This is a very important subject to those who have the phsmophobia. I remember when I used to go down to our old basement in our
old childhood house it was fear of the dark at first f the unknown of something going to harm us as a defence mechanism and survivor kit build in our DNA we are evolved from the cave man nightmare of the fear of the beasts. I used to get so paralyzed when I start going upstairs and felt that something holding my legs making me go slow and I was trying to go up and I couldn’t it was so strong feeling that made my legs freeze.
Phasmophobia is the fear of ghosts. The word originates from Greek word ‘phasmos’ which means ‘supernatural being/phantom’ and Phobos which means ‘deep dread or fear’. Another word for it is Spectrophobia, which originates from ‘specters’ or ‘reflection’.
The existence of supernatural phenomena is something that is heavily debated in our society. Since the invention of the campfire, we have feared all things ghostly and . Ghosts and spirits are classic catalysts of fear and have become a crucial part in some of our favorite books, films, and stories. For most people, the fear of ghosts is something that we suppress after childhood. However, the fear has been known to gradually increase into adulthood for others. Phasmophobia is a very serious ongoing fear of ghosts that can cause severe anxiety and an absolute terror in some people. This fear can be coped with if a person decides to seek out professional or self-help methods, or find a better way to deal with stressful situations.
Symptoms of Phasmophobia
The symptoms associated with Phasmophobia are commonly found in most anxiety disorders. These may include one or more of the following:
- Feeling of panic, leading to a clouded mind or unfocused thought process.
- Feeling of dread, which may cause a person to lose sleep or avoid social situations due to their anxiety.
- Dry mouth, nausea, rapid heartbeat or any other symptom associated with the feeling of terror.
- Development of rituals or dependent behavior, commonly seen in obsessive-compulsive behavior, to “ward off” or avoid ghosts.
Treatment of Phasmophobia
These symptoms caused by an irrational fear of ghosts have been treated successfully in the past. A person can use methods to manage their fear or seek out professional treatment options that are likely to remove any fear of ghosts or spirits.
There are several ways in which a person may be treated to overcome their fear of ghosts. Relaxation methods like breathing techniques can be taught and used when faced with their fear. Mental escape devices are also introduced as well as some degree of physical exercise, yoga is the most popular. If a person is suffering from a severe loss of sleep due to their Phasmophobia, sleeping medication may be recommended by a health professional along with other anti-anxiety medicines. Exposure therapy can also be used to introduce a patient to their fears through related imagery, gradually increasing their familiarity and desensitizing them to the idea of ghosts. Through this technique, a patient may also be convinced ghosts are not a real occurrence since there is no actual proof of their existence.
If you are losing sleep over your fear of ghosts and are interested in finding treatment options, be sure to do some research. Phasmophobia can be beaten through many popular coping methods and your anxieties levels are sure to decrease if not disappear.
The American Psychological Association officially recognizes only 100 phobias, but there are actually more than 500 of them in existence. Phasmophobia just happens to be one of them. And this is not just some minor fear, we’re talking about. It’s so intense, in fact, that it disrupts the sufferer’s life.
Anyone who has ever tried to conquer the irrational fear like phasmophobia knows just how difficult the effort can be. Indeed, the seeming impossibility of it all leads many a sufferer to give up, allowing their phobic tendencies to take over their lives.
The good news for these individuals is that phasmophobia can be overcome if it is approached in the right way. Following are five effective strategies for putting this unwanted fear to rest once and for all so that those afflicted with it can reclaim their lives.
Strategy #1 for Overcoming Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts: Face your fear head-on. – Realize that there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Thousands of others face what you are facing every single day. You are not alone in this phasmophobia battle. For this strategy to be most effective, it is best to gradually build up your exposure. Then spend some time in the presence of the very thing that fuels your phasmophobia. Start slow and small and gradually work your way up. Practice and repetition are the keys to this strategy working.
Strategy #2 for Overcoming Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts: Don’t let panic or setbacks paralyze you. – Everyone has a bad day now and then. The important thing is not to let yours debilitate you from moving forward. Although such days may make it feel like you’re not making any progress, they’re deceitful. On such occasions, step back and assess how far you’ve come with your phasmophobia. If you’re being honest with yourself, chances are you’ll see some real results. Eliminate all doubt and keep telling yourself, “If I’ve come this far, I can keep going. I will prevail.” And then go, go, go starting now, or at the very latest tomorrow.
Strategy #3 for Overcoming Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts: Keep a big picture perspective. – As Entrepreneur magazine points out, this strategy is all about understanding “what opportunities you have to lose.” You’re afraid of ghosts that what is allowing your fear of ghosts to have a stranglehold over you causing you to miss out on? Don’t live with regrets or put off embracing major changes until it’s too late.
Strategy #4 for Overcoming Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts: “Treat fear as a call to action.” – As an extension of strategy #3, Inc. magazine recommends reframing your notion of your fear of ghosts. Rather than thinking of it as a crippling aspect of your personality that you just have to keep living with, consider it a wake-up call—as a motivator to start claiming the life you’ve always wanted. “Write down a specific plan of the exact steps that you’ll take,” the publication recommends.
Strategy #5 for Overcoming Phasmophobia or the Fear of Ghosts: “Rewire your brain.” – Entrepreneur magazine offers this directive as “one of the surest ways to overcome your fears and develop the courage that is needed to get to where you want to go.” Easier said than done though. That’s where the assistance of a professional can come in handy. But one-on-one counseling sessions are so expensive, you’re telling yourself. Fortunately, there are affordable alternatives. Hypnotherapy has proven itself to be a very effective means of permanently rewiring the brain against phasmophobia. And the good news is that thanks to today’s technology, hypnosis can be performed extremely cost-effectively from the comfort and convenience of your own home.
STEVE RAMSEY – Calgary – Alberta