Management of Ornithophobia: Specified Therapies

Introduction

Some humans have certain degrees of annoyance with birds. But, ornithophobia is more than a discomfort. The person with fear feels averse, repellent, and has a robust dislike toward birds and their sounds. It can be aggressive behavior, biting, nipping, feather fluffing, dilating eyes, or the bird itself. Fear of birds is considered a specific phobia, a common anxiety disorder. About one in ten adults and one in five American teenagers have a specific phobia.

What Is Ornithophobia?

Ornithophobia is an overwhelming, irrational fear of birds. The term is also used to describe a sense of hatred for birds. The Greek word ‘ornis’ means bird, and ‘ornitho’ refers to ‘pertaining to birds,’ so phobia is for fear.

What Causes Ornithophobia?

People encounter an overwhelming fear of birds regardless of age, and there is no such gender prevalence. The exact cause of any specific phobia is still undetermined. Nevertheless, researchers consider varied factors that would contribute to the intense irrational fear.

• Genetic factors will play an essential role in phobias and anxiety disorders. Thus, a family history of ornithophobia or anxiety disorders is more likely to be inherited.

• The fear can be learned and acquired through observation, whether from media sources or at home or school.

• Any past negative experiences or traumatic events would culminate in intense fear.

What Are the Symptoms of Ornithophobia?

When one sees, imagines, talks, or encounters a bird, they would absolutely move from the sight of an urge of avoidance and isolation. In contrast, a few stand still, freezing, observing the bird. Therefore, the person bears the following symptom when they are about to meet or meet with the bird.

Emotional Symptoms:

• Intense fear and anxiety.

• Loss of control.

• An urge to escape.

• Disorientation.

Physical Signs:

• Elevated heart rate.

• Nervousness.

• Shortness of breath.

• Increased blood pressure.

• Dizziness.

• Chest tightness or chest pain.

• Dry mouth.

• Nausea.

• Vomiting.

• Excessive sweating.

• Trembles.

How Is Ornithophobia Diagnosed?

There are no laboratory tests or blood investigations to spot the phobia and the phobic object. Instead, medical healthcare professionals exploit the diagnostic criteria tool of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) fifth edition, put forth by the American psychiatric association. The nature of the symptoms and fear must be discussed for diagnosing the term-specific phobia.

• Sustained irrational fear over a specific object or situation.

• That specific object provokes an abrupt anxiety response when encountered.

• The fear, anxiety, and symptoms endure for at least six months.

• One perceives that the fear is out of proportion to the phobic object itself.

• The person steers clear of such anxiety-provoking circumstances.

• The fear interferes with daily personal, social, and occupational tasks.

• The phobia and the signs are not dependent on other mental health illnesses.

When to Seek Professional Help?

Birds seem to be flying in and around the habitat. So, the chances are inevitable. One can feel safe and secure as early as one comes up with the intervention. This is because specific phobias and anxiety concerns would give way to certain illnesses and conditions risks.

• Agoraphobia.

• Depression.

• Panic attacks.

• Anxiety interferes with daily functioning and sleep patterns.

• Substance abuse disorder.

What Incorporates the Management of Ornithophobia?

Since birds seem everywhere, it is hard to avoid birds and the circumstances. So be concerned if a loved one has an irrational fear or dislike towards birds. The condition can be effectively treated with the following one or a combination of psychotherapies.

1. Exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a commonly employed psychological intervention to confront fears. It will help people rule out and overturn objects, activities, or situations that bring fear and anxiety. This is also known as desensitization. For example, the therapist will gradually expose the individual to the image and film of birds with relaxation techniques. With time, he will direct the intervention toward the creation of an actual scene with birds. Finally, coming across and nurturing the bird will amend the thoughts and fear.

2. Psychotherapy. A phobic person has to deal with negative thought patterns and thus reflect them in their conduct. So to alleviate the fear, the distorted thoughts must be cleared. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is typical psychological talk therapy for the management of any cognitive illnesses such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. The therapy aims to identify and modify the thinking patterns to be mirrored in behavior. It is a short-term intervention comprising five to twenty sessions depending on the client and the severity of the fear. The course of the cognitive therapy process includes the following.

• Identifying the conditions, disorders, and distressing situations in life.

• Bringing awareness of thoughts, beliefs, and emotions concerning these issues.

• Sensing illogical negative thinking.

• Reshaping negative thoughts.

3. Hypnotherapy. Hypnosis is meant for a trance-like state in which a person holds inflated focus and concentration. Hypnotherapy is considered a mind-body intervention that utilizes hypnosis to treat various mental health illnesses. The person is open to suggestions during the hypnotic state; thus, the therapist amends the fear right through it. For example, the patient utters that he or she is not afraid of birds.

4. Medications. Medications are prescribed on the basis of underlying anxiety and depression concerns.

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants such as Dapoxetine, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Citalopram, and Escitalopram.

• Beta-blockers are for shifts in blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiovascular conditions.

• Benzodiazepines are sedatives for calming and relaxation.

Coping Strategies:

Firstly, it is fine to have an overwhelming fear of birds which can be eventually resolved with time and therapy. In addition, one must aid in mindfulness activities to cope, though it is not rudimental. A few strategies that would guide the patient are as follows.

• Meditation paves the way for improving the state of mind while amending distress.

• It is evident that breathing exercises have been effective against stress.

• Physical exercises, a nutritious diet, and sleeping patterns are to strive for.

Conclusion:

Ornithophobia refers to the fear of birds. The person with ornithophobia has irrational and extreme degrees of fear while seeing or hearing about birds. A past scary experience or witnessing a terrific experience with the birds might make one feel like that. Birds are in everyplace, though. So it is not good to stay indoors to avoid the birds. The mental health specialist can help individuals suffering from this kind of irrational fear. Treatment options like psychotherapy and exposure therapy seem effective in eliminating such fear.