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The hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary, and in an ironic twist, is the name given to the fear of long words.
The American Psychiatric Association does not officially recognize this phobia. In contrast, hypopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is considered a social phobia.
The new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders makes a very specific definition for social phobias.
Medical professionals use this manual to help them make diagnoses. According to the manual, some of the criteria that social phobias should meet include:
- A distinct fear or anxiety about social situations where a person may be examined, such as meeting new people or having a conversation.
- The fear or anxiety are disproportionate to the social situation.
- The fear or anxiety is persistent and the social situation is avoided excessively.
- Fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes distress.
Causes of phobia of long words
Not much is known about the causes of this phobia. But there are some causes and risk factors that are common in multiple phobias.
Some of these factors include:
- An associated negative event: For example, a person who had difficulty learning words as a child may panic every time they see a long word. Your difficulty learning words could at a certain point be scary and traumatic.
- Genetics: People who have a family history of certain phobias, anxiety, and other mental health conditions may be more likely to develop the same type of phobia.
- Environment: This phobia can also be triggered by learned behavior, such as hearing about negative experiences about that specific phobia or traumatic experiences related to it.
- Brain function: Changes in brain activity can also have an effect on whether you develop a certain phobia.
Symptoms
Symptoms can be triggered when a person sees a long word. This can cause a person with hypopotomonstrosesquipedalophobia to feel a great deal of fear and anxiety.
They can also avoid reading so they don’t have to come up with long words that cause them to panic.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that fear of long words can trigger embarrassment or feelings of mockery when pronouncing or reading long words.
Other symptoms can include:
- Temblor.
- Perspiration.
- Dizziness.
- Fainting.
- Dry mouth.
- Headache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Avoid reading because of your fear.
- Feeling distressed by work involving long words.
There are also more general phobia symptoms that you might be aware of, such as:
- Be aware that your phobia is unreasonable, but feel powerless to control your fear.
- Unable to function as he normally would due to his phobia.
Diagnosis of phobia of long words
Generally, people with this phobia will probably never seek medical help. People with a phobia would presumably take jobs where they were not exposed to long words and phrases.
However, if symptoms become unbearable or other symptoms arise, your doctor will ask you a series of questions about your symptoms to determine if you have a phobia or anxiety disorder.
They will also review your psychiatric, medical, family and social history. Your doctor will also refer to DSM-5.
Because hippopotomonstrosesquippedalophobia is not officially recognized by medical and mental health associations as a phobia, it is technically not a diagnosable condition.
However, your doctor can offer general information about phobias and recommend treatment.
Treatment
In general, a phobia can be treated in many different ways. Exposure therapy is the most common and effective form of phobia treatment.
This version of psychotherapy helps change your response to the object, situation, or word that is causing you fear and anxiety.
The cognitive behavioral therapy is another common form of treatment used to control or cure a phobia. This therapy combines exposure therapy with other therapeutic techniques to help you cope with anxiety. It will also help limit any overwhelming thoughts.
Medications are known to be helpful in treating a wide range of anxiety disorders. However, not much is known about its effectiveness in treating this particular phobia.
Other treatment options that can help the patient deal with the phobia include:
- Talk therapy with a psychiatrist, counselor, or social worker.
- Mindfulness strategies such as mindful breathing, talking, and observation to help you cope with anxiety.
- Attend a support group to connect with other people facing the same or similar phobia.
You can also control your phobia symptoms by making certain lifestyle changes, such as:
- Get enough sleep each night.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
- Eliminating substances that can worsen anxiety, such as alcohol, coffee, tea, among others.
- Face fearful and anxiety-inducing situations head-on, as often as possible.
Long word phobia overview
Since this phobia is not officially recognized, not much is known about it. Research is needed to better understand the fear of long words and what happens when a person is exposed to triggers.
Talking to your doctor if you have symptoms, they can help you get to the bottom of your fear, understand your symptoms, and come up with a treatment plan.
Friends, family, and therapy groups can also provide support to help you cope with your phobia.
