Of all the phobias out there, some we manage to understand better while others surprise us a lot. This is the case of Selacophobia or fears of the moon, a disorder that some people suffer from and that causes them unbearable anxiety when they see the moon or even when they think about it. In our phobia we tell you everything about this type of phobia.
What is Selacophobia?
Selacophobia is the fear of the moon. Fear of the moon in all its variants, although it is usually intensified during the full moon, the supermom or an eclipse. Be that as it may, the sight of the moon, which fascinates so many people, terrifies people who suffer from this disorder. Can you be afraid of the moon? When we, fear can arise from any stimulus.
Being afraid of the moon is not one of the most limiting phobias. Avoidance behavior may be relatively easy , that is, not looking at the sky at night and looking the other way when images appear on television, but the truth is that even if you can avoid it, you have to make certain efforts to achieve it and it may you ever have to face the situation.
Symptoms of Selacophobia
It seems clear that the affects us all, in a more or less intense way. Our emotions are influenced by lunar changes and there are people who can perfectly notice it. But being sensitive to the lunar influence does not imply having Selacophobia. The phobia appears when fear appears.
The main symptom of a phobia is irrational and excessive fear that then triggers all the anxiety symptoms that we know so well. Difficulty breathing, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, feeling unreal or panic. And, above all, that imperious need to flee from the situation, which is known as avoidance behavior.
Causes of Selacophobia
But what can develop a fear like Selacophobia? The moon does not pose any danger, although the mind of a child or a person with anxiety disorder may be suggested by the many horror stories that surround, for example, the full moon.
However, most of the time phobias appear after having experienced a traumatic experience with a great emotional charge. The night in general is conducive to the appearance of the most varied fears, especially in childhood, so in this case, the cultural context is important when it comes to finding them.
Selenophobia treatment
The fear of the moon can be overcome, but psychological help is needed to guarantee the success of the treatment and to prevent the appearance of new phobias. Cognitive is the most effective in transforming all those distorted thoughts about the moon that induce avoidance behavior.
And in the case of Selacophobia, gradual exposure is a good technique for coping with fear. If little by little it is verified that there is no danger in seeing an image of the moon, later the person with Selacophobia will dare to contemplate it from her window. It never hurts to accompany any therapy to overcome a phobia with the practice of relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety.