Megalophobia, by definition, is a fear of large buildings, vehicles, or any object that is bigger. In some people, the condition is so severe that they are unable to perform daily life activities just because anything they encounter is bigger than the normal size. In this way, you will be nervous about going into large buildings, and it invokes a certain kind of fear in you that stops you from going into such a building and traveling in planes, etc.
Psychology behind megalopolis
Phobia is usually considered as the fear against something, which, in reality, is anxiety-related to something this may not be harmful in real life vet the anxiety can stop the person from doing things or being near things, they are afraid of. All of this happens because of their anxiety. The difference between phobia and fear is that you may e able to overcome your phobia, but phobia itself can transform into fear, causing you unable to do your regular activities. The reason behind such phobias can be some events or just anxiety over certain things, with megalophobia most of the time it is because of the bad experience faced by a large object.
Symptoms of megalophobia
Phobia of any kind and usually have similar symptoms that different stimulus triggers. Following are some of the symptoms that you will experience in megalophobia
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Panic attack
- Crying
- Shaking
- Raised heart rate
- Chest pain
These are all the symptoms you will experience in any kind of phobia, including megalophobia as well.
What triggers megalophobia
Usually, the megalophobia is a fear of big objects, but there is the various thing that can set off the phobia in the people and following are some of those causes
- In transport, it includes airplanes, helicopters, and big truck and buses as well
- Large animals or sea creatures might also invoke this fear, and those include the whales, elephants, and giraffes as well.
- Some big statues and monuments may also seem approachable by certain people, and it is very hard to be around them.
- Boats, yachts, and ships are also responsible for setting off megalophobia in a person.
- High things are not the only reason the things like large lakes and the ocean itself can cause a person to experience megalophobia as well.
- Big spaces where you might feel claustrophobic can also be named megalophobia.
- Such people may also get scared of huge mountains and hills and are never able to climb them.
- Buildings are for sure one of the things that cause megalophobia. It's not all buildings but the huge ones, including the skyscrapers.
Diagnosis
When it comes to diagnosis of megalophobia but it is evaluated by your psychiatrist. You are evaluated based on your past experiences and recalling an event that started it. Some people are not even aware of the fear of there until it is diagnosed by a psychiatrist. With all this information, they try to reach the root cause of your problem. One diagnostic test can be used, and that is by the images. The medical examiner shows you certain pictures of the things they are suspecting you might be afraid of. Once they goad your reaction with certain images, they diagnose the type of phobia you have. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, a treatment plan is made afterward.
Treatment of megalophobia
For the treatment of megalophobia, combination therapy can be used. This involves the medications to control your anxiety, and the other method is therapy to try to illuminate the root cause of fear; the decision to take medicines is made based on what is the extent of our fear you face by such stimulus. Following are the treatments used for megalophobia.
- Cognitive behavior therapy is a treatment technique that turns your irrational fears into rational thoughts.
- Talk therapy with a psychologist may help a lot.
- Group therapy with people who have similar or almost similar fears may help a lot, and you all can overcome these fears together.
- Exposure therapy may help, too, with the thought that you will face that thing, and nothing that happens will take the fear away from your mind.
The medications that may be used are as follows
- Beta-blocker help control your anxiety by controlling heart palpitations.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors will also control anxiety.
- The Selective non-epinephrine reuptake inhibitors perform the same role.
This is all you needed to know.