Specific phobias create an intense and uncontrollable fear of a place, thing, or situation. Megalophobia is the fear of large objects. A person with this condition could feel calm until confronted by a large item. After exposure, the person will feel stress, anxiety, and panic. Fortunately, effective treatment options are available to manage symptoms and diminish the impact.
What Is Megalophobia?
Megalophobia is one type of specific phobia involving the fear of large objects. Like other phobias, Megalophobia has a strong emotional and physical response in the individual. Phobias can be affected by an unlimited amount of stimuli, with nearly anything creating an emotional response. For Megalophobia, the level of fear and the specific objects that create fear vary by individual.1
Large objects may seem scary to most people because of their size, their unpredictability, or some other facets of their attributes. Still, people with Megalophobia may react inappropriately as their fear controls their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. There may be situations where the fear appears completely unreasonable and excessive, given the nature of the large object.
Very different objects could trigger two people with Megalophobia, so not all distressing stimuli will be the same with potential triggers, including:1, 2, 3
- Mountains
- Large animals, like elephants, giraffes, and whales, and even large dogs, bears, and pigs for some
- Tall or expansive buildings
- Wind turbines
- Statues and monuments
- Large boats and cruise ships
- Airplanes
- Trains and buses
- Heavy equipment, like dump trucks, bulldozers, and cranes
- Stadiums and auditoriums
Some people with megalophobia could have symptoms triggered by all or most of these triggers. Others could note issues from only one or two.
Symptoms of Megalophobia
Phobias are one type of anxiety disorder. They fall into this category because of their power to create uncomfortable, anxious responses. Phobias like anxiety disorders can change how someone thinks, acts, and feels and interfere with daily life. Due to the intense feelings, people may shift their habits and routines to avoid any stress or connection to the triggers.
When confronted with the trigger, phobias produce an immediate feeling of stress, anxiety, fear, and panic attacks. Sometimes, just thinking about the large object will be enough to create symptoms.
In addition to powerful fear, symptoms of Megalophobia include:4, 5
- Palpitations, pounding heartbeat, and higher pulse
- Sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling shaky
- Chest tightness or pain
- Nausea
- Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or unsteady
- Feeling hot or cold
- Numbness or tingling
- Feeling disconnected from oneself
- Fear of going crazy or dying
Phobias can trigger panic attacks and other distressing anxious symptoms.
Impacts of Megalophobia
Megalophobia, like other mental health conditions, can impact every area of a person’s day-to-day life. Not only can this disorder affect one’s mental health, but it can also influence their physical, social, and financial health.
With megalophobia, a person may feel too uncomfortable leaving their home, sometimes leading to:
- Missed days of work, leading to being fired or decreased pay
- Canceling or failing to make plans with friends and family
- Fear of going shopping for healthy food or hygiene products
When symptoms are at their worst, the person can lose their:
- Job
- Social supports
- Housing
- Transportation
- Self-esteem
- Purpose and direction in life
Of course, these impacts will not all be present suddenly, with most situations slowly progressing over months or years. At times, the individual may not even notice the changes as they occur.
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What Causes Fear of Large Objects?
It’s impossible to precisely say what causes a fear of large objects, but many experts believe that a combination of genetics and environmental experiences plays a role. Additionally, some people may have other temperamental factors that increase the risk of phobias.5
The genetic factors contributing to megalophobia include heredity and temperament. Heredity may play a role in developing the condition, especially if they have close family members who struggle with phobias and other anxiety disorders. A person with a temperament that leans towards anxiety and behavioral inhibition will also have a greater risk of phobia.5
Numerous environmental factors affect the risk of phobias as well, including:
If someone were to experience some type of trauma or with a large object, it could also result in megalophobia. For example, a child with a negative encounter with a large animal at the zoo or a person trapped under a large structure could note megalophobia as an outcome.
Megalophobia may occur with other phobias or alone. Some conditions linked to megalophobia include thalassophobia and agoraphobia.
How to Overcome Megalophobia
No matter the phobia, mental health experts have effective solutions to reduce symptoms and re-establish well-being. Outside of professional treatment settings, there are many options for someone looking to overcome megalophobia with practical, at-home options. These adjustments are free, readily available, and can be done almost anywhere.
Here are six practical tips for how to overcome megalophobia including:
- Practice relaxation skills: Since phobias are anxiety disorders, you should spend more time and energy practicing and perfecting relaxation skills. Relaxation skills range from detailed guided imagery to simple breathing exercises, so experiment to find an option that works for you.
- Focus on physical health: As mentioned, phobias influence your physical health as much as your mental, so your physical being will need some attention. Eat well, exercise for your mental health, and leave enough time for restful sleep.
- Try yoga: Being efficient is always a great idea, and no activity targets your physical and mental health as well as yoga for anxiety. It’s like an exercise and a relaxation technique all wrapped up in one.
- Connect with social support: Any anxiety disorder can make you feel disconnected and separated from your loved ones. It’s your challenge to reverse this trend by spending more time maintaining old and building new relationships. Possibly even finding support groups with those with similar experiences.
- Face the fear: With anxiety, avoidance coping is rarely the answer. Confront the source of your stress to diminish its power.
- Find fulfillment: Instead of running away from the phobia, run towards happiness, purpose, and life satisfaction. Using your time to mentor, volunteer, or assist others can be the best way to minimize anxiety.
The best part of these functional changes is that you never have to choose only one. All of these can be done concurrently to produce the best results.
Megalophobia Treatment
Treatment for phobias, including megalophobia, may go by different names, but the themes and procedures tend to overlap. Professional treatments will involve understanding the triggers of symptoms and exploring ways to reduce the negative impact and distress.
Therapy for Megalophobia
Therapy for megalophobia, sometimes called psychotherapy or talk therapy, tends to be highly effective for this condition and other anxiety disorders. By improving quality of life while decreasing the level of fear, therapy helps the person find a healthy balance. Their phobia will no longer limit them.1, 4
When finding a therapist, an online therapist directory lists therapists available to treat phobias and other problematic conditions, practicing therapy techniques such as:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the primary treatment method for someone with megalophobia. The client will identify the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contributing to high anxiety in CBT. By understanding and breaking patterns of avoidance, symptoms can decrease.4
Exposure Therapy
Rather than being a completely different therapy style, exposure therapy is a CBT variation. Exposure therapy aims to have the person repetitively confront their triggers to become desensitized to their impact.4
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy may use real-life or imagined scenarios to create uncomfortable situations that involve the phobias trigger. In virtual reality exposure therapy, professionals offer a headset that allows the person to see and hear elements of their fears. The headset can be programmed to address any number of phobias.
Medication
Though they will not be the first-line treatments for megalophobia, anxiety medication may be helpful. They may reduce symptoms enough to permit the person to go about daily life and activities. Some therapists may discourage certain medications during different phases of therapy as these medicines may interfere with how the person naturally responds to exposure.
Final Thoughts
The fear of large objects you’re experiencing may be challenging, but therapy and reaching out to your support network can help you overcome its barriers. Making lifestyle changes can be valuable, and professional treatments can offer an evidence-based framework to decrease your symptoms.
For Further Reading
Megalophobia Infographics
