
What is pyrophobia of fire?
Pyrophobia is quite a common phobia and many people around the globe are known to be deeply afraid of fire. The word Pyrophobia originates from Greek ‘pur/pyr’ meaning fire and ‘phobos’ meaning fear or deep dread.
How do you know if you have pyrophobia?
If a pyrophobe sees fire, the person may sweat and suffer dizziness or upset stomach. A person with severe pyrophobia who sees fire may panic and experience fast breathing, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, dry mouth, dread, feeling trapped, and may tremble or faint.
Why do I have a phobia of fire?
One such negative or traumatic experience with fire in the past (direct or indirect) is the most likely cause of Pyrophobia. Some phobics do not even remember how their fear originated in the first place. Psychoanalysis or hypnotherapy is required in such cases to delve deep into the phobic’s mind and establish the root cause of the phobia.
Can pyrophobia be cured?
However, people who are intensely pyrophobic cannot even get close to or tolerate even a small controlled fire, such as fireplace, bonfire or lit candle. In many cases a bad childhood experience with fire may have triggered the condition. Exposure therapy is the most common way to treat pyrophobia.

What causes pyrophobia?
What causes pyrophobia? Pyrophobia doesn't usually have a specific cause. Your risk may increase if you: Had a traumatic experience with fire at some point in your life, such as accidentally starting a fire, getting a serious burn or living through a wildfire.
How do you treat pyrophobia?
Exposure therapy is the most common way to treat pyrophobia. This method involves showing patients fires in order of increasing size, from a lit cigarette up to a stove or grill flame. Another method of treatment is talk therapy, in which a patient tells a therapist about the cause of this fear.
What's the meaning of Neophobia?
Medical Definition of neophobia : dread of or aversion to novelty.
Is Scopophobia a word?
Scopophobia is an excessive fear of being stared at.
What is the fear of love called?
What is philophobia? People who have philophobia have a fear of love. This fear is so intense that they find it difficult, sometimes impossible, to form and maintain loving relationships. “Philos” is the Greek word for loving or beloved. “Phobos” (phobia) is the Greek word for fear.
What is the fear of death called?
Thanatophobia is an extreme fear of death or the dying process. You might be scared of your own death or the death of a loved one. Psychotherapy can help most people overcome this disorder. Appointments 866.588.2264. Request an Appointment.
What is the fear of long words?
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words. This 35-letter, 15-syllable word contains the root sesquipedalian, which means "long word." Therefore, it is sometimes called sesquipedalophobia.
What is the fear of trying new foods called?
Food neophobia is the fear of or refusal to try new foods. This is a typical feature in infant development. Nevertheless, it may end up becoming a habit even in adulthood.
What is the fear of new things called?
What Is Neophobia? Neophobia is the fear of new things. It is a relatively complicated phobia.
What's the longest phobia?
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary — and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. Sesquipedalophobia is another term for the phobia.
What are the weirdest fears?
21 Rare and Weird Phobias You've Likely Never Heard OfArachibutyrophobia (Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth) ... Nomophobia (Fear of being without your mobile phone) ... Arithmophobia (Fear of numbers) ... Plutophobia (Fear of money) ... Xanthophobia (Fear of the color yellow) ... Ablutophobia (Fear of bathing)More items...•
What is the fear of secrets called?
Emetophobia – the Secret Phobia Emetophobia can affect your whole life, yet most emetophobes don't tell their friends, a lot don't even tell close family members. This is why it's been coined the secret phobia.
What causes Enochlophobia?
There's no single known cause of enochlophobia; rather, it might be connected to crowd-related trauma, a tendency to worry, or even genetic factors. The important thing is that this phobia can have a severely limiting effect on your life, since crowds are very much a part of life today.
What's the longest phobia?
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary — and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. Sesquipedalophobia is another term for the phobia.
Is the fear of fire common?
Pyrophobia is a very common phobia since fire is possibly unsafe. A bit of anxiety from fire or flames can be considered healthy and normal. But, those who have pyrophobia are not able to stand small fires and usually feel dizzy or uneasy, when they come in contact with even well-controlled fires.
What is it called when you dont like blood?
Hemophobia, or blood phobia, is the medical term used to describe an intense and irrational fear of blood. Generally speaking, phobias are extreme, often irrational fears that interfere with an individual's ability to function in their day-to-day lives.
What is a pyrophobe?
A pyrophobe may also attempt to avoid or flee from fires, and avoid situations where fire may be present (such as a barbecue or a campfire ). The severity of pyrophobia can range from inconvenient to heavily disturbing a person's daily functioning.
How to treat pyrophobia?
Exposure therapy is the most common way to treat pyrophobia. This method involves showing patients fires in order of increasing size, from a lit cigarette up to a stove or grill flame.
How do you know if you are a pyrophobe?
When witnessing fire or smoke (even if the fire poses no threat, such as a candle), suspecting a fire is nearby, or (in some cases) visualizing fires, pyrophobes exhibit typical psychological and physiological symptoms of fear and panic: Acute stress, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, tightness in chest, sweating, nausea, shaking or trembling, dry mouth, needing to go to the bathroom, dizziness and/or fainting. A pyrophobe may also attempt to avoid or flee from fires, and avoid situations where fire may be present (such as a barbecue or a campfire ). The severity of pyrophobia can range from inconvenient to heavily disturbing a person's daily functioning.
Why do people get pyrophobic?
The most common cause of pyrophobia is that fire poses a potential threat to life safety (which is identical in animals). However, people who are intensely pyrophobic cannot even get close to or tolerate even a small controlled fire, such as fireplace, bonfire or lit candle.
What is a phobia of fire?
Find sources: "Pyrophobia" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2017) Pyrophobia is a fear of fire, which can be considered irrational if beyond what is considered normal. This phobia is ancient and primordial, perhaps since mankind's discovery of fire.
Can pyrophobic people take medication?
Medication can also be used to treat pyrophobic people, although since it has side effects, the method is not highly recommended.
What Is Pyrophobia?
Pyrophobia refers to the fear of fire. 1 The word "pyrophobia" originates from Greek "pyro" which means fire, and "phobos," meaning fear. 2 Phobias are defined as being afraid of something in a way that is out of proportion with the actual threat. Basically, the fear is irrational. Phobias are classified as a type of anxiety disorder .
How does pyrophobia affect people?
Effects of Pyrophobia on Individuals. Pyrophobia can have devastating effects on your daily life. The smell of smoke or a burning smell can cause extreme anxiety or even a panic attack in a person who suffers from pyrophobia. Pyrophobics may constantly check the stove, boiler and heating elements of their homes.
How to help someone with pyrophobia?
People with intense pyrophobia may need to seek help from a psychotherapist. One common treatment is Exposure Therapy whereby a pyrophobic person is introduced to the fear of fire through illustrations of fires, as well as examples of a real fire, such as a lit match or candle.
What is a negative experience with fire?
A negative or traumatic experience with fire, such as having to escape a house fire, can trigger pyrophobia in a person.
What is the most common phobia in 2020?
on January 30, 2020. Moritz Witter / EyeEm / Getty Images. One of the most common phobias is pyrophobia, or the fear of fire, which stems from an ancient and primal fear . Since fire is potentially dangerous, a bit of fear is healthy and normal.
Why did our ancestors use fire?
Our ancestors discovered that, when properly harnessed, fire is extremely helpful. As we do today, they used fire to cook their food and keep themselves warm . But they also lived with a high risk of uncontrolled, dangerous fires. House fires remained a constant danger throughout most of recorded history. Today, modern building codes and new methods ...
Can pyrophobia cause headaches?
They may develop obsessive-compulsive rituals such as constantly checking the batteries in smoke detectors or checking to ensure that the oven is off. Some people with pyrophobia have a physical reaction, such as stomach cramps or headaches, to the smell of smoke. Like all phobias, it is best to check with a mental health professional if your pyrophobia begins to limit your activities.
Pyrophobia – meaning
SUMMARY Pyrophobia is a severe and enormous fear of fire. The fear response is usually out of control and can make the person dizzy and sick. The condition leads to avoiding places or daily activities that may involve the use of fire.
Pyrophobia symptoms
As already referred to, all those with Pyrophobia go through an intense level of worry, uneasiness, and concern; whenever they get exposed to fire.
Pyrophobia diagnosis
Just like other specific phobias such as arachnophobia, cynophobia, or claustrophobia, Pyrophobia falls in the category of specific phobias in the DSM-5.
What causes Pyrophobia?
Pyrophobia is a primal fear. From times immemorial, we were taught that fires are dangerous. One should not go near a fireplace because they may get a burn.
Impact of Pyrophobia
This fear of fire or Pyrophobia can create a devastating impact on your life. You can see the following issues arising among people affected by this phobia.
Pyrophobia in children (Child fear of fire)
It is normal to come across childhood fears. If you leave these unchecked, they can develop into different phobias when they grow up.
Quick Facts about Pyrophobia
Pyrophobia is not a normal dislike or fear of fire. It is irrational, intense, and profound.
What is a pyrophobe?from en.wikipedia.org
A pyrophobe may also attempt to avoid or flee from fires, and avoid situations where fire may be present (such as a barbecue or a campfire ). The severity of pyrophobia can range from inconvenient to heavily disturbing a person's daily functioning.
Why do people get pyrophobic?from en.wikipedia.org
The most common cause of pyrophobia is that fire poses a potential threat to life safety (which is identical in animals). However, people who are intensely pyrophobic cannot even get close to or tolerate even a small controlled fire, such as fireplace, bonfire or lit candle.
What is the fear of fire?from healthline.com
Pyrophobia: Understanding the Fear of Fire. “Pyrophobia” is the term for a fear of fire that’s so intense it affects a person’s functioning and daily life. Pyrophobia is one of many specific phobias, which are a type of anxiety disorder. Someone with a specific phobia has an overwhelming, irrational fear of something that poses little ...
How common are phobias?from healthline.com
Specific phobias are rather common. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 12.5 percent of people in the United States will experience a specific phobia at some point in their lifetime.
How do you know if you have pyrophobia?from healthline.com
The physical symptoms of pyrophobia can include: fast heartbeat. shortness of breath or rapid breathing. tightness in your chest. sweating. shaking or trembling. dry mouth. needing to go to the bathroom.
What is the first part of a phobia test?from healthline.com
The first part of the diagnostic process is an interview. Your doctor will ask you about your phobia and your symptoms. They’ll also take your medical and psychiatric history. Your doctor may also use diagnostic criteria, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
How does exposure therapy help with pyrophobia?from healthline.com
Exposure therapy aids people in confronting their fears. It uses gradual, repetitive exposure to the thing you fear to help you learn to manage your feelings, anxiety, or panic. If you have pyrophobia, the progression of exposure therapy may go something like this: Thinking or talking about fire.
What are the symptoms of pyrophobia?
Symptoms of Pyrophobia. Like all other phobias, Pyrophobia is also characterized by anxiety and panic attacks when the individual is faced with a situation involving fire. S/he tends to have an extremely negative outlook towards all events that are likely to trigger fire hazards.
Why do we need pyrophobia therapy?
The purpose of all these therapies is to get to the root cause of one’s Pyrophobia in order to help the individual regain confidence and etch out negative memories once and for all.
What is the fear of fire?
Fear of Fire Phobia – Pyrophobia. Pyrophobia is quite a common phobia and many people around the globe are known to be deeply afraid of fire. The word Pyrophobia originates from Greek ‘pur/pyr’ meaning fire and ‘phobos’ meaning fear or deep dread.
Why does a pyrophobic person constantly check the stove?
To a Pyrophobic individual, the mere smell of smoke or something burning can trigger an intense anxiety attack. This causes him/her to constantly check the stove/gas leading to obsessive compulsive personality disorders.
What does it feel like to be pyrophobic?
Those with extreme levels of Pyrophobia experience a full blown panic attack at the sight, smell, or thought of fire: running away, fainting, screaming, feeling nauseated etc. Such emotional turmoil caused by the phobia can deeply affect one’s normal functioning.
How to overcome fear of fires?
When the phobia symptoms are extreme, medication must be taken to counter the anxiety symptoms. Additionally, one must also utilize a few self help techniques to overcome the fear of fires phobia. Gradual desensitization or exposure therapy can be done with the help of family and friends or even a professional therapist.
Is fear of fire normal?
To an extent, the fear of fire is healthy, evolutionary and normal. However, in case of a phobic, the fear turns debilitating, often affecting his/her daily life wherein one is unable to withstand even small or controlled fires. To a Pyrophobic individual, the mere smell of smoke or something burning can trigger an intense anxiety attack.