Overview

Phobias are classified as anxiety disorders associated with particular situations, objects, images or animals. Spheksophobia refers to an intense sense of distress or fear when hearing, seeing, or sometimes merely thinking about wasps.¹ The word has Greek heritage with “spheco” meaning waps and “phobia” meaning fear.² Phobias are not always easily recognised, as they are psychological in nature, it is often only when they are triggered that people recognise the phobia. They can significantly affect individuals' everyday lives. In the case of Spheksophobia, people may avoid going outside if they see or are stung by a wasp, isolating themselves from the outside world. The purpose of this article is to discuss and explore spheksophobia and educate on a variety of causes and symptoms of the phobia as well as treatment and management strategies to deal with anxiety induced by wasps. 

Understanding phobias

Phobias are exaggerated and irrational fear reactions that can occur in association with a specific trigger. Triggers may include objects, animals, scenarios, places or feelings.³ It is important to note that fear and phobia are two different things. Fear implies an emotion depicted by a sense of danger or threat, while a phobia is an anxiety disorder in which these fear responses and emotions are enhanced and intensified, which can mentally and psychologically affect an individual thus, impacting their daily lives. 

There are three main types of phobia:

• Specific phobias are a direct result of something.⁶ For example, Spheksophobia is a phobia related to an animal, the wasp
• Social Phobias are triggered during social situations.⁵ For example, an intensified sense of anxiety and fear when eating, speaking or communicating with new people
• Agoraphobia relates to the overwhelming sense of anxiety and fear when in a scenario in which it would be difficult to escape or get help if needed.⁴ For example, using public transport or sitting in the middle of a long row

Causes of spheksophobia

A variety of different factors can cause spheksophobia. These can be biological, Psychological or External.

Biological factors

• Genetic predisposition: the phobia of the wasps has a genetic tendency.⁹ This means that individuals within the same family (genetically linked) have an increased likelihood of developing similar anxiety against wasps
• Brain chemistry: the fight or flight response in the brain is automatically triggered when a wasp is seen or heard.¹⁰ This results in a metabolic reaction in which stress hormones are released, blood pressure and heart rate increase and an individual begins to panic (overwhelming sense of fear) due to the wasp even if it has not stung or come into contact with the individual 

Psychological factors

• Trauma can be a factor that triggers spheksophobia which may be due to previous experiences such as being stung by a wasp or being witness to someone else being stung by a wasp¹²
• Learnt behaviour, when an individual observes that others have a phobia of wasps, therefore they too pick up this fear.¹¹ This can often be from parents, people they look to for protection or friends. For example their mum was scared of wasps then that means they should be scared too 

External factors

• Media can influence an individual's perception of wasps and the danger they pose to us, leading to the development of spheksophobia. This could include books, movies and advertisements negatively depicting the nature of the wasp. A similar fear to wasps is bees. An example of a media influence that could lead to developing a phobia is the movie ‘My Girl’ in which a young boy passes away from being stung by a bee as he was allergic to bee stings¹³
• Cultural attitudes towards bugs and insects can also lead to the development of a phobia against wasps. Negative attitudes towards wasps as being dangerous and violent insects that can cause a harmful sting can shape an individual's perception of wasps resulting in them developing a phobia towards them

Symptoms of spheksophobia

Symptoms of Spheksophobia come in two variations. An individual can present a number of these symptoms.³ 

1. Physical:
   • Rapid Heartbeat
   • Sweats
   • Shortness of breath
   • Nausea
2. Psychological:
   • Anxiety attacks
   • Panic attacks
   • Irrational thoughts linked to wasps
   • Avoidant behavioural traits: not going outside

Diagnosis of spheksophobia

Phobias are not always clinically diagnosed. Often individuals can recognise their symptoms, understand their triggers and tend to just avoid the cause of these extreme responses. 

Spheksophobia can be clinically diagnosed through psychological evaluation, where a mental health professional will conduct an assessment covering the different factors that can trigger and lead to the development of spheksophobia.¹⁴ It also includes going over family and medical history to determine whether the phobia is a result of genetic predisposition or is likely to be influenced by other factors such as societal, cultural or learnt behaviour. Many individuals live without their phobias having been formally diagnosed, however, if extreme symptoms arise know to seek medical advice from a doctor, or a psychiatrist. 

Further medical advice should be sought when the phobia is affecting a person's quality of life.³ This is due to symptoms such as extreme breathing difficulty and anxiety-induced attacks as well as avoidant behaviour such as not being comfortable enough to leave your own home.

Treatment for spheksophobia

Treatment for Spheksophobia is aimed at reducing the level of anxiety caused by the presence or thought of wasps. Whilst many individuals recognise their phobia and can be prepared and aware of when they may be exposed to it there are ways to try to manage and overcome phobias such as spheksophobia. These include:

Psychotherapy is one of the therapeutic approaches targeted at reducing the effects of spheksophobia. Exposure therapy is a technique used in which the individual will be exposed to wasps slowly to try and overcome the fear.⁷ Another common type of psychotherapy is cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in which the individual with the phobia and a psychiatrist will try to get to the root of the phobia of wasps.⁸ This can include discussing previous trauma, challenges in being around wasps and educating on the nature of wasps to try and reduce any negative influences that may have warped the individual's perception of wasps which lead to the development of the phobia.

Medication can be used to help reduce anxiety caused by phobias such as spheksophobia. This can include anti-anxiety medications such as antidepressants. It can also include medication such as beta-blockers which help to slow down heart rate which usually increases when a phobia is triggered due to a fight or flight response from the brain.³

Relaxation is a simple self-care strategy that can be employed when a phobia is triggered.¹⁵ This includes deep breathing and medication as well as educating yourself on the thing that causes the phobia. In this case, it would be education about wasps. There are also online and in-person support groups for several phobias in which people with the same fears can discuss their phobia challenges with one another.

Summary

Spheksophobia, the anxiety disorder associated with wasps, can affect a wide range of individuals. Whether it is learned behaviour, influenced by external factors, or developed independently, many people experience this irrational fear and extreme psychological responses due to their phobia of wasps. The causes can stem from a variety of external, psychological, or biological factors, and symptoms can range from mild anxiety to severe anxiety attacks and activation of the brain's fear response.

It is important to address and treat phobias appropriately to give individuals the best chance of overcoming their fears. While exposure therapy may be effective for some, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) may benefit others more. Additionally, understanding and helping people cope with their phobias is crucial. Rather than promoting negative influences from the media, we should focus on properly educating ourselves and others about phobias.