Ochophobia (A complete guide)

This article will give a brief idea of Ochophobia. Then it will focus on the symptoms and causes of Ochophobia.

Then it will highlight Ochophobia treatments both psychotherapies and medications.

OCHOPHOBIA:

Ochophobia refers to the fear of automobiles. This fear creates anxiety and even panic attacks with a mere thought of being near an automobile.

People suffering from this find difficulty in doing daily activities, as in day to day lives we have to go out and travel but these people find it hard.

They themselves never own an automobile, but they even can’t see an automobile near them or when they walk they have the fear that an automobile will pass them.

These individuals become dependent on their families, as they have to fulfill their daily needs like food and other resources.

These people often decide to live in a rural area where there is a minimum availability of automobiles.

They might feel achievement in this as they think they have conquered anxiety but this not the case actually.

Isolating oneself from the modern world leads to loneliness and symptoms of depression as well.

SYMPTOMS OF OCHOPHOBIA:

The main symptom of ochophobia which can be derived from the word itself is intense anxiety and it depends on several factors like genetics, environmental factors and the severity of the condition.

Lack of self-esteem and lack of self-confidence have also been seen in these patients, some ochophobic patients isolate themselves from the modern world and live in the areas that have the least exposure of automobiles.

These people are also concerned with vehicular accidents and statistics. They may see certain trends in vehicular fatalities as reassurance that they should fear automobiles.

Some more common symptoms are-

• Anxiety or Panic attacks with a mere thought of the automobile
• Breathlessness when being inside of a vehicle due to fear of accident or mishappenings
• Trembling and shaking of legs when sees an automobile near their vicinity
• Feelings of helplessness
• Sweating and Muscle Tension

CAUSES OF OCHOPHOBIA:

There is no certain cause that has been found so far for Ochophobia, though, there are several factors that contribute to this condition.

One factor would be genetics, as a person who has a history of anxiety disorders or phobias are more likely to develop Ochophobia.

Another factor would be the environment in which the person has been brought up.

This is the common nature vs nurture argument as both factors are likely to play important roles in developing Ochophobia.

Someone developing a fear of automobile can be because of the involvement in a near-fatal car accident which might have left them very injured or traumatized.

Another reason can be, that the person might have seen a car accident in which he might have lost someone close to him.

It can also be developed due to already suffering from a disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), like obsession with the dangers of automobiles and thus slowly developing ochophobia.

OCHOPHOBIA TREATMENTS:

There is no particular treatment that has been designed especially for Ochophobia.

But some treatments which have been proved to be helpful in anxiety and phobias have been considered to be helpful with Ochophobia as well and those are-

Psychotherapies:

• Talk Therapy-

Talk Therapy can be beneficial for someone suffering from an irrational fear of automobiles as it can help the patient to let out all the fears he has in a constructive way and it eventually helps in developing new and more constructive thinking pattern

• Exposure Therapy:

It is one of the most common and effective therapy with patients suffering from anxiety and phobias.

It works by having the therapist slowly expose the patient to which he fears ie. an automobile in an attempt to desensitize him about it.

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for Ochophobia:

It is an 8-week evidence-based program that offers mindfulness training to help people suffering from anxiety, stress, depression, etc.

Mindfulness meditation can significantly help people suffering from ochophobia due to how it will help one in distracting himself from their fear by refocusing their attention on something else, like breathing.

This is the most basic and easiest way one can meditate and be in the present.

• Yoga for Ochophobia:

Yoga needs consistency and there are different yoga poses which if done with consistency can substantially benefit people suffering from ochophobia.

Yoga is known as meditation in motion and it can help in relieving anxiety associated with ochophobia.

• Exercises:

Exercising releases toxins from our body, we all know but it releases stress toxins as well. Exercises have been extremely beneficial for people suffering from anxiety disorders including ochophobia.

Cardiovascular exercises can significantly help in reducing one’s stress levels

• Other than these caffein reductions for Ochophobia and CBT has also been found helpful in the long run.

Psychiatric Medications:

• Anti-anxiety medications:

These medications are very helpful in preventing panic attacks and anxiety issues. It is very helpful when the condition is very severe.

Some common anti-anxiety medications are Xanax, Diazepam, Klonopin, etc. These medications should be taken only in the supervision of a medical professional.

• Antidepressants:

These medications aren’t only for people who suffer from depression as they can also help people suffering from anxiety disorders such as Ochophobia. Some common antidepressants are Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, etc.

These types of drugs are taken on a daily basis and can be helpful in preventing panic attacks and daily anxiety issues.

But always consider consulting a psychiatrist first before starting or stopping any medications.

CONCLUSION:
This blog gave a brief idea of Ochophobia. Then it focused on the symptoms and causes of Ochophobia.

Then it highlighted Ochophobia treatments both psychotherapies and medications.

Please feel free to comment below or leave a suggestion, we would appreciate it.

CITATIONS:

Psychtimes.com