Pteridophobia is the fear of ferns, one of the rarest phobias on earth. A fun fact about this phobia, which may also be the first thing you see when you search for pteridophobia, is that Sigmund Freud (the father of psychoanalysis) had it.
Pteridophobia falls into a category of phobias known as botanophobia. All plant—and garden-related phobias are known as botanophobia, which explains how the fear of ferns is classified as botanophobia.
The fear of ferns is also classified as a specific phobia because what is feared is known.
There have been a couple of testimonies about people who have an intense fear of ferns, but because there is little or no information about this phobia, those who have it may mistake their fears for something else.
This article will share everything you should know about pteridophobia, including its symptoms, possible causes, and treatment options.
What is Pteridophobia?
Pteridophobia is an intense or irrational fear of ferns. The word pteridophbia was coined from two Greek words ‘pteris’ which is Greek for fern, and “Phobos” which is Greek for fear.
While there is no information on how Sigmund Freud dealt with his intense fear of ferns, it is much easier to assume that he avoided his fear rather than searched for possible ways to combat it.
In the Victorian British era, the love for fern made the term pteridomania quite popular. People loved house plants, but fern was the most loved plant at the time. People at the time had ferns in their homes instead of other forms of house decorations.
The love also brought about the popularity of fern-inspired ornament culture. This means that when Freud allegedly dealt with an irrational fear of ferns, people in Britain were uncontrollably in love with ferns.
People who have pteridophobia may avoid walking along paths with ferns, stay away from gardens, and avoid things and events that may cause them to see or deal with ferns.
While it is OK not to like some plants, when this dislike begins to cause discomfort and anxiety or when it affects other aspects of a person’s life, it’s time to seek help.
We seek to answer questions such as what could cause a fear of ferns and how people with this phobia manage or overcome their fears.
What Are the Symptoms of Pteridophobia?
- Anxiety
- Dizziness
- Avoidant behaviour
- Vomiting
- Nausea
What Are the Possible Causes of Pteridophobia?
Like other phobias, there are no identified causes of pteridophobia. The possible causes of pteridophobia may include learned behaviour, personal experience with poisonous fern, or stories of people who have had bad experiences associated with fern.
Also, some ferns may poison humans, triggering fears in people who read or know about them.
Treatment for Pteridophobia
There is no treatment specifically designed for pteridophobia. However, there are some common treatment methods generally adopted for the treatment of phobias, and they can be considered for the treatment of fear of fern phobia.
Some of the possible treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Pteridophobia
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most famous treatment methods for specific phobias.
The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to make a person dealing with sure phobia understand why they have such fears and why the fears are irrational and need to be managed.
At the end of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is usually a short-term treatment method, a person with a phobia should be able to face their fears without dealing with any discomfort.
Exposure Therapy for Pteridophobia
Exposure therapy involves the gradual exposure of a person with a phobia to the object of their fear. This gradual exposure is done in a safe environment by a therapist.
In the case of a person with pteridophobia, the therapist may begin the gradual exposure process by having them look at pictures of ferns.
The next step may involve watching videos of people playing happily with ferns; then, the therapist may expose the patient to artificial ferns.
Finally, the patient will be exposed to ferns as they become more comfortable.
At the end of the exposure therapy, a person with pteridophobia will understand that their fear of ferns is irrational and that they can live their lives without such fears.
Medication for Pteridophobia
There are no specific drugs or medicines used for the treatment of pteridophobia or any phobia. However, sometimes, medications to manage symptoms such as anxiety may be prescribed.
Kindly note that medications for managing the symptoms of phobias are short fixes and may not be necessary as they can cause dependence. The best method of treatment for any form of phobia is therapy and advice from a mental health professional.
Final thoughts on Pteridophobia
People who have pteridophobia may not be motivated to seek professional help because this phobia is not one of the common ones around.
However, if there were more awareness of the fear of fern phobia, more people would find it easy to speak up and seek help.
Ensure you seek help immediately if your fear of ferns disturbs your daily life and activities such as work and school.
Usually, such a specific fear will have to have existed for more than six months for it to be classified as a phobia. But if your fears have caused you anxiety or other forms of disturbance, you do not have to wait that long to seek help.
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