Cynophobia, an irrational fear of dogs, can be triggered by childhood trauma or even minor incidents. Symptoms range from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks. Therapy, including exposure to stimuli and medication, can help overcome the fear. Quick fixes are not recommended.
Cynophobia can be defined as a persistent and often irrational fear of dogs, other dogs, or rabies, and sometimes all three. Numerous incidents can trigger dog phobia, but more often than not, childhood trauma associated with a dog is the underlying cause. A child who receives a dog bite could suffer from cynophobia as an adult. Sometimes the person who has the condition cannot recall a specific trauma that triggered the fear, and even a minor incident with a dog such as watching a scary movie about dogs or rabies, or simply having a large dog approach to a young child it could trigger the condition.
The condition of cynophobia, which can also be written as cynophobia, can manifest itself in different ways. Some people may experience some degree of mild anxiety around dogs, or they may have full-blown panic attacks if they come into contact with dogs, or even see them on TV or in the cinema. Mid-range symptoms, which may be experienced separately or together, may include irritation, sweating, rapid heartbeat, feelings of anger, shakiness, difficulty catching your breath, or nausea. Since the United States tends to be a fairly dog-friendly world, it’s hard to venture out the door without seeing the occasional dog, and this can make people with pronounced cynophobia virtually shut down if fear of encountering a dog elicits a reaction. of excessive panic.
Additionally, it can be difficult for the dog-phobic person to have dog-owning friends, which can make it difficult to form relationships with others. It is a difficult fear to overcome, as with most fears, and even if the causes are not rational, as is true of many phobias, it is a very serious condition to deal with. Given the likelihood of encountering dogs in various circumstances, many people undergo extensive therapy to help deal with dog phobia.
In some cases, therapy may focus on identifying the root causes of the fear, although this is not always possible. Other therapies work to help by gradually exposing people with the phobia to stimuli (pictures, movies, and then possibly contact with a dog) to help them overcome their fear. Some people with dog phobia are also helped with prescription anti-anxiety medications. However, until the fear is overcome, it can still be difficult for people to be around others who have dogs, and their relationships may be limited to people who don’t have dogs.
There are a number of therapies to help people deal with cynophobia and other phobias. What people should probably be wary of are websites or books that offer quick fixes to the problem. Unless your degree of fear is relatively mild, treatment with a qualified therapist is usually recommended to help you resume a life less fear-ridden.
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