Since ancient times, the dog was considered the best friend of man. However, there are people who are in great fear of these creatures - kinophobia. This is an increased sense of fear related to mental illness. A person is scared not only by the animal itself, but also by its image, barking, any paraphernalia, mention of animals.
This disorder includes two types of conditions: adactophobia or the fear of being bitten, and rabiephobia - the fear of contracting rabies. If you have experienced something like this, then most likely you are interested in learning about a technique that will help you in how not to be afraid of dogs. Psychologists have developed many special programs that help combat painful fear. They will be discussed in our article.
Types of Fears
Psychiatrists distinguish two types of fear: true kinophobia and pseudophobia. The first type is anxiety disorder, which proceeds in a passive form with strong aggression towards animals. In severe condition, hysterical seizures occur. Such people are aggressive not only to dogs, but also to their owners and those who like these cute creatures.
Pseudophobia affects subjects who, in fact, mimic kinophobia in order to somehow explain their sadistic inclinations.
Panic fear of dogs is a pathology that requires compulsory treatment. With its mild forms, outpatient therapy is possible.
Why do fears arise?
Fear of dogs usually develops in childhood and can persist throughout life if it is not eradicated on time. Unlike other anxiety-phobic conditions, the fear of animals always develops in the absence of objective reasons. Some suggest that pathology results from fright, but this is not so. Even if there were no attacks or bites, a person may experience fear. According to statistics, kinophobia rarely develops in people who have been repeatedly attacked by animals.
Even after severe stress, a bite, a person may be afraid of dogs for some time, but this does not mean phobia. With a mental disorder, the patient is afraid of any dog, regardless of its size, age: panic can begin even at the sight of puppies and their images.
After conducting research on the occurrence of phobias, scientists came to the conclusion that fear can be instilled in a child during his upbringing. After all, children often adopt the feelings of their parents.
Often fears arise due to a character trait, for example, against the background of an inferiority complex. A sense of inferiority contributes to the development of phobias. In other cases, anxiety-phobic disorder develops as a result of mental pathologies.
Clinical manifestations
Kinophobia is manifested by a variety of symptoms, the main of which is a sense of anxiety, which is accompanied by sleep disturbances.
When at the doctor’s appointment, the patient says “I’m afraid of dogs”, he shows bodily discomfort in the form of:
- increased tension in the muscles;
- dry mouth
- increased sweating;
- heartache;
- a feeling of constriction appears in the chest;
- heart rhythm is broken;
- urination becomes frequent;
- trembling appears.
A characteristic manifestation of the disease is constant alertness, increased irritability, aggression, a sense of impending threat. Due to fear, attention worsens, frequent panic attacks occur. Patients experience a strong fear of death.
With severe phobia, patients develop fear even with the thought of dogs. Usually they are accompanied by heart rhythm disturbances, shortness of breath, nausea, fits of rage, aggression, a sense of impending catastrophe.
Due to severe manifestations of the pathology, most patients need treatment that helps them return to normal. With the transition of the disorder to the stage of paranoid delirium, the patient can be a danger not only to himself, but also to others.
Diagnostic Methods
Proper treatment of kinophobia requires an accurate diagnosis. The true form of fear is diagnosed by the following criteria:
- patients avoid any situations that contribute to fear;
- primary symptoms of anxiety are observed;
- vegetative manifestations are noted;
- a sense of anxiety appears in certain situations, in a collision with a specific object.
In cases where kinophobia is a symptom that signals the manifestation of another mental illness, the doctor selects the appropriate therapy.
Treatment methods
Let's find out what experts recommend in this regard, how not to be afraid of dogs and get rid of fear? Different degrees of manifestation of the disease require different treatment. Severe cases suggest the use of tranquilizers. Such drugs are quickly addictive, because of which doctors conduct translational therapy. At the same time, antidepressants can be prescribed, the course of which, upon reaching a stable positive effect, should be quite long - up to a year.
Typically, kinophobia can be treated well with well-chosen psychotherapy. She is prescribed in addition to taking medication. After a full course, patients get rid of fears, manifestations of pathological symptoms. As a rule, people remain slightly alert to animals, but this is normal and is not considered a pathology.
Self-relieving fear
But how to get rid of kinophobia yourself and can it be done without the help of a doctor? Even successful therapy should be supplemented by their own mood and efforts, various motivations. How not to be afraid of dogs and how to help yourself on your own? There are a number of psychologists' recommendations that are easy to apply at home. These exercises help relieve nervous tension, reduce anxiety.
"Achilles' heel"
Self-treatment of phobia should begin with a survey of all family members, acquaintances, friends. To assess the attitude of other people towards dogs, it is necessary to simulate a situation when an animal attacks it. Ask to describe all the feelings, thoughts, emotions. Those who have had negative experiences with dogs will talk about their experiences and discomfort. All information received must be recorded.
Then you need to identify everything that you yourself experience in relation to animals, what exactly scares you. Consider how the phobia affects the emotional background, how health is changing. From the information noted, it is necessary to determine the difference in reactions between fears: what are the similarities, what are the differences. Record everything.
Then you need to come up with a thesis. For example, you can say the following: “Unlike other people, when I see dogs, I need protection from my father or brother, another person, etc.” This statement helps to identify a weak spot in the psyche, the Achilles heel. Then, a good outcome should be modeled. During an imaginary demonstration, it is necessary to record all thoughts, everything that appears. An example would be the following:
“My brother and I went for a walk and met several angry dogs. I was scared, but there was a brother nearby. He looked calm, confident. These feelings were transmitted to the dogs, they began to be afraid of him. I realized that you don’t need to be scared, everything will be all right. We felt sorry for the defenseless animals. We approached them, fed. It’s a pity that you can’t take one of these cute dogs home. ”
During the simulation, the first time, rarely anyone succeeds in achieving the desired result. When thinking over a scenario of behavior, panic may intensify, and a desire to run away may arise. During the analysis of the situation, it is necessary to identify the place where fear intensifies, which at the same time emerges in the imagination. It is worth stepping over negative feelings and moving on to the end. Such paintings need to be drawn in your mind every day until the result is completely positive.
What to do next?
How not to be afraid of dogs and what other methods of treatment at home are? Be sure to pay attention to your daily routine, nutrition. While fear is present, situations that can lead to stress should be avoided.
You can start self-medication with a simple view of the images of puppies, adult dogs, funny videos. Then you can proceed to communicate with small animals. As soon as they stop provoking fear, you can get acquainted with larger dogs.
An important condition for successful treatment is the understanding of loved ones, friends, their support. They should never be brought into the house of dogs, trying to prove that they are harmless animals, as this can aggravate the situation.
Get your own puppy
You can finally overcome fear if you have your own dog. Puppies are cute, affectionate creatures. It is necessary to look after them, train them. Such animals always cherish friendship with the owner, will help in a moment of danger and just cheer up. Before such a step, you should consider everything, weigh the pros and cons. It is the psychological preparation that will allow a patient with kinophobia to get a full recovery and find a true friend who will be a faithful, obedient favorite in the family.