Pediophobia - The Fear of Dolls

What Is Pediophobia? Pediophobia is an intense, irrational fear of dolls. The person coping with this phobia may fear dolls with over exaggerated features. Some peidophobic individuals may also fear mannequins and marionettes. Other pediophobic people may fear specific types of dolls such as porcelain dolls, while others fear all dolls.

Pediophobia derives from the Greek word "paidion", meaning little child and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Pediophobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person impacted by Pediophobia has experienced a trauma at some point in their life. That traumatic experience is then automatically and consistently associated with dolls.

Maybe when the pediophobic person was little they were given a doll that frightened them. Perhaps this individual simply didn't like dolls and that dislike, over time, developed into a phobia. This individual may have watched the negative, fearful responses of others when presented with a doll. In this example, the person coping with Pediophobia would have learned to imitate that response. Of course, horror movies, about dolls becoming somehow human, do little to lessen the phobic response in these individuals.

Whatever the cause, the person coping with Pediophobia can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that can be completely disruptive of their ability to function.

What Are the Symptoms Of Pediophobia?

The symptoms of Pediophobia are individual and will vary between people. Some people, when confronted with their fear of dolls, may begin to perspire, feel slightly uncomfortable or become nauseated. At the opposite end of the spectrum, other people are so severely compromised by this phobia, that they may experience paralyzing anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Pediophobia may include:

* A Dry Mouth

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Feeling Dizzy

* Muscle Tension

* Hyperventilation

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

* Intense Feeling of Impending Disaster

How Is Pediophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Pediophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual realizes that their fear of dolls is irrational and is severely compromising their ability to function on a daily basis.

The pediophobic person may discuss their phobia with the primary physician. Rarely would the doctor diagnosis Pediophobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any medical reason for this phobia, the doctor will refer the person to a mental health professional for comprehensive assessment and evaluation.

How Is Pediophobia Treated?

When the fear of dolls becomes intense enough to disrupt an individual's ability to function, there are a number of ways to treat Pediophobia.

These can include:

* A referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

* Traditional "talk" therapy that will teach the person to recognize and control their phobia.

* Hypnotherapy.

* Exposure Therapy.

* Self-help techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.

* Support groups with other people who are coping with this specific phobia.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization.

* In severe cases of Pediophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Pediophobia is an intense, irrational fear of dolls. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely stop a person's ability to function on a daily basis. Unchecked, Pediophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with an individual's personal life, their social life and job responsibilities. Untreated, Pediophobia can devastatingly impact every aspect of a person's life.