Enetophobia

Enetophobia
Specialty	Psychiatry, Clinical psychology
Symptoms	Excessive fear of pins
Treatment	Cognitive behavioral therapy, Exposure therapy

Enetophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an excessive or irrational fear of pins. This condition is categorized within the realm of specific phobias, relating to a severe anxiety about a particular object or situation. Individuals with enetophobia experience intense distress when exposed to or even thinking about pins, which can significantly impact their daily functioning.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of enetophobia is an overwhelming fear of pins that is disproportionate to the actual danger posed by them. This fear can lead to a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, including:

• Panic attacks
• Anxiety
• Trembling
• Palpitations
• Avoidance behavior

Causes

The exact causes of enetophobia, like many specific phobias, are not well understood. However, it is generally believed that phobias may develop from a combination of genetic tendencies, brain chemistry, and life experiences. Some theories suggest that a traumatic event involving pins could trigger the development of enetophobia.

Treatment

Treatment for enetophobia typically involves psychological therapies, with Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Exposure therapy being the most common approaches. CBT helps patients understand and change their thought patterns that contribute to their fear, while exposure therapy gradually and repeatedly exposes the patient to the object of their fear in a controlled environment to help desensitize them.

See also

• List of phobias
• Anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder