How To Manage Teraphobia In Children And Adults
As a small child, were you ever scared to sleep in the dark? Maybe you were terrified at the thought of a monster lurking under your bed or anxious about the source of nighttime creaks. If so, you were probably like a lot of other children your age who also feared the dark. While most people grow out of this fear, in some cases, a fear of monsters persists into adulthood. If this fear develops into a phobia, it’s called teraphobia. Teraphobia is defined as an intense and irrational fear of monsters, which can significantly impact an individual's daily functioning. Once teraphobia is identified, it can be addressed and managed appropriately through different methods of treatment.
What is teraphobia?
Teraphobia is defined, simply, as the fear of monsters. In many cases, it may extend to a fear of the dark, since many people imagine beings like monsters or aliens to emerge from the dark. A fear of monsters in the dark is fairly common among preschoolers and elementary-aged children. While teraphobia often fades away as the years go on, many teens and adults can also fall victim to this kind of phobia. In some cases, this fear may become so overwhelming that it prevents people from basic functioning, like leaving their homes in the evenings or getting enough sleep at night.
Fear is a completely rational human response to actual danger, and it’s worth noting that feeling slightly afraid or disturbed at the thought of a frightening creature doesn’t mean you’re teraphobic.
All phobias are a subset of anxiety disorders.
How to support children with teraphobia
If you’re the parent of a child with teraphobia, it’s important to remember that, in most cases, children don’t require treatment; symptoms may naturally fade with time. You can stay sensitive to your child’s fears by:
- Validating their feelings. Do not simply tell your child their fears are silly; to do so may cause feelings of shame in young children. Instead, comfort them while gently reminding them that monsters are not real.
- Showing them that there is nothing to fear. Go into their room and shine a light into the dark corners. If possible, plug in a night light or place glowing stars on the ceiling to give them comfort during the night.
- Establishing a comforting bedtime routine. The structure of a comforting bedtime routine can reinforce a child’s feeling of safety during the night. For example, reading a story or singing a song before bed each night may help children relax enough to fall asleep.
- Consultingwith your pediatrician. If you’re struggling to support your child through teraphobia, you may want to give your concern with your pediatrician. They might have additional ideas to help, like giving your child “monster spray” to empower them to face their fears. “Monster spray” is simply a spray bottle filled with water that a child can spray into the dark corners of their room before bed.
- Getting support from a child therapist. Sometimes, teraphobia will require intervention by a therapist, especially if it is rooted in real-life situations like bullying. A licensed specialist can help children come to terms with their fear and understand that it is part of their imagination. In therapy, children may be encouraged to draw, write, or even act out their fear. Therapy may help your child learn valuable coping mechanisms.
Treatment options for teraphobia
Children aren’t the only ones who may benefit from treatment for teraphobia; adults with teraphobia may choose to get treatment to help them overcome their fear. Since phobias are rooted in anxiety, treatment often includes anti-anxiety medications, sleep medications, or therapy. Each of these may be effective for teraphobia.
If the fear has religious undertones, like those who are afraid of the devil, demons, or other supernatural forces, it may be helpful to see a therapist who practices or studies the same religion. Incorporating spirituality into the therapeutic process can help individuals with teraphobia feel more understood in their specific fear.
Signs of teraphobia in children
Often, children can be quick to let a parent or adult know they are afraid. They may ask questions like, “Will you check under the bed?” or “Can you look in the closet for me?” These questions may indicate to parents that their child is dealing with teraphobia. However, some children may not exhibit obvious signs of teraphobia. Instead, they may display sudden insomnia, a lack of appetite, or a refusal to go outside in the dark. Parents may not immediately recognize that these signs are related to teraphobia. By asking a child questions, parents can gain more clarity about the situation.
Signs of teraphobia in adults
Adults living with teraphobia may experience similar symptoms to people living with generalized anxiety disorder. For example, adults may notice a racing heartbeat, dizziness, or nausea when thinking about something that frightens them, like characters or scenes from horror movies. They might avoid going outside when it’s dark and lose sleep during the night.
Effects of teraphobia
Most phobias, including teraphobia, negatively impact the health of those affected. Teraphobia specifically may cause difficulties sleeping, which is detrimental to the health of children and adults. For children, a lack of sleep may cause them to become extremely tired and fatigued, making daily tasks like basic motor functions and focusing on schoolwork incredibly difficult. Similarly, adults with teraphobia may underperform at work or have trouble completing daily tasks like cooking healthy meals, exercising, or parenting. In extreme cases, those living with teraphobia may develop insomnia.
Another common effect of teraphobia is a loss of appetite. Anxious feelings may cause nausea or an upset stomach, which can cause both children and adults to obtain insufficient nutrition and further reduce their energy levels. Teraphobia is also associated with headaches and edginess or irritability in everyday situations.
Online therapy with BetterHelp
Online therapy for teraphobia may help adults living with this phobia overcome their symptoms. Individuals can receive mental health care through BetterHelp, an online counseling platform, in a way that feels most comfortable to them. Therapy can be obtained by video call, phone call, or via chat depending on the client’s preference and availability.
The efficacy of online therapy
Phobias fall under the umbrella of anxiety disorders, making anxiety, panic, avoidance, and fear the main symptoms treated in therapy. Online therapy has been found to be just as effective as in-person therapy for treating anxiety symptoms, including phobias and panic disorders, in adults, children, and teens. If you need support moving past your fear of monsters, the dark, or anything else, connect with a supportive licensed therapist online.
Takeaway
What fear is teraphobia?
Teraphobia is a powerful fear of monsters or other dangerous presence. It is commonly associated with a fear of the dark. Teraphobia is common in young kids but can sometimes affect teens and adults. It is a type of specific phobia. Although teraphobia is not a clinically-diagnosable condition, the underlying specific phobia is a form of anxiety disorder that can be diagnosed in clinical settings.
Specific phobias can target just about anything. A commonly-known example is arachnophobia, which is a fear of spiders. Phobias are characterized by a disproportionate response to a real or imagined fear. Symptoms include a feeling of intense fear, a sense of impending doom, and actively avoiding the perceived source of the fear. In some cases, panic attacks or other debilitating anxiety symptoms may emerge. When phobias become severe, they can significantly impact a person’s life and make it difficult to complete daily tasks.
How do you treat teraphobia?
Teraphobia is likely best addressed in the same manner as other phobias; with the help of a qualified mental health professional. Phobias are highly treatable, and mental healthcare professionals regularly help their patients overcome intense feelings of fear. A therapist has the training and experience to assess your phobia and determine a treatment course that fits your unique needs.
Common treatments for phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, applied muscle tension, and psychoeducation. Sometimes, a person develops a phobia of something that exists in reality, such as spiders. In that case, the person is likely experiencing a disproportionately strong fear reaction when encountering benign spiders, which people likely consider harmless.
When treating phobias triggered by things that exist in the real world, therapists often progressively expose their patients to the source of the fear while helping them manage their fear response through coping skills. When phobias are not caused by things that exist in reality, such as teraphobia, therapists analyze underlying causes and help you find meaningful ways to confront your fear internally. A therapist can also encourage you toward your goal and support you as you overcome your fear.
What triggers teraphobia?
Some triggers for teraphobia may include a fear of the dark, mirrors, or being alone. Every person who experiences teraphobia may have unique triggers. It is possible that the intense fear of teraphobia can be triggered by imagining monsters or other frightening entities. Teraphobia is also associated with sleep disturbances, and reduced sleep quality may contribute to feelings of fear. Loss of sleep can be especially challenging for school-age children.
There is also some evidence to suggest that teraphobia can be triggered when a person is in a hypnogogic state, meaning just before they fall asleep, or in a hypnopompic state, meaning just after they wake up. During those times, the lines between dream and reality can become blurred, such as when someone experiences hypnogogic hallucinations. Those hallucinations can feel very real and may be frightening. Recurring hypnogogic or hypnopompic hallucinations may contribute to the development of teraphobia.
How common is teraphobia?
Because teraphobia is not diagnosable, it is difficult to find information representing the number of people challenged by the condition. However, information is available regarding specific phobias. Evidence indicates that over 7% of people are likely to experience a specific phobia at some point in their life.
Specific phobias are common, but teraphobia represents only a small subset of all specific phobias. Although the target of the fear response differs, teraphobia is likely treated the same way as other specific phobias triggered by intangible or imaginary things.
How do you deal with teraphobia?
Working with a therapist is likely the quickest and most effective option for long-term relief. A therapist can design a custom treatment plan that considers the unique traits of your fear and offer specific strategies to help you manage your feelings when they become overwhelming. The therapist can also help address underlying causes and help you reach the root of where your fears originate.
In the short term, you may wish to consider adopting relaxation techniques that can help you manage sudden, overwhelming feelings of fear. One effective and simple technique is deep breathing. If you’re encountering a strong fear response, try to focus on your breathing first. Focus on inhaling for 4 - 6 seconds, holding your breath for a moment, then exhaling for the same amount of time. Taking deep breaths signals to your body that danger is not near, and focusing on the duration of your breaths can help block out scary thoughts.
What are examples of teraphobia?
Teraphobia likely looks different for everyone, but it is always associated with a fear of monsters or other harmful entities. A hypothetical example might be someone who feels intense fear when leaving their bedroom at night. They may feel that there is a presence hiding outside of their room that wishes them harm, and it may be especially evident when the hallway is dark or the person is alone. Eventually, the feelings become so overwhelming that they start keeping a container for bodily waste in their room so they don’t need to leave at night.
Struggling to leave their bedroom to visit the restroom is an example of how teraphobia might interfere with daily life. The person prefers to use the restroom but cannot without experiencing intense fear. Even if the person is rationally aware that there are no monsters in the hallway, the feeling of fear itself may be enough of a reason to avoid leaving their bedroom, no matter how rational their fear is.
What causes teraphobia?
Teraphobia is a type of specific phobia, which can have many causes. Although the exact cause of specific phobias is unknown, theories suggest that phobias may develop when a neutral object or situation - one that does not promote fear - is paired with an event that produces extreme fear or anxiety, such as a near-death experience.
Think of a car accident as an example. For most people, a car is a neutral object that does not inspire fear. Conversely, a car accident is a situation that likely produces intense fear. When a person is involved in a car accident, they may develop a fear of cars because the strong fear they experienced during the accident has been paired with a neutral object, the car. Although a phobia is not guaranteed to develop, if you or one of your friends have been in a car accident, you may have noticed at least a small increase in hesitation when they consider driving.
In the case of teraphobia, there is a possibility that a frightening event associated with the dark or being alone forms its foundation. This event could possibly have occurred in childhood and may have persisted well into adulthood.
Is Teraphobia a real thing?
Teraphobia is a type of specific phobia, a diagnosable clinical condition that affects over 7% of people at some point in their lives. Specific phobias are often given Greek or Latin names in popular culture or urban legends, such as arachnophobia (fear of spiders), autophobia (fear of being alone), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), or trypanophobia (fear of needles).
Although some of these names, like claustrophobia, are commonly used in day-to-day conversation, they are not official titles.
Because of this, conditions like teraphobia can sometimes be labeled “fake” conditions. Although the name is not an official designation, the underlying condition it refers to, specific phobia, is real. Names like “teraphobia” usually refer to the target of the phobia. In this case, monsters.
How can I get rid of teraphobia?
Teraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder known as a specific phobia. Specific phobias are considered highly treatable with the help of a qualified mental health professional. A therapist or other mental health professional can help you understand where your fear comes from and how best to manage it in the short and long term. Therapists regularly work with those with specific phobias and other forms of overwhelming fear, worry, and anxiety. Working with a therapist is likely the quickest and most effective way to relieve your fear.
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