There are lots of different fears that are commonly studied in sociology. If you have a fear of young people, you might suffer from ephebiphobia.
For sufferers of ephebiphobia, this guide will tell you everything that you need to know about this condition. This includes its meaning, symptoms, and treatments.
Ephebiphobia: What Is It?
Ephebiphobia refers to the fear of teenagers or youths in general. This fear does not encapsulate prepubescent children.
A person may experience symptoms of ephebiphobia whenever they think about teenagers. Symptoms will likely be especially intense when they see or interact with the youth.
This word originates from two Greek terms. Namely, “ephebos”, meaning adolescence, or “Phobos”, meaning fear. Epebiphobia is believed to originate from 1994 when it was first used by Kirk Astroth.
Many other phobias share similarities to ephebiphobia, including pedophobia. This refers to the fear of children. Therefore, it focuses on much younger children.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ephebiphobia?
People that are afflicted with ephebiphobia will likely experience the following symptoms:
- Breathing difficulties
- Dizziness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Shaking
- Dry mouth
- Sweating
- A choking sensation
Alongside these physical symptoms of ephebiphobia, the main symptom of this condition is anxiety. Namely, you may suffer from anxiety attacks. The severity of these anxiety or panic attacks will differ depending on the patient.
These symptoms could be offset merely by thinking about the youth. Your symptoms will likely be more intense when you are interacting with teenagers.
Alternatively, you may feel worse when you are in places associated with the youth, including amusement parks, malls, or arcades.
These symptoms will cause patients to try to avoid going near teenagers. They will attempt to avoid contact in any form, whether that be physical contact or communicating with teenagers.
How Can You Treat Ephebiphobia?
Sufferers of ephebiphobia need to search for the correct treatment method, such as:
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a common form of psychological treatment that is widely used to treat phobias. Essentially, this therapy technique works by exposing a person to a source of anxiety by exposing them to this source without any risk.
For this psychotherapy, therapists may show their patients images of teenagers. After this, therapists may work their way up to placing patients in locations associated with the youth. For example, you may be asked to visit a shopping mall.
As a result of this therapy, a patient may feel less anxiety when they are exposed to teenagers.
Medications
If you enlist the aid of a healthcare provider, you may be given certain medications to relieve your anxiety. Anti-anxiety medications, such as Xanax, may be prescribed if you suffer from panic attacks.
Antidepressants may also be used. Though many people assume that these medications are merely used to treat depression, they can be prescribed for a range of conditions.
Namely, they can alleviate the symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as ephebiphobia.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is widely used to treat phobic disorders, such as ephebiphobia. The main purpose of this talking therapy is to help people overcome a condition by altering the way that they think about it.
Talking to a professional may help you to better understand your condition. You can then use this information to make the condition more manageable.
Hypnotherapy
This form of therapy will utilize hypnosis to allow patients to overcome various conditions. A therapist will help you to get into a relaxed state so that you are more focused.
As a result, you can begin to navigate your memories relating to a fear of teenagers.
Stress Reduction Techniques
Alternatively, you can use techniques that are designed to decrease stress and promote relaxation. These techniques should be utilized whenever you feel the aforementioned symptoms.
This method may involve yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises.
What Are The Causes Of Ephebiphobia?
Ephebiphobia is a disorder that can be caused by various factors, including social and psychological causes.
For instance, the condition could be caused by stereotyping. Many adults will have negative connotations of teenagers and the rest of the youth.
For instance, you may think that teenagers are lazy, violent, and anti-social. These negative stereotypes may add to a person’s fear of the youth.
Genetics may also play a role in causing ephebiphobia. If you have a history of mental illness or anxiety in your family, your chances of developing this phobia are higher.
Additionally, the occurrence of traumatic events in one’s life could lead to a person developing ephebiphobia. If you have been the victim of a crime involving teenagers, you could suffer from this disorder.
Alternatively, a person could grow fearful of teenagers due to negative depictions of the youth in the media.
For instance, you may have watched a news broadcast about a crime caused by teenagers. This could have spurred your trepidation toward the young.
It’s worth noting that ephebiphobia can seemingly arise for no reason. Furthermore, the phobia could be caused by a combination of these factors.
Is Ephebiphobia Common?
Phobias are fairly common among adults, with roughly 10% of people suffering from a disorder. The precise statistics for ephebiphobia are not currently known.
Final Thoughts
Ephebiphobia is a serious disorder that may cause you to suffer from anxiety and stress whenever you think about teenagers. Thankfully, this condition can be easily treated. As a result, you can alleviate your ephebiphobia symptoms.