Mini-Guide: Megalophobia (Fear Of Large Objects)

Megalophobia which is a phobia of large objects sounds weird but it is a common fear that most people experience. Talking about large objects, they could be anything, like big buildings, cars, trucks, or any other large or big objects. If encountering or thinking about a large object results in intense fear or anxiety within yourself, you might be experiencing Megalophobia (fear of large objects).

This condition or fear causes severe nervousness and people start avoiding triggers by taking great measures. Nervousness and anxiety are the major symptoms of megalophobia. 

It impacts mental health and interferes with the daily routine. It is basically caused by underlying anxiety and fear. However, this situation can be managed with proper diagnosis and treatment.

In this blog, we will be discussing what is megalophobia, its triggers, symptoms of megalophobia, diagnosis, and more about Megalophobia (fear of large objects). So, let’s get started.

What is Megalophobia?

According to psychology, megalophobia is a fear/phobia of large objects. When encountering or thinking about large objects such as buildings, trucks, cars, statues, and more results in intense fear or anxiety. This condition is known as megalophobia.

Megalophobia is a kind of anxiety disorder wherein people experiences intense fear or anxiety. Megalophobia is one of the most common phobias that people experience but the level and symptoms can be different. 

Common Triggers Related To Megalophobia

There are various things or objects that trigger megalophobia and its related anxiety. Research shows that some people experience it in the presence of large objects while some people experience it when they are in the surroundings of specific triggers. Some common types of triggers related to megalophobia are:

• Blimps
• Buildings
• Airplanes
• Construction equipment’s
• Buses
• Elephants
• Big trees
• Hills and mountains
• Ships
• Big statues or sculptures
• Large water bodies
• Trains
• Whales
• Big trucks
• Big spaces
• Helicopters
• Skyscrapers
• Other large objects or things

Symptoms of Megalophobia

The major sign or symptom of megalophobia is fear/phobia of large objects or things. Additionally, experiencing the fear of any large thing also shows symptoms like:

• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Chest pain
• Anxiety
• Panic attack
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood flow
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Shaking or trembling
• Stress
• Nervousness
• Crying

Causes of Megalophobia

As of now, the exact reason behind the triggers of megalophobia is still unknown and research is still going on. However, there could be a number of factors that contribute to the triggers of phobia of large objects, such as:

1. Intimidating Size

Megalophobia (fear of big things) is related to objects that are bigger in size. It can be anything like a sculpture or an animal that does not fit the normal size we generally relate to in our life. People who experience megalophobia are unable to process the abnormal size of such species or objects which results in the feeling of fear of the big things.  Basically, the size awes them and results in anxiety.

2. Exaggerated Normal Fears

Everyone has a fear and it is completely normal to have a fear at some level for things or objects that seem threatening or overwhelming. For people who experience megalophobia, this fear becomes more intense and severe because it is something different than a normal experience for them.

3. Media

Sometimes media plays an important role in the trigger of such fears. New stories or news that is intimidating cause fear. For example, showing news related to gigantic and deadly animals might cause fear in someone who is watching the news. Showing news related to gigantic ships or the death of people who sailed ships at early ages can be really intimidating.

Diagnosis of Megalophobia

Since we have now understood what exactly megalophobia is it’s time to understand how we can diagnose this condition. Typically, megalophobia is related to underlying anxiety. As of now, there is no specific or underlined diagnosis of this phobia.

However, with the help of a trained or certified psychologist, you can get proper help to overcome this issue. A psychologist can help you in diagnosing this phobia with related history and symptoms related to megalophobia.

The psychologist can help you in determining the sources of such fears so that negative thoughts related to big objects can be resolved. To overcome this issue, the therapist and you can work together on the past related to this phobia and work towards healing.

Treatment of Megalophobia (Fear Of Large Objects)

Treatment of megalophobia consists of psychotherapy but medications can also help only in severe cases. Below are some of the common and effective treatment types for megalophobia:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

During CBT, the therapist encourages the client to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts so that he/she can walk away from the fear of abnormally large things. To read more about CBT, you may refer to Mini-Guide: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

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2. Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy means exposing the client to fear so that the fear can be dissolved without putting the client in any kind of danger. To read more about Exposure therapies, you may refer to Exposure Therapy

Coping Tips for Managing Triggers of Megalophobia

Below are some self-help tips for managing triggers of megalophobia along with psychotherapy:

• Meditation
• Daily exercise
• Balanced diet
• Yoga and other grounding techniques
• Stress and anxiety management

I hope this blog helps you understand everything you wanted to know about Megalophobia (fear of abnormally large things). Comment down and share your views on this type of fear. For more such informational content, connect with us on all social media platforms.

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