Understanding Chionophobia, The Intense Fear Of Snow
Last Update on April 13, 2023 : Published on January 14, 2022
Chionophobia is an irrational fear of snow that might trouble you in those cold winter days. Most countries are covered in snow almost throughout the winter. Imagine living with the fear of snow when almost half the year your house is covered in snow.
Sounds terrifying to me! Chionophobia, like all other phobias, will leave you in a state of extreme stress and fear when you encounter snow. If you have any type of phobia you will understand the plight of a phobic person.
For now, let’s understand the plight of a chiorophobic person, but first let’s understand the fear of snow in detail…
What Is Chionophobia?
Chionophobia can be defined as an extremely intense and persistent dislike or fear of snow. For a person who has chionophobia, snow is a terrifying enemy who is ready to attack them at any moment. They dislike snow to such a level that they can’t stand it even for a bit.
The word chionophobia originated from a Greek word, chion, meaning snow (obviously) and we all know what phobia means, its fear or aversion to something.
Most people who have chionophobia or fear of snow do not understand their fear at all. They find it weird just like most people in their lives feel about their phobia of snow. People living in snow covered countries face a lot of trouble when it’s snowing. In fact some people suffering with this intense fear of snow refuse to step out of their house, they don’t even pull their curtains to have a peek at their backyards.
What Are The Symptoms Of Chionophobia?
The symptoms are similar to all other kinds of phobias. There are certain reactions you might display when you come in contact with your fear/phobia, here the fear is of snow.
Here’s how you might react or might show these symptoms when you encounter snow;
- Crying or screaming when near snow
- You feel like running away from snow, you wish to flee to a place where there is no snow
- Shivers and shaking out of terror
- increased heart beat and blood pressure
- Sweating in the palms and feet
- You begin to feel nauseous or even vomit if you stay in snow for a long time
- You might have a panic attack
- You can develop anxiety when someone even talks about snow
- There is trembling
- You feel like you are going to choke
- There is shortness of breath
- You stomach might feel weird (upset)
Did you know, even a weather report that says it might snow can make a person with chionophobia experience intense fear and can go into a panic attack.
Now that you know what chionophobia looks like, it’s time we get to the solution of this issue with the fear of snow.
How To Cope With Chionophobia?
Phobia of snow is not something you can’t get over with. The entire thing depends on how severe and intense your fear of snow is. If it is not that intense you can cope with the fear of snow on your own.
For some people learning about snow, how different kinds of snow have different impacts on your surroundings, etc. can help in reducing the fear. You can also try exposing yourself to snow slowly, take baby steps but do it.
Exposing yourself to your phobia of snow is the only way you will know that it’s not as dangerous as you have assumed it to be. Mindfulness meditation and yoga can also help you in reducing your phobia of snow.
If your fear of snow is intense and you don’t think you can handle it on your own, it’s best to seek treatment for your phobia of snow from a mental health professional.
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A mental health professional is most likely to introduce you to:
These three therapies can work wonders in eliminating your fear of snow.
Other Winter Related Phobias
1. Fear of severe weather:
here the fear is associated with intense weather conditions. One of them is chionophobia, which you have been reading about. Some other related phobias are Lilapsophobia: fear of severe weather and astraphobia: fear of storms.
2. Fear of being trapped:
it is a fear of being trapped because of a natural winter calamity like an avalanche or thin ice sliding, etc.
3. Fear of cold, illness or injury:
there is fear of the temperature decreasing a lot or getting ill because of extreme weather conditions or getting injured because of snow being everywhere. They can come in the form of three different phobias.
4. Fear of driving:
although it is dangerous to drive when it’s snowing, some people fear driving in the snow to such an extent that they can stay stranded at a place for hours but can’t sit at the driving seat.
That’s all about chionophobia, the intense fear of snow and some other winter related phobias. I hope you are now well versed with the symptoms of chionophobia. A phobia of snow can be scary but remember you can always seek professional help!
Thanks for reading.
Take care and stay safe.
Next Read:
Enochlophobia (Fear Of Crowd): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, & More…
Aquaphobia (Fear Of Water): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, And More
About The Author
Kirti Bhati
I am an English literature (major) and psychology (minor) graduate from St. Bede’s College, Shimla. Postgraduate in Clinical psychology from IIS University, Jaipur. She has published a Research paper on Music therapy in the military population and Workplace stress in a national seminar conducted by Fortis hospital (gurugram) and international seminar conducted by St. Bede’s College, Shimla, Respectively. Authored a dissertation work on ‘effect of social media addiction on the mental and physical well-being in adolescents’ Currently working at calm sage as a writer.
