How to Cope with Zoophobia
Zoophobia is one of the most painful phobic disorders because it is characterized by the irrational and inexplicable fear of animals. From your average pet dogs and cats to the lions and tigers at the zoo, sufferers cannot stand to be in the vicinity of animals, and may suffer panic attacks when confronted with an animal.
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Instructions
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Recognize that you have zoophobia. As with many phobic disorders, it may be difficult to at first accept the fact that you suffer from a phobia, so try to be as objective as possible about your condition.
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Explore external causes. Some phobias arise from past experiences, while others can be inherent regardless of contact you've had with the source of your fear. More likely, it is a combination of both, so try to think back through your history with animals to discover a turning point or catalyst that caused your intense fear.
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Make the decision to handle zoophobia as rationally and proactively as possible. In most cases, it is impossible to get over your fear of animals unless you make the conscious decision to overcome it.
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Avoid animals until you get control of zoophobia. Encountering animals and inducing panic attacks may intensify your fear, and make it impossible to cure yourself once you finally decide on a course of therapy. It is best to confront your fear only under the supervision of a trained professional.
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Talk to your therapist about treatment possibilities. Flooding, for example, is one of the most common courses of treatment, and involves exposure to the source of your fear in tiny increments until the fear is gone. Some psychologists also use techniques such as digital imagery to help patients overcome zoophobia.
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Inform your family and friends that you have zoophobia so that they can help you deal with the situation. They will be more understanding about your desire to avoid animals once they know that you suffer from a phobic disorder.
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Plan your days carefully so that you won't come into surprise contact with animals. This can be difficult when you leave the house because you're likely to encounter birds and other animals on the street, but you can take steps to avoid those situations.
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Understand that even looking at pictures of animals may be sufficient to trigger panic attacks. Once you understand the depth of your fear, you'll be better equipped to cope with it.
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Tips & Warnings
Seek the counsel of a trained psychologist or psychiatrist to help you cope with zoophobia. No one should deal with an anxiety disorder alone.
Realize that zoophobia is a panic disorder, which falls under the category of anxiety disorders. This may mean that you suffer from panic attacks when confronted by your fear, so take steps to protect yourself.
Avoid driving when you suffer from zoophobia. Encountering an animal while behind the wheel can have devastating consequences.
Resources
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