Last Updated on April 27, 2023 by Tabraiz
Long-word phobia is genuine, as weird as it could sound. Among the various obsessions, one among which is the dread of lengthy words. We really don’t know anything about them as they haven’t been named yet. Indeed the ones you are familiar with are weird enough to make even the simplest rational person question reality.
Humans can acquire phobias ranging from the smallest to the grandest of objects. There are many things that could make you apprehensive and uneasy, and dread of big phrases is just one of them. My buddy once informed me that certain comments make her uneasy. I had a sneaking suspicion that she was afraid of big words.
When she identified the kinds of phrases that frighten her, I realised she is afraid of big words. The hardest part was when I informed her what her fear was called, so it didn’t really go! She panicked out just when she heard it.
Hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia Is It?
The dread of big words is known as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia. The root sesquipedalian, which meaning “long word,” is found in this 35-letter, 15-syllable word. As a result, it is also known as sesquipedalophobia. However, allusions to the hippopotamus and demons were added somewhere along the way, making it seem much worse.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is very individualistic, which means that it varies from individual to individual. Some individuals are afraid of long words that are multisyllabic, while others are afraid of long terms that are obscure. Some people are even afraid of popular terms that are only a few words long.
Specific phobias, like the dread of lengthy words, affect 3.1% to 151.% of the population.
However, their scarcity does not diminish how terrible they may be for individuals who posses them.
Hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia Symptoms
Although certain phobias cause obvious symptoms including such trembling, freezing, or trembling, indicators of the dread of lengthy words might be subtler.
If you possess this fear, you may experience mental paralysis when presented with excessively long words. You may indeed limit your speech & writing by dismissing textbooks and scientific works as “too pompous” or “I never had a brain for science.”
Children suffering with hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia may acquire school-related anxieties or seem to lack enthusiasm for their studies. Other symptoms connected with a specific fear, like a fear of long phrases, include:
- Thinking like you’re in trouble or the desire to flee
- Irregular heartbeats, perspiration, or trembling of the heart
- Breathing difficulty or the sensation of choking
- Chest ache
- Irritation or nausea in the abdomen
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling like you’re “going insane”
- Tingling sensations, chills, or a hot flush
Hippopotomonstro-sesquipedaliophobia is diagnosed.
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia isn’t listed in the (DSM-5) Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, however when examining for a prescription of the dread of lengthy words, a mental health practitioner may evaluate the requirements for a particular phobia.
This requirement comprises a strong dread or anxiety around the phobia, which in this case is long words. This worry or terror also includes:
- This frequently occurs quickly after meeting it.
- Is out of proportion to how harmful it is.
- It makes the individual shun it.
- Lasts at least six months
Fear of lengthy words might well be connected to certain other writing or reading anxieties. For instance, the dread of big words may worsen or induce bibliophobia (the fear of books). Mythophobia (fear of legends) may also be triggered by apprehension over long, unknown portions, particularly in ancient narratives.
Metrophobia, or the dread of poetry, is another potentially connected fear. Poetry, by definition, involves uncommon vocabulary and unique wording that might frighten folks who are sensitive to long words.
The dread of words in general is known as logophobia. This could include only words with certain sounds, prefixes, suffixes, and so on, or phrases in general.
Treatment for Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia:
The following are some treatments available:
- Among the most prevalent techniques used to manage anxiety is exposure therapy. The Exposure therapy aids in modifying your reaction to an item, scenario, or term that generates you dread and anxiety.
- (CBT) Cognitive-behavioral therapy is another frequent treatment for hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. CBT assists you in dealing with your worries and anxieties.
- Medications: Taken as prescribed on occasion has assisted in the management of anxiety problems. Medication, on the other hand, is ineffective in treating hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia.
Other therapeutic options that may assist you in overcoming your phobia include:
- Joining a support group to meet other individuals who have the same or comparable fear.
- Listening, mindful respiration, and observing are all mindfulness methods that can help you manage with anxiety.
- Consultation with a counsellor, psychiatrist, or social worker.
- One can also control phoba symptoms by adopting the following lifestyle changes:
- Caffeine and other stimulants that might exacerbate anxiety should be avoided.
- Getting adequate rest every night
- As frequently as possible, confronting frightened and anxiety-inducing events.
- Eating a nutritious and well-balanced diet.
Conclusion:
The dread of big words is known as hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia. It is classified as a phobia that is social. If you suffer from a social phobia, then you may avoid social events to alleviate your anxiety. Whenever confronted with the fear, you might also suffer bodily symptoms like nausea, a fast heart rate, or panic attack.
Genetics, brain function, upbringing, & certain environmental circumstances can all contribute to social phobia. Also t alk therapy &, in rare cases, medicines are used in treatment.
Participating in a support group & maintaining a nutritious diet can also assist you in controlling your symptoms & enhance your quality of life.
