All about spectrophobia

Almost every person had at least once in his life to experience fright at the sight of the mirror reflection of his own figure or other object at dusk. Sometimes, all-consuming horror and exaggerated anxiety before a reflection in a mirror, glass, or water develops into a phobia. It should be understood features of the emergence of such fear. Is a complete cure ailment possible?

The fear of the mirror and its reflective properties is a rare phobia. It is called spectrophobia (from the Latin. Spectrum "image", "vision" + Greek. Phobos "fear"). Its variety is eysoptrophobia (from other Greek. "Mirror" + "fear"), in which the individual is afraid to look at himself in the mirror, glass surface or water surface. Looking at his own person in a mirror image causes a panic attack.

Spectrophobia is a very serious mental disorder. Typically, phobias arise from fear of harm to health or life.

It is difficult for such people to be in rooms with mirrors. Trying to avoid them, a person begins to fall out of public life. A phobic man turns away from shop windows, windows, stained glass windows. He tries not to look at them. At home, curtains are mirrors and other reflective planes with thick cloth. The patient is afraid to see something frightening, frightening, but in reality, non-existent, unreal. And in those moments he feels the threat hanging over him.

Spectrophobes are characterized by fearfulness, agitation and nervousness. They constantly look around to make sure there are no mirrors and glass surfaces. Having entered a room with several mirrors, such people are cowardly leaving the room.

Signs of eysoptrophobia are fears caused by the appearance of one’s own reflection in the mirror, glass and water surface not only at night, but also in the daytime. The unwillingness to be photographed is often caused by the fear of their photos.

The disease is characterized by the following symptoms:

• overwhelming horror at the sight of his reflection in the mirror;
• fear of their own appearance in the photo;
• isolation, avoiding communication with people;
• irresistible desire to leave the room with a mirror;
• unexplained excitement, increased nervousness, alertness;
• obsessive thoughts;
• the emergence of the fear of death;
• confusion;
• asthma attacks;
• dry mouth;
• discomfort in the chest;
• cardiopalmus;
• feeling of trembling throughout the body;
• the appearance of cold sweat;
• hot flashes;
• fainting;
• blanching of the skin;
• nausea;
• increased breathing.

Overwhelming fear and strong anxiety in front of reflective surfaces can appear in a person for a short time and disappear as the psyche stabilizes.

A qualified specialist with the help of a conversation and conducting special tests will establish an accurate diagnosis.

The inability to adequately assess the events, numerous own complexes can lead to spectrophobia. Certain reasons contribute to its occurrence.

• Phobia can be rooted in deep childhood. The child, seeing in the mirror the terrible reflection of some object or phenomenon, was greatly frightened. The presence of a traumatic situation is stored in the baby’s memory and ultimately leads to illness.
• Improper parental education affects the development of a child’s self-esteem; it can provoke self-rejection, rejection of one’s own reflection. The mirror is an irritant: a person is once again convinced of his inferiority.
• The negative experience of the past makes us fixate on the nightmares that torment the victim. A person’s inability to cope with a stressful situation, recover, and a weakened psyche fails to withstand the new load.
• The reluctance to accept the existing congenital defect brings suffering when you look at yourself from the side.
• A traumatic situation, the result of which was a very disturbing recent physical disability (unexpectedly bald head, weight gain, broken nose, broken lip, scar or burn on the face). Man is not always ready to accept his new image. At first he tries to ignore mirrors, and then there is a fear of reflective objects.
• Mystical fear affects suspicious persons. Since ancient times, the mirror has been associated with a portal to another world. It was believed that through him the souls of the dead, ghosts, monsters, werewolves and other devilry could penetrate into the shelter.
• Fear of accidentally breaking the mirror by virtue of various superstitions. There are many folk signs associated with this subject.
• Occasionally phobia occurs because of a person’s sexual disorder.

At the first pronounced signs of spectrophobia or eysoptrophobia, you should seek help from a qualified specialist who will prescribe a comprehensive treatment.

Drugs are aimed at normalizing sleep and eliminating panic attacks. Depending on the indications and the individual characteristics of the organism, the psychotherapist assigns to each patient the appropriate ones. sedatives, harmless hypnotic drugs of the new generation, tranquilizers and antidepressants.

Reception of medication drugs is carried out only for the purpose and under the supervision of a qualified specialist.

There are effective techniques to eliminate spectrophobia.

• Psychoanalytic psychotherapy used in the trauma of the psyche in childhood, the acquisition of the disease at an early age. Frequent visits to the psychotherapist and long-term treatment brings excellent results. This is the most effective method of therapy, but it requires a lot of effort from the patient.
• Cognitive-behavioral approach directed to the revision of their own "I" with the acquired defect. On the way to overcoming fear, the patient is helped to recode his negative attitudes into a positive attitude.
• Disgusting the patient for his own body against the background of sexual dysfunctions of the body, a joint work of a psychologist and a sex therapist is required.
• Group lessons help to understand the problems., to alleviate the patient's condition and consolidate the positive results of the fight against the fear of reflective surfaces. Together, it is easier to form a psychological and behavioral setting to eliminate phobias.

Hypnosis corrects the psyche, directing in the necessary direction. Upon completion of the hypnosis course, fears are dispelled, the phobia is supplanted by positive thoughts:

• there is an adequate response to the appearance of mirrors in the twilight;
• there is an adequate assessment of the real degree of threat;
• reflective objects in mirrors are perceived as normal;
• mental state is gradually restored;
• fear of the appearance of the reflection of terrible entities and mysterious phenomena in the mirror disappears.

Hypnotherapy in the treatment of spectrophobia is effective. For each patient requires a personal approach.

In case of insurmountable fear, psychologists recommend replacing large mirrors with small, neat mirrors. In order to avoid complications of the disease and the formation of other side phobias in the event of severe anxiety, it is best to avoid frequent glances at the reflective surfaces. It is necessary to always remember the complete harmlessness and safety of mirror reflection. It does not cause any harm to the body.

By their reflection must be accustomed gradually. At the same time, it is desirable to note the positive in your appearance and say aloud compliments. No need to focus on finding flaws. It is necessary to eradicate negative thoughts, to set yourself up in a positive way.

Great benefit brings hard work on yourself. Autotraining includes the repetition of positive motivating phrases that allow you to change your own view of yourself. Relaxation helps well in treatment. Removing anxiety is promoted by herbal tea, relaxing pleasant music and bathing with sea salt. Under calm music, restless thoughts and unpleasant associations need to be transformed into pleasant memories. It is advisable to imagine the azure sky, the emerald sea wave, golden sand, beautiful plants.

Initially, a phobic patient should answer a number of questions:

• When did I become afraid of the mirror and reflection in it?
• What can happen if I always stop my gaze on the mirror image?
• Why am I anxious and how to eliminate it?
• Why am I afraid of my own imagination?
• What happens to me if I dare to look at my reflection in the mirror at night?
• Can I overcome fear on my own?

Before going to bed, you need to visualize your dream, remember the pleasant moments of life. To eliminate the fear of your own photo, you must order a photo session from a highly qualified specialist who can please the client with high-quality beautiful pictures. At the time of treatment, psychologists advise to avoid reading fantastic literature, watching horror films, learn to clearly distinguish between real and fictional world.

On why people are afraid of mirrors, see below.