Xylophobia, also known as hylophobia, is the persistent and intense fear of objects made of wood, or materials that simulate wood, as well as wooded areas. Although rare, it is a specific phobia of a natural environment, which may be related to the dangers associated with forests.
Below is what xylophobia is, as well as its main symptoms and some strategies to counteract it.
The term xylophobia is composed of the Greek word “xylo” (xylon), which means wood, and “phobos” which means fear. Is about a persistent and excessive fear of wood, its characteristics (smell, texture) and the objects that are derived from it. Likewise, it is characterized by a fear of forests and by materials that simulate wood.
Being a phobia whose trigger is an element of nature, xylophobia can be defined as a specific phobia of the natural environment. As such, it has been little or no researched, since occurs infrequently
What can happen more frequently is that it is a fear that is related to others, for example, situational. The latter are persistent fears of certain circumstances or places, such as forests or open spaces. In this case, xylophobia can be related not only to wood, but to darkness, very open places, uncertainty, animals, getting lost, etc.
Characteristics and main symptoms
When we find ourselves faced with situations that represent a danger, whether real or perceived, our body alerts us in different ways. Specifically, a part of our nerve cells known as the autonomic nervous system is activated, which regulates the involuntary functions of our body.
These functions include, for example, visceral activity, respiratory rate, sweating or palpitations. All these reactions, which are related to fear, allow us to launch a series of adaptive behaviors, that is, they allow us to respond proportionally to possible damage.
But, it can also happen that the previous reactions occur disproportionately, preventing us from generating adaptive responses and significantly impacting our experiences with respect to the stimulus.
Precisely, specific phobias such as xylophobia are characterized by a response of anxiety activated upon exposure to a stimulus that is perceived as harmful Thus, xylophobia can manifest itself through the following symptoms mainly: tachycardia, increased blood pressure, sweating, decreased gastric activity, palpitations, hyperventilation.
Likewise, if the part of the autonomic nervous system known as the “parasympathetic nervous system” is activated, xylophobia can generate physiological responses associated with disgust such as cardiovascular slowing, dry mouth, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness and decreased temperature.
The above symptoms vary depending on whether the specific phobia is about a situation, an environmental element, animals, wounds, or any other type. Depending on the case, another possible manifestation is the presence of a panic attack.
On the other hand, the presence of secondary behaviors is common, which are those that the person performs to protect themselves from harmful stimuli and prevent the anxiety response. Is about defensive and avoidant behaviors (doing everything possible not to expose oneself to harmful stimuli) and hypervigilance over related situations or elements. Added to the above is the perception of lacking resources to face the feared stimulus, which can aggravate the anxiety response and increase avoidant behaviors.
As with other specific phobias, xylophobia can be caused by a series of learned associations about the stimulus and possible harm. In this case, it is associations about forested areas and the elements that make them up (especially wood), and related hazards.
These associations may be based on real, direct experiences of danger, or they may have been established by indirect experiences. In the specific case of xylophobia, media exposure to wooded spaces can have an important influence, where they are generally represented in a close relationship with imminent dangers, for example, getting lost or being attacked by an animal or a person.
When does a phobia develop?
Generally, natural environment phobias begin in childhood (before age 12), and situational phobias can begin both in childhood and after age 20 Likewise, it may happen that a specific phobia develops into adulthood, even when the non-persistent fear has begun since childhood.
The latter has not been studied in xylophobia, but it has been studied in phobias of animals, blood and injections, driving and heights. Additionally, when development occurs during childhood and adolescence, phobic fears are more likely to subside even without the need for treatment; issue that is more difficult to occur in adulthood. It is more common for specific phobias to occur in women than in men.
Main treatments
Initially, it is important to evaluate the situation and the feared stimulus to determine the causes. From there, it is important detect problematic behaviors at both a cognitive, physiological and social level, as well as the intensity of anxiety responses. Subsequently, it is important to analyze the person’s emotional resources and coping styles to know what needs to be reinforced or modified.
