Like any phobia, a rodent phobia can vary in severity from one person to the next. It can range from a mild discomfort around mice or rates, all the way to a fear of the creatures so deep, it is realized in the form of severe physical symptoms.
If you are wondering whether or not you actually have a rodent phobia, there are a few things you need to consider.
Rodent Phobia Information
A rodent phobia is also known as musophobia. Derived from Latin origins, it is a fear that extends to both mice and rats. Although for some, anything that even reminds them of a rodent has the potential to trigger the phobia.
As mentioned before, it can vary in seriousness from one person to the next. Some people are fine around them, but begin to feel an emotional and physical response if they were to come into physical contact with the creature. Others cannot even be in the same building as a rodent, or see one on television, without feeling the physical and psychological symptoms associated with their fear.
Some people can’t even hear a person talk about them, without feeling physically ill to some degree.
Since the severity of the phobia can vary from one person to the next, it stands to reason that the reason behind the phobia can vary from one person to the next. Some can trace back their fear of rodents, while others are at a loss to explain why they feel so uncomfortable around rats or mice. In the case of the second category, a person who is unable to explain the source of their phobia is very likely repressing the memory. This can usually be found in the more severe examples of musophobia.
Some of the symptoms of musophobia include:
- Intense anxiety.
- Severe feelings of dread.
- Feelings of panic, typified by shortness of breath, fast/irregular heartbeat, sweats, nausea, loss of speech, dry mouth, or even shaking.
There are medications that are designed to help a person manage the physical symptoms and chemical reactions that are associated with this phobia. These medications are associated with the management of a variety of phobias. The medications vary, and it is naturally a conversation that should be had with a doctor.
It is also worth noting that there are a variety of treatments that have been proven to be highly effective against musophobia. Counseling, hypnotherapy, and even psychotherapy are all methods utilized in the treatment of musophobia.