Religion has been part of various societies that have developed throughout history. Currently, there is a wide variety of religions that worship Gods who have characteristics that make them unique. It is understandable that many people have strong religious beliefs and this is a reason for interest.
As the punishments that could arise from non-compliance with mandates became known, the behaviors of people adhering to religion have taken different paths. However, this particularity can become complex when we think about the excessive fear that can arise towards God’s punishment, as well as religious ideas. This can bring about serious consequences that affect those who suffer from this problem. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the theophobia (fear of religion): what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment.
What is theophobia
Theophobia consists of exacerbated and irrational fear of God and religious ideas. In turn, the punishments given by God appear here as one of the central axes that must be taken into account with respect to this condition. This type of phobia can be included within the specific phobias established by the DSM-V given its particularities.
In this sense, there are some diagnostic criteria that must be met to determine the diagnosis of theophobia:
- Fear or intense anxiety towards God.
- Avoidance of religion or anything related to God.
- Fear or anxiety disproportionate to the real danger that God represents in everyday life.
- Duration of six months or more.
- Deterioration of work, family and social relationships
- Fear or anxiety is not linked to another mental disorder or to medication or drug use.
Symptoms of theophobia
Theophobia has some observable manifestations that must be known in order to determine an appropriate treatment for this condition. In the following items, we will describe the most important symptoms of theophobia:
- Catastrophic thoughts referring to punishments from God.
- Avoidance of temples, churches and/or any religious icon.
- Need to ignore information linked to religion.
- Increased heart rate in religious gatherings.
- Sweating excessive.
- Palpitations.
Beyond the symptoms mentioned, it should be taken into account that the presence of any of them in isolation does not constitute a condition of theophobia. Given this, the diagnosis must be carried out by a health professional who evaluates the clinical characteristics of the patient.
Causes of theophobia
One of the most important aspects to consider lies in the origins of theophobia. Knowing the main causes is crucial in order to find solutions that allow an improvement in symptoms. Next, we will talk about this point:
- Traumatic experiences: having experienced situations of punishment in the face of certain actions can be a predisposing factor in the development of theophobia. In this way, it may happen that a person has had a strict religious family environment that has provided punishment for disobeying family commands. This can cause the person to have an intense fear of any religious icon in the future. In this article you will see what exists.
- Mental disordersIn some cases, the presence of another, in which there are deep-rooted fears, can influence the predominance of theophobia.
Theophobia treatment
Fortunately, today, there are many suitable treatments for theophobia. Each treatment has qualities that differentiate it from others and that are effective against the symptoms that can develop in this pathology. In the following items, we will explain the most relevant treatments for theophobia:
Psychological therapy
Therapy can help solve problems that the person has in their daily life. There are therapies focused on the treatment of phobias that have proven to be effective, since They work on emotions, behaviors and thoughts that influence the symptoms of theophobia.
On the one hand, short-term therapies emphasize the construction of strategies to face situations of fear and/or anxiety in a short period of time. On the other hand, there are more extensive therapies that attempt to locate the origin of the patient’s symptoms. This allows the person to act differently in the face of conflictive situations that arise. In this article you will find information about.
Psychiatric medication
When the person is unable to carry out daily activities, the provision of anxiolytics can be a alternative that reduces the intensity of symptoms, since this type of medication produces modifications in the neuronal circuits associated with fear and anxiety. However, psychiatric medication should only be consumed under the supervision of a health professional.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Campodónico, N. (2014). The delimitation of the phobia clinic based on the changes introduced by the cultural context in the 21st century. Perspectives in Psychology Magazine, 11 (2), 75-82.
- Delgado Reyes, AC, Sánchez López, JV (2019). Fear, phobias and their treatments. Electronic Journal of Psychology Iztacala, 22 (2), 798-833.