Xirophobia: symptoms, causes and treatment

As its ending indicates, xyrophobia it is a type of phobia. Let's remember that phobias are intense and irrational fears or fears, becoming in some cases pathological in nature towards things, situations or even people.

In this article we will see what this psychological disorder is: its consequences, possible origins of xirophobia, and treatments for this type of phobia.

• Related article: "Types of Phobias: Exploring Fear Disorders"

Xirophobia: what is it?

Xirophobia is a very specific phobia; the pathological fear of razors. This disorder implies the existence of an unjustified, abnormal and persistent fear of the razors used to cut the beard. This fear can range from contempt, to panic, rejection, aversion, even hatred or disgust.

Those people who suffer from xirophobia have the focus of fear in the fact of shaving: in the case of women, for For example, the legs or armpits, which are areas that are usually shaved, and in the case of men, it is usually the beard or moustache.

The fact of shaving implies the possibility of cutting or injuring yourself with the edge of the razor, so

the phobia focuses on the fact of being able to hurt yourself in that way, more than in the object used -razor-.

Why does fear arise?

Fear is considered an adaptive reaction of the organism, an alert reaction, caused by a sense of imminent danger.

In a normal state, this reaction helps us adapt to the environment, and is intended to prevent something bad from happening. In this way, it distances us from negative stimuli and helps us to identify those stimuli that are bad for our survival.

For this reason, fear is a reaction that takes place prior to many sensations. unpleasant, since it is making us anticipate so that we can react quickly to danger signs.

So fear is a coherent reaction to the stimuli in our environment. The problem is when phobias come into play. The phobia is considered an overreaction to a situation that is not actually dangerous or potentially dangerous, although our brain does perceive it in this way. This response is not adaptive.

There are practically as many types of phobias as types of objects, situations or people. The common factor of all phobias is that they are no longer adaptive, since excessive and exaggerated reactions are involved. These phobias, such as xirophobia, cause unnecessary discomfort, since there is an incessant and obsessive worry about a certain stimulus.

Many phobias end up triggering avoidance behaviors of places or situations without real danger, only a danger that the brain perceives. That is why it is important to know how to distinguish between fear - as an adaptive response to the environment, and phobia, an excessive and maladaptive response.

• You may be interested in: "Types of Anxiety Disorders and their characteristics"

Symptoms of xyrophobia

The consequences of developing a phobia such as xirophobia are varied.

On the one hand, a phobia produces feeling overwhelmed and unwell. The brain of a person with xirophobia is put into a state of alert, and in some cases they act quickly. This reaction is similar to stress, since it focuses attention on certain stimuli and quickly activates the mind.

This alert state can lead to sleep disorders such as insomnia. In extreme cases, these reactions can end up triggering anxiety disorders.

On the other hand (and this is a long-term consequence) an untreated phobia can become more apparent over time, causing a series of symptoms in the patient that affect their mental health and even their interpersonal and social relationships.

The fact of not facing xirophobia It can cause the person to see their social relationships altered, avoiding them, for example due to the fear of showing said phobia and being judged.. This fact could have negative impacts on the person's self-esteem, and lead to the fact that said person is separated from their work, personal and family environment.

In more serious cases, it can even lead to depression, and in extreme cases, those people who suffer from the phobia may seek refuge in the consumption and subsequent abuse of addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs, since these would be the only things that would allow them to 'face' said phobia.

Causes

There are several causes that can cause xirophobia: on the one hand, it can be a phobia originating from another phobia. For example, the belonophobia, which is the fear of sharp objects such as needles, can give rise to xirophobia.

Another associated phobia is hemophobia, which consists of the irrational fear of blood.. Somehow, the fear produced by contact (whether physical or visual) with blood is associated with a consequence that cutting with a razor has. For this reason, these phobias can come together.

Another cause is the traumatic experiences that have permeated the memory of the person; some episode from the past that could have been very painful. In this episode, the person may have made a deep cut or been injured in some way handling knives, and consequently may develop xirophobia.

Sometimes the origin is idiopathic, that is, it is not known with certainty what or what are the triggers for the phobia.

Treatment

Finally, let's talk about the treatments that can be used to address xirophobia in psychotherapy.

It is important to remember that the treatments that are usually used in certain types of phobias cover two types: on the one hand we have exposure therapy and on the other hand there is cognitive therapy behavioral.

In the first case, exposure therapy, the treatment consists of exposing the person with xirophobia to those stimuli they fear. In this case, the contact with the razors would begin, from a superficial form to its use.

In the second case mentioned, cognitive-behavioral therapy, what is intended is modulate dysfunctionally established beliefs and ideas in the brain, associated with the phobic stimulus, in this case the knife, a potentially harmful element.

In any case, as we have already seen, fear is an adaptive process, but when it stops being so, we must act and start psychological therapy. So when faced with a situation of xirophobia, we must address it through therapeutic action alongside qualified professionals in the field of mental health.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association –APA- (2014). DSM-5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Madrid: Pan American.
• Belloch, A., Sandin, B. and Ramos, F. (2010). Manual of Psychopathology. Volume I and II. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
• Horse (2002). Manual for the cognitive-behavioral treatment of psychological disorders. Vol. 1 and 2. Madrid. 21st century (Chapters 1-8, 16-18).