What is Electrophobia?

The role of electricity in our lives is silent but very strong.

It feeds nearly all the modern comforts in lighting our households, powering our industries, communication networks and transport systems.

It is not until we have a power outage and realise that we are like the puppets to electricity and that our life is highly interwoven with it.

Electricity is also scary, although it is useful.

There are wires, sparks, and high-voltage warnings, and all are signs of danger. To other people, this issue becomes formidable and is transformed into intense fear, called electrophobia.

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What is Electricity?

Electricity refers to energy that is produced due to the flow of small charged particles referred to as electrons.

As these electrons flow through a conductor because of a difference in voltage, they give rise to an electric current.

This energy in the form of current is convertible to light, heat, sound or mechanical motion; hence, electricity is among the most versatile sources of energy known to mankind.

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Why Do Some People Fear Electricity?

Although normal and rational caution around electricity is practised, fear is a problem when it is too much and unreasonable.

Others get anxious whenever they are close to the electrical equipment, switches, or power lines. This is not a response of logic or consciousness, but rather a response of emotion and psychology.

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What is a phobia?

A phobia is characterized of a fear of a situation, object or activity that the sufferer has continued to experience persistently is called a phobia. The cause of fear is usually avoided or is incurred with a lot of pain by phobic people. The mental health experts claim that without attending to phobias, a phobia may disrupt normal functioning.

What is Electrophobia?

Electrophobia is a phobia that is specific to the person, who is in extreme fear of electricity and has constant fear. Although the majority of electrical systems are built with safety in mind, they can be shocked by the notion of electricity as something that is always dangerous, which is experienced by electrophobic individuals. 

This fear can cause the symptoms of panic, including sweating, accelerated heartbeat rate, dizziness, or shallow breathing.

Both the World Health Organisation and the National Institute of Mental Health acknowledge the existence of certain phobias as anxiety disorders to be treated when they have a significant impact on the quality of life.

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What are the causes of Electrophobia?

The exact causes of electrophobia are not fully understood, but several factors may contribute to its development. These include:

• Negative Experiences: An electric shock in the past, accidents at the workplace, or observing a person who has been shocked by electricity can severely impact the mind, leading to the development of long-term fear.

• Genetic Predisposition: Individuals whose family history includes some type of anxiety disorder might have a greater susceptibility to other phobias, such as electrophobia.

• Learned Behaviour: Electricity can influence the brain to become fearful of electricity through repeated warnings, teaching that use of electricity causes fear, or even seeing other individuals panic and become terrified at the thought of using the electrical item.

Facts About Electrophobia

• Electricity is one of the most controlled utilities in the world, as there are safety standards through which governments regulate this commodity.

• The International Labour Organisation also reports that, out of the number of injuries caused by electricity, the majority are as a result of mishandling rather than daily domestic usage.

• Health authorities identify Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as an effective way of treating phobias.

• As a prelude to electrical usage, awareness and safety education only assist in reducing the anxiety of electrical usage.

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Conclusion

Electricity is an important aspect of life in modernity, but the fear thereof may severely impose on emotional state.

Electrophobia is a factual psychological disorder that is founded on experience, education, and fear.

Through appropriate awareness, professional counselling, and evidence-based therapy, one can learn to deal with this fear and recover his or her confidence in normal life.