The word Iophobia is derived from two Greek words; “io,” meaning poison, and “phobia,” meaning fear. It is an unreasonable or abnormal fear of poison.
Other than the fear of the effect likely to be caused by poison in the human system, the exaggerated fear of poison leading to intense amounts of anxiety and panic attacks in some persons is termed iophobia.
A person with iophobia may pay more conscious attention to avoiding anything that may contain poison, especially things with chemical contents.
These chemical-containing substances may include household cleaning products and insecticides.
They believe these chemical substances may harm them, as inhaling or consuming them may damage the human internal system. Hence, they consider them bad or unfit for use.
Someone with iophobia may avoid leaving their houses as they tend to assume all chemicals to be harmful and poisonous. They get consumed by their fear, and this makes their daily life difficult.
Symptoms of Iophobia
The symptoms of iophobia may vary depending on the severity of the phobia. These may include;
- Severe Anxiety: Anxiety is a common symptom of phobias. If not controlled or maintained, it may lead to panic attacks, causing the patient to be hospitalized.
- Avoidance of chemical-containing products and products they consider to be hazardous
- Lack of concentration
- Sweating, shaking, and nausea.
- Breathlessness and choking sensations.
- High blood pressure
Causes of Iophobia
Iophobia may be passed on from parents and acquired. It may be, therefore, caused by genetic factors and environmental factors.
Also, it may develop in some persons with an underlying disorder or phobia.
Genetic Factor
A person with a family history of having anxiety, phobic or mental disorder may develop iophobia. This may be due to genetic predisposition or susceptibility to developing a mental disorder.
In such a case, an experience of a traumatic event like previous severe exposure to a poisonous substance may cause iophobia. Also, the death of a relative or close friend who had suffered poisoning.
Environmental Factor
In this case, a person who may have inhaled or consumed a poisonous substance in the past may develop iophobia as the trauma of having suffered such keeps them super conscious of any substance they may consider poisonous.
Underlying Disorder
A person suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can develop iophobia. Here, a person may be obsessed with staying away from substances or materials containing chemicals with the view that they are poisonous.
Treatment of Iophobia
A combined therapy and treatment may prove effective in the treatment of iophobia. These therapies include exposure therapy, whereby a person with iophobia is exposed to their fear.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation. Medications may also prove effective in treating iophobia, but one must see a doctor for medical advice.
Exposure Therapy
This form of treatment requires a professional therapist with experience in the treatment of people with phobia. The therapist slowly exposes the phobic patient to their fear.
This helps to desensitize the patient to their specific fear. An effective result is not assured if the exposure is done too slightly. On the other hand, excessively exposing the patient to their fear could cause intense anxiety.
Hence, the therapist for this procedure should be well informed of the severity of his patient’s symptoms to help him know the level of exposure needed.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This is talk therapy and a psychotherapeutic treatment that aims to identify and change the patterns of thinking or behavior behind one’s difficulties and change the way one feels.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat people suffering from anxiety disorders and Obsessive Compulsive Behavior (OCD). CBT will help allow a person with iophobia to understand the reasons they think and behave the way they do. CBT helps analyze their fear deeply.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation helps distract one from fear by refocusing one’s attention on something other than an emotional thought.
Focusing on breath is an example. Someone with iophobia can benefit from mindfulness meditation when having a panic attack by simply redirecting their attention to a sensation felt when meditating. This procedure can reduce mental stress.
One can also focus on the sounds around them. Mindfulness meditation takes a lot of practice to be effective.
Medication
The following are medications available for iophobia;
Anti-anxiety Medication
Anxiety is one common symptom of phobia. A person with iophobia may suffer anxiety that may lead to panic attacks.
Anti-anxiety medications are very effective in the prevention of panic attacks. Some of these drugs include Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin.
These drugs are to be prescribed by a doctor to ensure their safety and effectiveness. Ant-anxiety drugs are not to be taken daily but in severe cases of iophobia.
Antidepressants
Antidepressants can also be used in the treatment of iophobia as they are also helpful in preventing anxiety disorder.
Some antidepressants include Lexapro, Paxil, and Zoloft. Unlike anti-anxiety meds, antidepressants are taken daily. They help reduce people’s daily anxiety.
