The fear of big things may come off as weird because humans are literally told to dream big. However, big things may not be for everyone, and may even cause life-changing damages to those who have an intense fear for them.
Megalophobia is the term used to describe the fear of large objects. The feared object, in the case of Megalophobia, can run the gamut from giant-sized ships to airplanes and gigantic animals to towering buildings and sculptures.
Megalophobia is the opposite of Megalomania, and It is different for everyone. Thankfully, there is treatment available to help you deal with this phobia.
A look at the Full Scope of the fear of large objects (Megalophobia)
If you or anyone you know experiences megalophobia, the things you or that person may be afraid of include enormous animals like elephants or whales or enormous trees such as sequoias or redwoods.
Also, the phobia may be reserved specially for massive man-made objects such as ships, planes, blimps, or stationary objects like huge sculptures, buildings, and statues.
Having an intense fear of big things can significantly limit a person’s social interactions. It is crucial that you have an understanding of your phobia and get all the help that is required to overcome it.
Below is a good look at the reality behind the fear of big or large things.
Understanding the fear of large objects (Megalophobia)
This phobia or irrational fear of large objects is often associated with objects or items that are larger than the real object that they represent.
It may be a larger-than-life statue of a famous person from history or an even animal that does not conform with the typical size that humans generally associate with the species.
For the people who have megalophobia, such abnormal sizes create a real feeling of fear for the animal or object, where other people may just be in awe at the size.
A perfect example of megalophobia is the irrational fear of gigantic animals. There have been mythical stories of giant squid that are passed down from one generation to another.
They exist in folklore since the old days of sailing ships. There are also legends of sailors who were lost and never found due to their encounter with the monsters of the deep.
It is quite possible that in the days before the creation of modern navigational systems, most of those ships that reportedly vanished were simply run aground or just dashed against some rocks.
Still, the rumors of giant monsters persisted, even though many strongly believed that the reported giant squid was only a myth.
The first real photos of a giant squid were eventually shot in 2004. In the 1950s, science fiction and comic books were huge trends, mostly among teenage boys.
It is quite easy to imagine how a simple obsession with a creature like the giant squid can develop into a full-blown phobia. Even in today’s world, phobias of giant “killer” beasts persist and have been exploited in films such as anaconda, deep blue sea, and jaws.
Treatment for fear of big things (megalophobia)
While back in the ’50s, Freudian psychoanalysis and behaviorism were at their strongest, humanism and also cognitive approaches to psychotherapy had slowly begun to take hold.
In today’s world, the treatment of phobias tends to fall into at least one of a few popular categories. The most common form of treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Here, the person with megalophobia is encouraged to replace phobic thoughts with thoughts that are more rational, and various exposure strategies are also employed.
A psychotherapist treating a person with megalophobia may literally walk them through what they fear the most about large objects.
In the process, the therapist tries to help the patient understand rationally why their fear may be unrealistic and unfounded.
The goal afterward is to work through a more comfortable and realistic perspective of their fears and deal with situations that the phobia may have caused the person to avoid.
This can be approached via systematic desensitization, which is a more gradual collection of exposure techniques, and sometimes flooding, in which the client is fast exposed to the object that is feared.
At no time during the treatment is the client placed in any form of danger.
If you have an intense fear of large objects or animals, it is vital that you seek treatment. With the right treatment, most fears or phobias can be managed or cured, but over time, if phobias are untreated, they tend to get worse.
Do well to see your mental health professional or doctor develop a personalized treatment plan.
If you feel like you have megalophobia, it is in your best interest to seek help immediately.
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