Is your heart racing at the mere sight of a giant insect? Same! Because bugs are supposed to be tiny and squashable right? While tiny critters may be easy to ignore, there’s something about larger-than-life insects that can trigger intense anxiety. Due to the warm weather that comes with the spring season, we are also subjected to a lot and a variety of bugs, including the gigantic scary ones. What a time to be alive.
Relevant publications explain where this fear comes from, and why these creatures seem so much scarier when they’re big. The fear 0pf bugs in general according to the Cleveland Clinic is called entomophobia, which is said to cause extreme anxiety leading to people avoiding outdoor activities. It’s also known as acarophobia or insectophobia, and some individuals may stop leaving their homes.
The clinic explains that this condition can be triggered by past traumatic experiences, environmental irritations, and family history. “Some people have itchy skin caused by pollen, mould or household allergens. Persistent irritated skin may lead someone to blame insects. Seeing a person with entomophobia or hearing someone talk about their fear of insects can cause you to have the same phobia.”
In my case, when I see a large insect, especially if it even flies, I fear that it’s gonna jump at me and devour me. It sounds crazy I know but that’s exactly what goes through my mind because why does it have to be so big?
The Very Well Mind publication though states that people with entomophobia are afraid that these insects might carry disease and make them sick. Research shows that people react more strongly to disgusting creatures than to more inherently dangerous ones, some people worry about being bitten by insects, ranging from pain to illness, the publication continues.
The symptoms of this phobia as suggested by Healthline are:
- Intense fear or anxiety when seeing or thinking about insects
- Anxiety worsens as insects approach
- Inability to control unreasonable fears
- Struggles with functioning due to fear
- Avoidance of any place that could have bugs such as parks, basements, or outdoor activities.
For treatment purposes, the above source mentions that exposure therapy may help, which involves gradually exposing the phobia to the source of the fear and repeating exposure to change the response. It is also stated that cognitive behavioural therapy could come in handy, as it focuses on thoughts and beliefs about the phobia’s source and how they influence the individual.
