What Causes Apiphobia Or Fear Of Bees
Fears like apiphobia dont always have a logical or memorable cause. Some people develop fears through a traumatic experience when they were still children. Such negative experiences would be embedded in their minds that can turn into fear.
However, any person can be scared of anything for no apparent reason. Such fear is part of being human and varies from person to person.
In some cases, it is possible for a person to trace the cause of their apiphobia back to an experience with a sting. Others might be able to trace back their fear back to an accidental run-in with a bees nest or swarm. For others, exposure to a scenario of how bees attack can cause this adverse reaction.
Phobias Of Wasps Bees And Flying Insects
Its hilarious isnt it! The man or woman in the beach or in the park rushing about and flailing the air wildly as they try to avoid the wasp. Yes, maybe. But its not very funny not if you are that person.
This caricature image is the bread and butter of some comedy script writers but it is embarrassing or humiliating if you have a gut response of fear to wasps, bees or flying insects.
When its over and the creature has disappeared you may laugh along with those who food your antics funny but deep down you feel terrible. Youve let yourself down again or so you think.
What Causes People To Develop A Fear Of Bees
Insect-related phobias like melissophobia are a common type of specific phobia. However, its still unknown what exactly causes phobias to develop. The following factors are believed to contribute:
- Negative experiences. A phobia may be linked to a distressing or unpleasant experience. For example, feeling the pain associated with a bee sting or having a bad reaction to a bee sting could lead to a fear of bees.
- Learned behavior. You may learn to fear something based off of information you receive from other sources. This could include things like observing a parents fear of bees or hearing news stories or warnings about killer bees.
- Individual factors. Everyone processes fear and anxiety in different ways. Some people may naturally have a more anxious temperament than others.
Symptoms of a specific phobia can be both psychological and physical. If you have melissophobia, you may experience psychological symptoms, such as:
- feeling an immediate intense fear or anxiety when you think about or see bees
- knowing that the anxiety youre feeling is unreasonable, but being unable to control it
- going out of your way to avoid locations or situations that may bring you into contact with bees
Physical symptoms can also occur when youre exposed to bees. They can include:
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Melissophobia Dealing With The Fear Of Bees
There are many reasons why people fear bees and they are all valid. This fear is called melissophobia as coined by the Greeks, but is also known as Apiphobia. At the top of the list is the fear of being stung. Anyone who has experienced being stung by one of these little critters can tell you how extremely painful it is. For some individuals the experience can be life threatening. If you are susceptible to bee venom, then you understand what anaphylactic shock is. For those that dont, it is a severe allergic reaction when the venom enters your body. Swelling, cold sweats and a number of other maladies can be experienced if you are allergic to bees.
Now if youre not allergic, then it is simply an issue of overcoming the fear associated with the possibility of being stung. Another of the main reasons why people fear bees is the buzzing sound they make. Certain people have a tremendous aversion to this sound, especially when close to the hive and around the multitude of bees flying about it can be unnerving! Then there is the fact that some individuals just dont like bugs. And lastly, there are people who have learned to be afraid of bees through suggestion, most often without even realizing it. An example of this might be that you were reared in a home where a parent, grand parent or other relatives were fearful of bugs, bees in this case. There are probably a number of other reasons for the fear of bees, but thats not the point of this article.
Apiphobia And Spheksophobia Fear Of Wasps And Bees
Melissophobia or Apiphobia, both of which refer to a fear of bees, along with fear of wasps, or Spheksophobia, are very common types of fears of insects. People who suffer from these two conditions are worried to go outside with an easy mind, as they worry excessively about stings. Studies suggest that these phobias are prevalent for females rather than males. Additionally, they are typical for people of under 18 and people between the ages of 18 and 34 89% of all sufferers belong to these two age groups. That said, we probably all know mature adults who are not averse to doing the wasp dance when approached by a yellow and black striped terrorist!
A bee or wasp sting can be quite painful. As a result, people who get stung in their childhood experience this trauma that can stay with them forever. Some people who are allergic to these stings are also more likely to experience apiphobia or spheksophobia. Although it is not necessary for a person to have prior experience with stings to suffer from these phobias.
Its normal to have some degree of fear of these insects. But when this fear gets in the way of normal outdoor activities and life overall, we have to consider treatment options.
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Can Bees Really Smell Fear
To date, there is no real evidence that bees can smell or even sense fear. This is, most likely, confusion about how bees use chemicals to communicate amongst themselves.
When a person gets stung by a bee, more often than not, more bees will appear too. This is because a pheromone signal is released that basically tells their colony they are under attack. In response, more bees will speed to the scene, following the pheromone signal and attack too.
What Are The Symptoms Of Apiphobia
In this case, the manifestations are actual symptoms. When a person gets close to bees and they instantly have a huge sense of fear and anxiety that leads to extreme fear, then they certainly have Apiphobia.
Usually, the problems will involve changes in the way the organism functions and those are caused by an increase in activity for the nervous system.
The way you diagnose fear of bees phobia will differ based on every person. But the thing you must keep in mind is that Apiphobia will always show itself differently, so you really have to figure out the cause and what problems might appear from that.
The main way you diagnose Apiphobia is when the person has intense anxiety and fear towards wasps and bees.
The same thing happens with immediate anxiety and fear when they are exposed to the stimulus. They can also be disproportionate depending on the situation.
Most of the time this condition cant be explained by psychological conditions and they can also cause clinical distress. Sometimes this will even lead to a deterioration of social life.
Its hard to pinpoint causes and reasons, just because they tend to be very different from one person to the other.
There are people that deal with constant shaking when they have fear of bees phobia, not to mention rapid heartbeat and uncontrollable reactions when they see bees.
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Associations With Dangerous Animals
Another theory suggests that clustered holes share a similar appearance to skin and coat patterns on some venomous animals. People may fear these patterns out of unconscious associations.
There is some research that supports this idea. A 2013 study looked at how people with trypophobia respond to certain stimuli in comparison to those without the condition.?? When viewing a honeycomb , people who dont have trypophobia immediately think of things such as honey or bees.
The researchers believe that those with trypophobia non-consciously associated the sight of a honeycomb with dangerous organisms that share the same basic visual characteristics, such as rattlesnakes. While they are not consciously aware of this association, it may be what causes them to feel feelings of disgust or fear.
Exposure Therapy To Your Phobia
Another method of dealing with your fear is exposure therapy. Instead of running- screaming with fear the next time you see a honey bee, stand still and watch.
Most bees will happily continue to forage while we observe them. As long as you are not near a nest, they to do not mind your observation.
Bees are very industrious and fun to watch. Try sitting in a chair near some flowers bees love to visit. In time, you will be able to move closer-but still remain a respectful distance away.
Avoid swatting. This can be viewed as an aggressive reaction and may cause the bees to want to retaliate. If you begin to feel nervous or upset, get up and walk away.
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What Causes Melissophobia
The reason behind a phobia differs from person to person. But based on my research, I have narrowed down three factors which seem the most prominent. Identifying the cause of your fear means that you are one step closer to overcoming it.
Phobia Of Bees Its Over
Does phobia of bees have a serious impact on your life? It may not seem possible, but after more than a decade working with the most severe fears and phobias we know for sure: theres no question you can overcome phobia of bees.
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The Warning Signs You Should Be Looking For
You can use our two minute Phobia of Bees Online Test to determine the problems severity, but its really pretty simple: If this phobia is having a significant negative impact on your life, its time to do something about it.
- Do you become queasy at the smallest idea of Bees?
- Does your mouth go dry and your palms get sweaty?
- Does your heart begin to pound?
- Do your legs turn to rubber?
Those are just a few of the symptoms. If you want to understand more about the symptoms of Phobia Of Bees, .
We not only help you deal with the symptom you experience, but we find the cause. Thats why were here
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What To Do About It
Next be clear that that theres nothing to fear at worst a painful sting for an hour or two. And even this is unlikely to occur if you handle the situation with a bit more calmness and watch the creature until it landed and then brush it away quickly.
As with all single-issue phobias the best and quickest approach is to seek. If this is not possible use the methods in the phobia-fix section. Take your time about this and carefully work through the hierarchy in a systematic manner.
How To Help A Child With A Fear Of Bees
In addition to the suggestions above, you can take additional steps to help a child afraid of bees.
- Be open and receptive. Allow your child to talk about their feelings and fears with you. Let them know that youre there to listen and help them if they need it.
- Demonstrate positive behaviors. Children often learn by watching others. If you encounter a bee, try to stay calm and avoid behaviors such as swatting at it or running away.
- Avoid reinforcement. Try to have a normal routine and dont go out of your way to avoid bees. Not only does this reinforce the idea that bees may be dangerous, but it also eliminates opportunities for exposure.
- Give praise. It can be difficult for anyone to face their fears. If your child does this, whether its looking at a picture of a bee or being in an area where bees are present, be sure to recognize them for it.
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Beat Your Fear Of Bees
If you or a member of your family have a strong fear of bees, you are not alone. Many people suffer from an heighten anxiety when it comes to stinging insects. This can be especially troubling if you are someone who enjoys being outdoors. And, if you have aspirations of having a hive of your own, this condition must be dealt with quickly. Developing a better understanding of bees may help you become less afraid.
Causes Of Apiphobia And Spheksophobia
In most cases, the fear of bees and wasps is irrational. The main cause of these phobias is prior experiences from childhood. Previous traumas from stings will also cause some degree of phobia, and it can translate into irrational fear. In some cases, these phobias are socially conditioned.
The main causes of apiphobia and spheksophobia include:
- Negative experiences from childhood, or a traumatic experience from the past. For example, a child who inadvertently stepped onto a bee experienced some degree of agony, which can potentially result in a phobia later on in life. The same goes for when a child accidentally stumbles into a beehive, which can result in a negative experience that might have consequences.
- Sometimes, the phobia is like a learned behavior. This usually happens when another family member or a parent is also afraid of bees or wasps. And when they show their fear, the child will also start to feel fear of these insects. This fear is usually irrational and based on no prior negative experience, but rather on the experiences of other people.
- Apiphobia and spheksophobia are common also due to over-protectiveness by the parents. These fears are socially conditioned responses based on the excessive warnings that their parents might have given them in the past.
- TV programs, movies, and shows can also introduce a person to this fear.
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How To Get Over The Fear Of Bees
Now that you know what causes a phobia of bees and how to identify it, you can try to overcome your fear by taking small, baby steps. God knows that it is not easy. I am not saying that you would be able to overcome it in a day. I cant promise that it will be completely gone either. However, you can follow these methods to slowly diminish your fear of bees.
If you read up more, you will find out that there are thousands of species of bees. Among these, the bees we commonly see are honey bees. Honeybees are generally mild and will not attack you unless they feel threatened. Even if you get stung by a honeybee, the sting will only hurt you for a day or two.
Consider this. Have you used beeswax on your lips? Beeswax contains enzymes from the body of the bees. If you can use it in your products daily, how harmful can they be?
Overcoming Melissophobia The Final Word
Links To Other Disorders
Researchers have also found that people with trypophobia were more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Symptoms of trypophobia were also found to be persistent, leading to functional impairments in daily living. The symptoms were most likely to meet the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for specific phobias rather than other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder .
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Well Meaning Adults Teach Children To Be Afraid
If you are a caregiver for children, it is your job to protect them. You want to do everything in your power to prevent their pain and discomfort.
Unfortunately, this leads some adults to teach children to be afraid of bees. By having excessive reactions to a foraging honey bee, the adults encourage the child to be afraid.
This create fear and anxiety in small children whenever they come into an area with a bee.
We certainly dont want toddlers to be trying to catch bees with their bare hands. However, older children can be taught to respectfully observe working insects.
Unless the child is allergic, watching bees work can be a very educational. Even young children can learn to recognize honey bees, bumble bees or wasps.