Are you afraid of rats or mice? Did you know that you can suffer from musophobia? This is the irrational fear of rats or mice. It is also known as suricophobia. The person suffering from musophobia may experience extreme anxiety just thinking about or being around mice. and you can avoid places where you know there are mice.
It is important to seek treatment for this condition, as it can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. Now, do you know what a phobia is? In simple words, it is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of an object or situation.
Thus, we can find rare (and somewhat funny) phobias such as turophobia (fear of cheese) or pognophobia (fear of beards). But, we can also find more common phobias, as is the case that concerns us in this article. In fact, the world of common phobias is so vast that almost Most people suffer from or have suffered from some type of these pathologies during their lives.
However… How can you know if you have musophobia or not? Simply, knowing more about this type of phobia. Join us in Supercurioso, we will help you discover more about musophobia or suricophobia. Shall we start?
What is musophobia and what is its origin?
As we mentioned, musophobia or suricophobia is a kind of phobia that humans experience in the presence of mice or rats.causing fear or intense anxiety in front of rodents.
People who suffer from this type of phobia, they fear the possible movements of rodents, their smell, physical appearance, the noise they make, etc. Some people even report that they tend to dream of rats Y mice, something that causes them extreme stress. Rather, we could say that it is about nightmares.
However, according to several studies, the emotion that activates the phobia mechanism is disgustbut it always precedes a disproportionate action of fear as a primary reaction.
1. Cause of fear of rats and mice
Several studies indicate that fear of mice possibly starting at the age of seven (in the childhood), but having more emphasis at the age of 9 years.
The causes are varied and are based on two approaches raised from the psychology.
- Approach from the psychoanalysis: the phobia or fear would occur unconsciously during childhood and could be a Defense mechanism that uses the mind in the face of the danger of stalking these rodents.
- behaviorist approach: Scientists have verified that phobias are caused by triggering an association of stimuli when facing a danger or unpleasant situation. Therefore, when such a dangerous situation appears again, the brain acts in a negative way, causing anxiety or fear.
It should also be taken into account that the environment can cause a certain aversion that makes the picture even worse, for example, If any relative suffered a disease transmitted by these rodents.
2. Symptoms that can be associated with musophobia
Undoubtedly, the various symptoms derived from musophobia will appear when the person affected by the phobia comes into contact with the rodent.
According to the diagnostic manual for mental disorders, the DSM-V, certain criteria are established that are related to the presence of this fear of rats. Among them:
- The presence of absolute anxiety or fear before a triggering stimulus (smell, sound, presence of the animal, etc.).
- The affected person will seek with all its efforts to resist or avoid the situation or triggering stimulus and the presence of the rodent.
- A disproportionate response of the person affected by any external stimulus that may cause danger.
- Anxiety and irrational fear are present in the person persistently for about six months.
- This type of phobia or disorder can produce panic attacks.
- A significant discomfort is generated in the affected person in generalThis includes their social, work situation and other areas that are greatly affected.
- psychophysiological symptoms. The patient may experience dizziness, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, etc.
- Other symptoms of cognitive origin. The person is afraid of going crazy, losing control and even afraid of dying.
3. Is it possible to overcome musophobia?
It is proven that the fear of rats and mice, Like the rest of the phobias, it can be treated and a good diagnosis obtained if you go to professionals or specialists: psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.
Nevertheless, there are also other alternatives, as long as there is a psychological accompaniment and are used as complementary treatments.
It is the most effective therapy and the first one that is recommended for the patient with musophobia, exposing him directly to the specific phobia.
It consists of exposing the patient progressively to the phobic stimulus. Then a couple of approaches to the rodent are implemented, in such a way that in the end the stimulus (fear, anxiety) that causes the phobia in the affected person disappears.
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Behavioral-Cognitive Programs
As a second stage, the fear of rats and mice could be attacked from a behavioral perspective, with an approach that works with multiple cognitive stimulation programs of the affected person.
As examples of this type of program we have psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, the training of the relaxation and techniques to control stress or anxiety.
- Exposure Therapies with Virtual Reality
This type of therapy, which exposes the affected person to the stimulus that causes fear or anxiety through technology, is still in the testing process.
It is the same treatment as in the first instance, but with the use of virtual reality, which is more flexible and at a lower cost.
The patient with musophobia can carry out the therapy from the comfort of their home and with virtual accompaniment. Although it is still being studied, the results are promising.
This type of alternative therapies, Although they are not recognized as medical therapies, they offer another panorama from a spiritual perspective. and many times they are recommended by psychologists.
The professional will perform hypnosis or regression on the patient to verify the origin that triggered the phobia, helping the person to know himself better.
In this case, the patient can better understand his fear and learn to overcome it from the start. spirituality.
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Drug use
Drugs are never recommended in case of phobias, since they try to attack the problem from the root and not offer “temporary” solutions.
Nevertheless, There are patients with musophobia who require specific treatments with drugs such as benzodeazepinas and beta-blockers because they efficiently complement exposure therapy.
Other recent studies have confirmed the efficacy of d-cycloserine, the antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis.
In any case, specialists recommend a multidisciplinary approach to combat this type of phobias, always with the corresponding psychological or psychiatric support.
Have you found it interesting to learn about musophobia? If so, our entry on the king of rats. Although, if you have discovered that your fear of rats and mice is real, we do not recommend entering. Thanks for reading and see you in a next article.
Other phobias you should know about
In addition to musophobia, there are other phobias that you should know about…
- What is turophobia, fear of cheese
- What is Eisoptrophobia, fear of mirrors
- What is arachnophobia, fear of spiders
- What is glossophobia, fear of public speaking
- What is acrophobia, fear of heights
- What is hafephobia, fear of being touched
- What is decidophobia, fear of making decisions
- What is tanotophobia, fear of death
- What is aerophobia, fear of flying by plane
- What is ophidiophobia, fear of snakes
- What is hemophobia, fear of blood
- What is clautrophobia, fear of closed spaces