Fear Of Large Objects: Causes, Symptoms And How to Cope With Megalophobia.

Ever felt overwhelmed when surrounded by tall buildings or large objects such as airplanes or statues? This indicates that you have megalophobia or are developing the condition. Don’t worry, experts have opined that all types of phobia are treatable. 

The anxiety disorder is characterized as a person being overwhelmed around large objects. The fear may stem from a traumatic event or the development of the fear over time. It makes a person with the disorder restrict their activities to avoid facing large structures or even animals. 

An official diagnosis from a professional is better to ascertain if you have this mental health issue. However, if you are interested to know about the facts associated with this condition, the article describes it best. 

Terrorizing hundreds of people around the globe, this disorder is known to be one of the most prevalent phobias within society. The treatment of this condition is not approached in a standalone manner by professionals. 

Megalophobia 101 

The pathological fear of large things can make things difficult. Be it going to the city for college or on trips. The revamping of most cities has become a task of adding taller buildings to the skyscape. This does no one any good as the flora and fauna of a particular place suffers the most. 

Add to the mix, noise pollution, air pollution which are temporary. However, blocking sunlight for the nearby houses is a problem that is ethically incorrect. More pressing is the fact that the majority of adults in America have this condition. It is also true that people may experience anxiety-associated symptoms. 

Causes And Risk Factors

The cause of this condition depends on the person who is experiencing it. Thus, as per experts there is a person to person difference in the cause of this phobia. The triggers can differ for everyone who has a fear of large objects and the type of approach they take to address the issue also differs. 

A mix of learning experience and genetic vulnerability are responsible for causing a phobia of big things. Moreover, the following is possible: 

• Childhood experience involving a large object.
• Being involved in a traumatic experience where you were knocked down by something big. 
• Witnessing someone’s accident or severe injury due to something large. 
• Being overwhelmed by the physical threat that is posed by large objects or animals. 

The risk factors are similar to the causes of this fear and may include experiencing a negative event including large objects or a family history of anxiety disorders. 

Symptoms

The symptoms of this phobia can include the following: 

• Experiencing rapid heartbeat
• Feeling intense anxiety and fear
• Shortness of breath
• Breathlessness
• Feeling nauseous
• Feeling dizzy
• Feeling a strong desire to escape the place with large objects

Diagnosis: 

Despite there not being any definite megalophobia test to diagnose the fear in you. Your physician or psychologist may be able to help you through a series of questions. The questions can be related to past experience, history, the recurrence of symptoms. 

For a fear to be a confirmed diagnosis, it must be persistent for at least six months or more. This is one of the criterias that help a doctor to categorize your unexplained fear as megalophobia. Moreover, from a more professional scale o diagnosis, the following criteria have been set- 

• Anticipatory anxiety
• Avoidance of situation or place where you may encounter large objects
• Unreasonable fear of large animals, objects or structures
• The fear is disrupting you daily activities

These four main criteria by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), help in diagnosing a phobia. 

Complex Form Of Megalophobia-  Megalohydrothalassophobia

Someone may have a more complex form of this fear which is termed as- megalohydrothalassophobia. If I break it down for you, then it stands that someone who is scared of underwater creatures or objects such as a blue whale or a sunken ship. 

This is a comparatively lenient form of a fear where there are less chances for someone to be exposed to the large underwater creature or object. 

How To Cope With Megalophobia

Coping with a condition as this can include the following ways employed by a trained professional such as a psychiatrist: 

• Exposure Therapy: This approach involves exposing the person to the thing they avoid out of the uncomfortable feeling. They are not able to learn that they can manage the fear or anxiety that comes from the observation of a large building or animal. 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This approach includes talking and asking questions that can allow you to gain a different perspective. Through asking questions of varying kinds, the psychologist is able to help you gain that perspective. 
• Medications: Beta blockers or sedatives that can help the person experiencing thai relax and decrease the amount of anxiety they feel. Beta blockers help in treating the physical symptoms of anxiety such as heart rate and trembling that some people may experience. 
• Another way to cope with this disorder is through practicing mindfulness that helps you calm down. 
• Music therapy has also been shown to have a positive impact on the experience of the symptoms. 

Wrapping It Up!

Even though there are no definite cures for this fera, there is a high possibility that you can manage your megalophobia. There are several ways you can ensure that the fear from seeing large objects is controlled, and all of them include consulting a specialist. The role of an expert or a specialist in such matters ensures that you are being treated correctly. 

Most importantly, the fear of large objects can be characterized as an extreme discomfort. If you feel that way around large scale structures such as skyscrapers. Or if animals such as giraffes or blue whales give your anxiety, for the specified duration in the article. Your doctor can help you diagnose the condition. 

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