Xanthophobia - Fear of the Color Yellow

What Is Xanthophobia? Xanthophobia is an intense, irrational fear of the color yellow. While, at first glance, this may appear to be a silly fear, it is very real to the individuals impacted by this phobia. In its extreme form, the xanthophobic person may also feel an overwhelming fear of even the word yellow. Xanthophobia derives from the Greek word "xanthous", meaning yellow and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Xanthophobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person coping with Xanthophobia has experienced some type of trauma during their life. That traumatic event then becomes consistently associated with the color and/or word yellow.

Maybe the xanthophobic individual simply disliked the color yellow. Perhaps that aversion became so intense as to develop into a phobic response over time. Perhaps, as a child, the adults displayed an intense dislike for the color yellow or were actually xanthophobic. In this example, the xanthophobic individual may have simply learned to imitate the negative responses of others.

Whatever the cause, the xanthophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that can completely halt their ability to function on a daily basis.

What Are the Symptoms of Xanthophobia?

The symptoms of Xanthophobia are individual and will vary from person to person. Some individuals, when confronted with their fear of yellow, 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 severe anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Xanthophobia may include:

* Heart Palpitations

* Dry Mouth

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Feeling Dizzy

* Muscle Tension

* Hyperventilation

* Numbness

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

* Intense Feeling of Impending Disaster

How Is Xanthophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Xanthophobia are self-diagnosed. The person realizes that their fear is irrational and is severely compromising their ability to function.

The xanthophobic person may then discuss their phobia with the primary physician. Rarely will the doctor diagnosis Xanthophobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any physical reasons for the phobia, the doctor will refer the individual to a mental health professional for further assessment and evaluation.

How Is Xanthophobia Treated?

When the fear of the color yellow becomes so intense as to disrupt an individual's ability to function on a daily basis, there are a variety of ways to treat Xanthophobia.

These can include:

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

* Hypnotherapy.

* Exposure Therapy.

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

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Self-help techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.

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

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization.

* In extreme cases of Xanthophobia, anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed.

Xanthophobia is an intense, irrational fear of the color yellow. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely disrupt a person's ability to function. Unchecked, Xanthophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with an individual's personal life, their social life and their job responsibilities. Untreated, Xanthophobia can impact every aspect of a person's life.