Siderophobia (fear Of Stars): Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
The image of the starry sky could be attractive to many people. Sensations of calm and a romantic atmosphere are just some of the experiences that the dark celestial vault full of luminous points can easily transmit to us.
However, not all people react positively to this stimulus. Far from spreading romance, the starry sky can trigger panic in some people. We will see below what this is about. fear of stars, which we know as siderophobia
The word “sidereal” comes from the Latin “sidus”, which means celestial body. As such, “sidereal” is a term that refers to everything related to the stars. In this sense, siderophobia is about an excessive fear of celestial bodies, specifically it is an exacerbated fear of the stars
Although it is not a clinical category described by specialists in psychology or psychiatry, the term “siderophobia” has recently been used to refer to a significant fear of exposure to the starry sky, as well as some of the stimuli associated with it.
In other words, siderophobia in itself is not considered a disorder, but, in any case, it is an experience associated with more complex symptoms. Since the starry sky is a very difficult stimulus to avoid, siderophobia is not only related to the stars, but with other elements that accompany darkness and open spaces
For the same reason, siderophobia can be considered as one of the experiences that are added to broader spectrums of phobias that are considered by specialists as a specific clinical situation. Among these spectrums could be found, for example, agoraphobia.
The stars are not the only celestial bodies that can cause excessive fear in some people. Since it is a fear enhanced by the elements that surround the celestial bodies, Other related phobias are fear of the dark , known as scotophobia or nyctophobia; astrophobia, which includes the fear of any celestial body; or meteorophobia, which is the specific fear of meteors.
Are the stars harmless?
A star is a luminous sphere composed mainly of hydrogen converted into helium, and maintained in the cosmos by the action of gravity. Broadly speaking, it is from the reactions that occur inside the stars that the main chemical elements are released, which, in turn, give rise to different particles. Subsequently, these particles allow the development of the different forms of life that exist on our planet.
Therefore, the stars are not dangerous in themselves, but quite the opposite, They are part of the chemical activity that has allowed the existence of the universe So, what could be some of the reasons why we might fear these luminous spheres?
Possible causes
As with other phobias, siderophobia can be caused by a series of individual learning and perceptions that, when coming into contact with certain external stimuli; trigger significant discomfort.
Thus, fear of the stars can be generated by the individual meanings that are attributed to both these celestial bodies , like the dark sky and the elements that surround it. In turn, these elements can be darkness, open spaces, the feeling of loneliness or danger, or a fear caused by the knowledge we have acquired about the characteristics of the cosmos.
The knowledge mentioned above can also be linked to the idea of immensity, with the unknown, with the lack of control or, with some dangers related to the largest celestial bodies.
All of the above is strongly fueled both by a lack of deep learning about the functioning of the cosmos, and by some types of science fiction present in cinema or literature. Likewise, a person can develop an irrational fear of the stars due to some previous unpleasant experience, which has involved a specific relationship with said stimuli and perceptions.
Symptoms
Just as it happens in other types of phobias, siderophobia can cause physiological responses related to anxiety , such as nausea, sweating, dizziness, hyperventilation, cardiac agitation, feeling of suffocation, dry mouth, etc. All this in the face of exposure, or the possibility of exposure, to the starry sky.
Treatment
While it is not considered a specific clinical condition, there is no special treatment for siderophobia. Broadly speaking, the way to accompany or reduce the fear of stars can follow the procedure used for other phobias. Initially, it is important to determine if it is a specific fear, or related to a more extensive and complex symptomatology, such as that which characterizes anxiety disorders.
The latter allows us to work with the deepest emotional responses that may be affecting the person’s daily life, beyond exposure to the starry sky Likewise, it allows exploring the meanings and learning related to the stimulus that causes fear, and in this sense, generating coping and relearning strategies in the face of said stimulus.
