Dog Phobia (cynophobia): Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Dogs, along with cats, are one of the favorite pets for humans. They provide great company, endear each other, and in some cases even serve as therapy. And those of us who have or have ever had a dog know that these little animals end up being part of our family and can even become our best friends.
In fact, 74% of the Spanish population affirms that The presence of dogs in their home makes them happier. This is what a scientist from the Affinity Foundation concludes about the Bond between People and Pets. This study included 6,000 volunteers.
However, although these animals are often adorable, some people experience great panic and discomfort in their presence, and avoid being near them at all costs. This is known as cynophobia or dog phobia.
Almost 43% of Spanish families have pets in their home, and the dog is the favorite pet. According to the Affinity Foundation study, for 31% of their research subjects, their dog is almost more important than their friends. Strangely enough, 71% say they communicate regularly with their pet.
Therefore, for pet lovers, it is difficult to imagine that someone would feel terrified in the presence of a dog. Now, cynophobia is more common than many people believe. According to the results of a study carried out by psychologist José Gil Martínez, professor at the University of Valencia, 10% of individuals suffer from excessive and irrational fear of dogs. Not all of these people have this type of phobia, since for this this terror would have to be so intense that it damages their quality of life, but taking this proportion into account, it is estimated that the number of people with cynophobia is relatively high.
People with dog phobia feel extreme anxiety when near the animal or when thinking about encountering it.
The main symptoms they experience are panic and fear, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, tremors and a great need to flee or avoid the feared stimulus. Therefore, the symptoms are not different from those of any specific phobia, but individuals with this type of phobia not only fear that a dog will harm them, but They are also afraid of the panic response that accompanies an encounter with these animals.
Like other phobic disorders, cynophobia usually presents physical, cognitive and behavioral symptoms. They are the following:
How phobias develop
Most phobias have their onset in childhood or adolescence and the most frequent cause is the presence of a traumatic event that the person associates with a dog. From there, he generalizes this fear to all animals of the species through a process called classical conditioning.
There are several scenarios that can cause the development of a phobia. A direct experience can be a dog bite. However, sometimes a phobia may appear due to an irrational belief. For example, if a parent repeats to a child that dogs are dangerous and that they attacked his grandfather in the past.
It may also happen that the person experiencing this phobia is not aware of its onset, for example, as it is caused by a minor incident while watching a horror movie with dogs or a rabies feature film.
Some experts say that there is a certain genetic predisposition to developing phobias. However, others, the vast majority, think that it is a purely learned phenomenon in interaction with the environment beyond the fact that certain people have a greater predisposition to anxiety.
Phobia is an anxiety disorder, and like other phobic disorders, it responds well to cognitive behavioral therapy. One of the most used techniques to deal with this problem are expository techniques, more specifically the systematic desensitization method. This technique is designed to help gradually eliminate fear and encourage more useful coping skills.
As therapeutic sessions progress, live dogs can be used, although in the initial phases, photographs, audiovisual content, stuffed dogs, and even imaginative exposure are often used. We must not forget that dog phobia is an irrational fear and, generally, patients tend to suffer phobic symptoms even if the animal is not present.
Getting over it can be a slow process
As the person overcomes the fear, they are encouraged to carry out positive behaviors such as approaching and petting a dog. Overcoming a phobia can be a slow process (a matter of months) and achieving it requires patience, effort and the ability to overcome.
If the phobia is severe, the psychologist may work with a psychiatrist who prescribes medications for the patient. Although Medications should never be the only therapeutic option can help reduce anxious symptoms significantly.
Cynophobia can create enormous discomfort, especially considering that dogs are animals that coexist with humans and with whom it is common to come across. Luckily, like any type of phobia, it can be overcome, although in most cases the anxiety it produces does not completely disappear.
Apps to help against anxiety
New technologies are also present in the treatment of phobias, and in recent years it has become possible to develop different apps that help overcome the pathology if you suffer from it.
Some expose you to the feared stimulus thanks to virtual reality or augmented reality, while others simply They provide information so that you better understand what is happening to you. If you want to know more about these applications, you can read this article: “8 apps to treat phobias and fears from your smartphone.”
