Triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13, has historical and mythological roots. It can stem from anxiety or depression and can be treated with professional help. Some people form clubs to debunk the fear.
Fear of the number 13 is common enough to have its own phobia named after it. This is not to say, however, that everyone walking the street fears the number. This phobia, known as triskaidekaphobia, dates back centuries and is loosely related to the fear of Friday the 13th. In historical moments, the fear was so common that groups of people started forming clubs dedicated to debunking it; they would meet on the 13th of the month at the 13th hour just to prove that nothing bad was going to happen.
Triskaidekaphobia has many roots, many of them historically accurate and others simply mythological or entirely false. A common myth is that the 13th article of the Code of Hammurabi was omitted, but in fact the code was not numbered. Others believe fear has biblical origins; the 12 apostles gathered with Jesus at the last supper, and Judas was the thirteenth person to sit at the table. Judas then betrayed Jesus. But even in Christianity, the number 13 is not necessarily bad or unlucky, and in fact the Bible refers to the number 13 in a distinctly positive way.
Fear of the number 13 can actually stem from more serious conditions such as anxiety, depression, or other negative emotions that are simply irrationally focused on the number. Superstitious people may find it difficult to keep Friday the 13th calm, for example, because they fear it will be an unlucky day destined to doom them or others. Many Italians believe Friday is an unlucky day to begin with, so combining the day with the number 13 creates the feeling of bad luck.
The best way to overcome a phobia is to see a professional who can help the sufferer pinpoint the true cause of the fear. There are anxiety medications that may be able to treat the problem, and a professional may be able to work out a number of steps to help the sufferer cope with her issues. Anxiety and depression can become serious problems, regardless of whether the sufferer has fear of the number 13 or some other attention to her difficulties, so a professional should be consulted in such cases.
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