight? The only way is to stay indoors without going out at all during daylight hours. The disastrous consequences of suffering from this phobia are imaginable.
Symptoms of being afraid of the sun
A person with heliophobia experiences all the symptoms of anxiety when exposed to the sun’s rays or when they imagine themselves under the sun. Dizziness, suffocation sensation, tingling in the extremities, disconnection from reality and panic attack are the most common reactions.
To these physical symptoms are added other psychological ones such as distorted thoughts. But more dangerous than the symptoms, in the case of heliophobia are the consequences. The total social isolation, the impossibility of working other than telecommuting and not being able to go out during the day to do the required daily procedures are devastating for self-esteem.
Causes of a phobia
Disastrous symptoms and consequences that also have an impact on physical health, since the lack of exposure to sunlight produces a deficiency of Vitamin D, essential for the body. But what is the cause of this panic in the sun? Sometimes heliophobia is related to carcinophobia or fear of cancer, since excessive exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
But the most frequent origin is a previous anxiety disorder that makes phobias run wild and develop without any specific criteria. Anxiety is triggered by danger and when it is totally out of control, everything you can imagine and even what you cannot imagine can be considered dangerous.
Overcoming heliophobia is possible
Not for a moment can we think of overcoming a phobia like heliophobia without professional help. Psychological treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective when it comes to treating phobias, although medication is not ruled out in this case.
Whatever therapy the professional recommends, it will be accompanied by relaxation techniques to reduce the anxiety generated by this type of phobic disorder. Overcoming a phobia takes a while, but it’s worth it to get your life back.