Scholechiphobia: symptoms, causes and treatment

Although it is true that worms are not usually the animals that enjoy the greatest affection of the human public, these small invertebrates are not dangerous nor are they a threat to the person.

However, if the precise circumstances occur, an excessive and irrational fear of these animals can develop. This is known as scolekiphobia.. In this article we will describe what it is, as well as its symptoms, causes and existing treatments to combat it.

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

What is scolekiphobia?

Scholekiphobia presents as a fear of worms that is excessive, irrational, and uncontrollable. This condition belongs to the group of anxiety disorders, specifically to specific phobias.

Despite the fact that experiencing an aversive sensation or manifesting an explicit dislike towards these small living beings is very common, when this aversion becomes a pathological and incapacitating fear we can talk about scolekiphobia.

To know the difference between a usual or ordinary fear and a phobia or pathological fear we must find out what direct consequences this fear has on the daily routine of the person who fears it suffers.

In this way, if a person feels repulsion or aversion to worms but does not interfere in her life in a significant way, he does not have to suffer from scholequiphobia. However, in the event that the latter experiences a strong anxiety reaction in the presence of these animals, It will be recommended that you consult with a professional in psychology.

To know exactly if a fear, in this case the fear of worms, has the category of specific phobia, it is necessary to review the characteristics of the fear that the person experiences. Those requirements or qualities of phobic fear are the following.

1. It's disproportionate

The first point to take into account to differentiate between a normal fear and a phobic fear of worms is that this must be out of proportion to the actual threat that the phobic stimulus represents.

The fear reaction in the presence of these invertebrates must be intense and exaggerated, taking into account the real danger that they pose to the physical integrity of the person.

2. it's irrational

The person suffering from phobic fear is unable to find a justified and reasonable explanation for her reaction. In the same way, on some occasions the person is perfectly aware of how harmless the phobic stimulus is, but still can't help but generate an anxiety response to him.

3. is uncontrollable

The fear felt by a person with scolekiphobia is completely incoherent and, furthermore, absolutely uncontrollable. Therefore, the person is unable to produce or eliminate feelings of anxiety and fear.

These sensations appear automatically and mechanized and they will only extinguish when the person has managed to flee or avoid the phobic stimulus.

Your symptoms

In addition to the characteristics of phobic fear, another dimension that allows us to identify an anxiety disorder is its own symptoms.

Like the rest of the specific anxiety disorders, in scholequiphobia the person experiences an excessive reaction of nervousness and anxiety. Within this symptomatology three groups of symptoms are included: physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms and behavioral symptoms.

However, as with a wide variety of psychological conditions and disorders, Not everyone who has it experiences exactly the same symptoms. not with the same intensity. But both its incidence and the severity of the disorder can change from one person to another.

Mentioned below are the three groups of symptoms typical of phobias and what their characteristics are.

1. physical symptoms

When the person with scolekiphobia is in the presence of the phobic stimulus, worms in this case, a process of great hyperactivity begins in the autonomic nervous system. This hyperactivity causes a large number of changes in the body, among which we highlight the following.

• Elevated heart rate.
• dizziness and tremors.
• Sensation of suffocation.
• Increased sweating levels.
• Feeling of pressure in the chest.
• Feeling of anguish and nausea.
• Gastrointestinal disorders.
• feeling confused.
• fainting

2. cognitive symptoms

The response of fear and anxiety conditioned to the appearance of the phobic stimulus are due to the fact that the person, at some point in their life, made an association of this stimulus with a series of irrational ideas.

These thoughts, in this case related to worms, stimulate and provide for the development and maintenance of the phobia and are They are characterized by presenting a series of ideas that are little or not at all substantiated about worms, their characteristics and particularities.

These thoughts are characterized by the following peculiarities:

• Obsessive speculations with worms.
• Intrusive, irrational thoughts and absolutely uncontrollable on the worms.
• Mental images of a catastrophic nature.
• Fear of not knowing how to handle the situation and end up losing control.
• Feeling of unreality.

3. behavioral symptoms

Like the rest of phobias and specific anxiety disorders, scolekiphobia is usually accompanied by of a large number of reactions or behavioral manifestations that appear in response to the stimulus aversive.

The purpose of these acts is either to directly avoid being faced with the phobic stimulus, or to try to escape, in the event that the person has not been able to avoid the object of the phobia. These first behaviors are known as avoidance behaviors, while the latter refer to escape behaviors.

Avoidance Behaviors They are carried out with the intention of avoiding the encounter with this type of animal. In them, the patient executes all kinds of behaviors to avoid the possibility of coinciding with the stimulus that is the object of the phobia. This is intended to avoid experiencing feelings of anguish and anxiety that worms generate in the person.

Regarding escape behaviors, these are generated when the person has not been able to avoid encountering the feared stimulus, for which reason will carry out all kinds of behaviors that make it easier for him to escape from the current situation as soon as possible possible.

• Related article: "The 7 most common specific phobias"

What is the cause?

Determining the origin of a phobia is an extremely complex task since there is no single triggering factor for the disorder. In any case, there are a number of factors that can facilitate the appearance of this.

Nevertheless, genetic predisposition of the person linked to the presence of a traumatic event or situation related in some way to the worms will very possibly trigger the appearance of the aforementioned phobia.

Is there a treatment?

In cases where fear is disabling or interferes with the person's daily life, treatment for scolekiphobia can be started. Psychotherapy is used in this treatment. to modify or eliminate the erroneous thoughts and beliefs that end up causing the rest of the symptoms.

This psychotherapy is accompanied by techniques for the treatment of phobias such as live exposure wave systematic desensitization and relaxation training.