Coulrophobia Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Coulrophobia is a condition in which a person experiences an excessive fear of clowns.
Understanding
Coulrophobia is a condition in which a person experiences an excessive fear of clowns. This condition is most often experienced by children. However, teenagers and adults can also experience it.
People with coulrophobia may also use extreme methods in their personal lives to avoid clowns. Likewise, when exposed to situations that trigger stress, they will find the fastest way out to avoid the situation.
Reason
The cause of coulrophobia is not known with certainty. Experts suspect that coulrophobia can result from a combination of traumatic experiences and insights that lead to an irrational fear of clowns.
Coulrophobia, while often initiated from negative personal experiences, can also be triggered by negative media imagery. Clowns are a relatively common theme in horror movies or stories and are often associated with a scary factor in the media.
While many children find clowns to be cute and fun characters, adults who have watched horror movies with a clown theme may have a different perspective.
Symptom
People who experience coulrophobia can experience panic attacks when exposed to situations related to the thing they are afraid of, in this case clowns. Some of the symptoms that can be experienced include:
- Excessive fear
- anxiety
- Shiver
- Hard to breathe
- Increased frequency or heart rate or irregular heart rhythm
Diagnosis
If the signs and symptoms of coulrophobia interfere with daily life, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor directly. Early diagnosis of this condition can help manage complaints better.
The diagnosis of coulrophobia is generally determined from the results of a detailed medical interview and direct physical examination.
Handling
Coulrophobia can cause panic and fear in fairly mundane situations for most individuals. While avoiding children’s birthdays can be an easy way to stave off this fear, clowns can also be found in many public places.
If someone wants to overcome the fear sparked by clowns, consulting a professional is the most appropriate treatment option.
Treatment of coulrophobia generally includes desensitization therapy or exposure therapy. This treatment will help people with coulrophobia to gradually become more familiar with clowns.
People with coulrophobia can start by discussing their fear and its possible root causes. Then proceed to view photos or videos associated with the clown.
The end goal of this condition is for the person to feel comfortable being in the same room as the clown. This process helps the person with coulrophobia become more familiar with their fear and then become more attuned to it.
Prevention
Because the cause of coulrophobia is not yet known with certainty, there is no strategy that is known to be completely effective in preventing this condition. However, good treatment can prevent signs and symptoms from recurring.