Are you one of the people who have pogonophobia and still don’t know it? Pogonophobia or geniphobia is basically the fear of seeing other people’s long hair or the amount of hair in a beard., facial hair in abundance. In this post I will provide you with the information you need to discover whether or not you suffer from that kind of phobia.
It is important to note that it is not a psychological condition and can be treated with therapy. The most common treatment is to talk to a health professional. mental health who can help uncover the cause of the fear and offer the right resources to address it.
On the other hand, the “mane” in the beard has been a symbol of masculinity for centuries, even today there are those who consider it sexy and attractive. But… What about those who suffer just by seeing it? Here at Supercurious we answer the question.
What is pogonophobia or geniophobia?
Pogonophobia is a disorder of anxiety characterized by an intense and irrational fear of mustaches. The person suffering from pogonophobia may experience stress extreme when seeing or being near someone with mustaches, and even thinking about them.
In addition, it significantly interferes with the daily life of an individual, who is likely to require psychological treatment.
Origin and causes of pogonophobia
Pogonophobia is a phobia that was discovered in the year 1851. Its name is of Greek origin and derives from the terms “pogon” (beard) and “phobos” (fear). The causes of this phobia can be diverse.
For example, having abundant facial hair is often related to carelessness in the personal hygiene and the dirt.
Another question of irrational fear of beards It may have a religious component (since it is linked to fanaticism of religion), or simply because it is considered “out of fashion”.
Be that as it may, it is considered a serious pathology that derives from a traumatic experience originating in some classical conditioning.
Other possible causes
- biological origin: some studies indicate that human beings biologically develop fear because it is an emotion of a primitive nature. Therefore, any displeasure or hostility is immediately transferred to the “primitive brain” and becomes a phobia or fear.
- vicarious conditioning: It is about the behavior that a person has when observing another individual react to external stimuli. This type of response to these stimuli translates into behavior and sensitivity that can lead to phobias.
Symptoms of pogonophobia, how can you detect it?
This irrational fear of beards It usually has a biological component (like any phobia), but it can also be expressed with the following physical or cognitive symptoms:
- Itch
- Stinging
- Facial expression of disgust or contempt
- Bad mood
- Fear
- distress or confusion
- Lack of concentration
- hyperventilation
- sweats and shakes
- Dry mouth
Treatment for pogonophobia
Pogonophobia or geniphobia –like all kinds of phobia– can be treated by attacking its root or psychological component, but the affected person must first recognize that they suffer from such a pathology.
For this reason, the affected person must turn to a professional, who will determine the level of trauma in the person and the treatment they consider appropriate.
However, there are treatments such as systematic desensitizationthrough which the affected individual is exposed to a list of stimuli that harm him, until he is able to face them.
Another therapy is exposure to the feared stimulus, that allows the affected person to be exposed to their greatest fear until they get over it.
In most phobias, drug treatments are not recommended. Alternative therapies such as hypnosis, phytotherapy, regressive therapies, etc. are usually recommended.
Other rarer phobias besides pogonophobia that you should know about
Pogonophobia is not the only one among many other phobias or pathologies of diverse origin and that affect a large part of the population. Do you want to know more?
1. Turophobia
Turophobia is the irrational fear of cheeses. The person may experience extreme anxiety when seeing or being around cheese, or even thinking about it. Also, avoid eating certain foods or places where cheese is served, which can significantly limit your quality of life.
2. Ombrophobia
Ombrophobia is the fear of rain. People who suffer from it do not tolerate climate change indicating that it is going to rain, they become obsessed with not getting wet.
Also, these people transfer that fear to objects that have a certain relationship with raineg umbrellas, boots and rain coats etc.
3. Eisoptrophobia
Eisoptrophobia, like pogonophobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of mirrors or seeing themselves reflected in them. This phobia can manifest itself in different ways, for example, avoiding entering rooms with mirrors, and even experiencing extreme anxiety upon seeing their own mirror image.
4. Arachnophobia
Arachnophobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of spiders. It is one of the most common phobias, and it affects many people around the world.
5. Coulrophobia
Coulrophobia is the fear or aversion towards clowns. People who suffer from this phobia cannot see or hear clowns because they suffer from panic attacks.
This type of phobias seems to have its origin in childhoodSince many of us as children have idealized clowns as evil beings.
6. Hemophobia
Hemophobia is a common emotional disorder among adolescents and adults, especially among women. This phobia refers to the excessive fear of blood and anything related to it, whether they are waiting for a simple blood donation, receiving a transfusion or just seeing a wound.
People with hemophobia experience rapid heartbeat, tears, dizziness, and extreme anxiety.
7. Food neophobia
It is the aversion or phobia towards new foods. People who suffer from it do not tolerate eating new foods and That produces eating disorders.
The feeling produced by trying new foods to People who suffer from this phobia range from panic, vomiting, dizziness, to the sensation of suffocation and hyperventilation. Like pogonophobia it is a rare condition.
8. Ataxophobia
It is the phobia or aversion towards disorder. People who suffer from it do not tolerate the disorder at all and if they experience it they can suffer panic attacks.
These people do not tolerate disorder in their environment, but neither can they tolerate disorder that they can see on screens, magazines, etc.
Have you felt identified with pogonophobia or any of the phobias that I have mentioned? I hope not, but that the information in this post has been useful to you.