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Bees are animals that are feared by many people. Most people avoid this one animal for fear of becoming a victim of its sting.
It is natural to be afraid of bee stings. However, if your fear or anxiety is excessive and unnatural, it could be a sign that you have a mental health problem. If you include people who experience it, this condition is known as apiphobia.
What is apiphobia?
This condition, also known as glossophobia, belongs to a specific phobia. Specific phobias are mental health problems that fall into the category of anxiety disorders.
Signs of someone suffering from apiphobia
Some of the symptoms that can be a sign of someone suffering from apiphobia include:
- Nausea
- Dizzy
- sweat
- Body shaking
- Muscle tension
- Breathless
- Crying (more common in children)
- Feeling excessive anxiety when thinking about or seeing bees
- Avoid situations or places where contact with bees is possible
- Realizes that the fear of bees is irrational, but struggles to control it
The symptoms experienced by each sufferer may be different from one another. To find out what the underlying condition is, you should consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Causes of someone experiencing apiphobia
Until now, the exact cause of specific phobias such as apiphobia is not known. However, there are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of this condition. These factors include:
1. Bad experience in the past
Phobia of bees can arise due to bad experiences that have been experienced by the sufferer in the past. For example, you may develop glossophobia if you have been the victim of a sting or been chased by a swarm of bees.
2. Learned behavior
A person has the potential to develop a phobia of bees if those close to him suffer from a similar condition. Fear of bees can arise after hearing stories of people who have been stung. Information about the dangers of bee stings can also trigger the emergence of this phobia.
3. Individual factor
Individual factors can play a role in the development of a bee phobia in a person. Everyone processes fear and anxiety in a different way. Some people naturally feel more anxious than others when dealing with bees.
How to deal with apiphobia?
If you are a person with apiphobia, there are several things you can do to overcome your fear of bees. These actions include:
- Changing the horrible mindset associated with bees. For example, consider bees as stinging animals that are important for the ecosystem.
- If you are in a place where contact with bees is possible, avoid wearing dark clothing or wearing perfume. Dark-colored clothes and smelling perfume can attract bees to approach you.
- Apply relaxation techniques to control anxiety. Some relaxation techniques can be applied as breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga.
- Take care of yourself by adopting a healthy lifestyle such as exercising regularly, eating nutritious food, and getting enough rest. A healthy lifestyle helps reduce the severity of anxiety symptoms.
If your fear and anxiety interfere with your daily activities, consult a psychologist or psychiatrist. Your doctor may recommend therapy or prescribe certain medications to reduce the severity of your symptoms.