Scabiophobia is generally seen as an irrational fear of Scabies. Many mental disorder patients who are suffering from Scabiophobia usually don’t feel the need to treat the problem, as they typically prefer to avoid the topic itself.
Scabiophobia is a kind of mental disorder that makes its patients suffer from a very high amount of anxiety just merely thinking of it.
Those who have Scabiophobia most often experience anxiety so high that it could cause them panic attacks, and this might lead them to be hospitalized. Though the case might not be the same with all patients, it is very plausible.
Scabies is an infestation caused by tiny mites called Sarcoptes Scabies, which usually set up shop in the outer layer of the human skin.
However, due to the thickness of the skin and various preventive mechanisms, the invasion of these mites into the body becomes impossible. So they burrow and lay eggs inside the skin, leading to a constant angry rash and relentless itchiness.
Treating Scabiophobia
Most phobias are curable, but it doesn’t mean that there is a cure for all the phobias out there. Neither is there a guaranteed medication or procedure that is said to cure all forms of phobias, including Scabiophobia.
Usually, the treatment and recovery rate factors depend solely on the patient and the severity of the ailment.
Below are some of the procedures that are used to control Scabiophobia;
Conversation Treatment
This form of treatment could be seen as counseling or talking therapy. Many professionals have seen it as an effective way of treating Scabiophobia.
It involves various processes, like talking to a highly proficient and trained professional about the patient’s feelings, behaviors, and thoughts.
The aim of conversation therapy or talking therapy is to
- Helping patients resolve complicated issues and find ways to live with these feelings or issues
- It gives the individual a safe place and a convenient time to talk to someone who wouldn’t judge you.
- It helps patients to make sense of things and understand their self better.
- Helps patient uncover unhelpful patterns in the way they think or live their lives and find a way to change such way of life
Self-help With Scabiophobia
One of the best treatments in life is taking care of oneself; this helps everyone overcome various difficulties.
Taking care of yourself would lead to being aware of yourself and your environment. Self-help with Scabiophobiawould help people gain control over their fears, including Scabiophobia.
CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The treatment provided through CBT is based on the fact that our behaviour and our way of life are influenced by what we think and perceive.
In some cases, scientist attributes anxiety and distress to distortion and bending of ones perception over reality, this therapy seeks to find out how correct this theory is, and find a way to curb it.
If someone had Scabiophobia, one could, through CBT, ascertain if these symptoms are actual deductions of reality. Or they are just not and work on how to treat it.
CBT is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve one’s mental health; it’s a form of treatment usually employed for those suffering from various mental disorder illness, which includes Scabiophobia.
It majorly allows the patient to understand better why they think and behave the way they do.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Scabiophobia (MBSR) Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction is an 8-week program intended to help those who are suffering from various forms of mental disorder, stress, and anxiety.
Seeing as these are all symptoms of Scabiophobia, it is a program that intends to help people suffering from Scabiophobia cope with the disorder.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a common way of treating not only Scabiophobia but all phobias in general. This therapy treats all kinds of disorders only by exposing those who have this mental disorder to help them gradually cope with the phobia.
Exposure therapy is an efficient way to desensitize people who are suffering from Scabiophobia.
It’s encouraged that the specialist treating the disorder be highly skilled in his field, as there might be a level of exposure that the patient needs to surpass his fears.
Reduction of Caffeine intake
No news exists that caffeine increases people’s heart rate and makes them more anxious. If we consider those who are suffering from Scabiophobia, we would see that this might aid in the reduction of panic attacks for people suffering from Scabiophobia.
Medication
Generally, medication has been seen by many Therapists as an unrecommended form of treatment for Scabiophobia or other mental disorders.
Still, nonetheless, some medication has been prescribed to aid in the short-term treatment of Scabiophobia.
Below is a list of some medications that might help;
- Beta-blockers
- Tranquillizers
- Antidepressants
Symptoms of Scabiophobia
Generally, phobias are not to b taken likely. If proper care is not rendered, their life might start to get limited in life, those who have Scabiophobia, usually experience…
- Sweating
- A choking sensation
- Hot flushes or chills
- The difficulty of breathing or short breath
- Trembling
- Nausea
- The sensation of a butterfly in the stomach
- Feeling faint
- Hyperventilation
- Confusion or disorientation
- Headaches, dizziness, etc.
