Katsaridaphobia: How to Eliminate Your Fear of Roaches

Table of Contents

Last Updated on February 27, 2023 by Mike Robinson

What is Katsaridaphobia?

The fear of roaches, also called katsaridaphobia, is an irrational and persistent fear that is intense and irrational for those suffering from it. This insect is repulsive for various reasons, including their anatomy, capacity to spread disease, the fact that it feeds on rot and decay, and that some can fly.

For many people, this phobia can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), causing constant feelings of insecurity for fear of a cockroach appearing at any time.

People with a fear of cockroaches will sometimes:

Avoid basements or dark places.
Do not trust summer accommodations.
Practice preventive measures such as keeping sheets or curtains from touching the ground.

These types of actions will limit the daily lives of those affected.

“Any movement on the floor gives me the chills. Sometimes I go to bed, and I think any noise is one of them. I get up and spend all night awake, thinking it could get between the sheets with me at any moment. The problem is that when I’m sure there’s one in the room, my body does not react, and I can’t get up and kill it. “

This quote from someone with a fear of roaches shows the distress that can result from coming into contact with these insects. This article aims to identify the issue, describe its signs and possible causes, and propose solutions. When you reach the end, you’ll find some interesting tidbits about the insect responsible for many complaints.

Many people wonder what the technical name for fear of cockroaches is. The closest thing would be katsaridaphobia, an Anglo-Saxon term that has yet to be accepted in our language.

Therefore, entomophobia is the next closest word to define the fear of cockroaches. However, this term covers the fear of all types of insects.

In turn, entomophobia is within another group of broader phobias, which covers all animals and is called zoophobia. This phobia goes from fear of dogs (cynophobia ) to toads ( bufonophobia ), among other phobias.

Common Symptoms of Katsaridaphobia

As with other phobias, depending on the degree of the person’s condition, the symptoms they experience are anywhere from light to severe. One must consider the individual’s mental state and other related characteristics.

Some of the most common and prominent symptoms of this disorder are:

Nausea and dizziness
Shaking chills
Difficulty breathing
High heart rate
A sensation of choking or strangulation
Pain or pinching in the chest
Numbness
Excessive sweating
Difficulty thinking, reasoning, or speaking clearly
The inability to distinguish between the real and the unreal
Crying and screaming
Panic attacks
Temporary paralysis or the inability to move.
Excessive fear
Anxiety

In this video, you can see some of the symptoms a girl experiences when she learns there is a cockroach in one of her rooms.

As we previously mentioned, a person may occasionally develop obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which is evident when they take all reasonable precautions to ensure these insects are outside of their immediate environment.

To accomplish this, they regularly spray insecticides or set up traps throughout his house and sweep or scrub carpets, rugs, appliances, the bathroom, and other surfaces.

closeup of a cockroach — Closeup of a cockroach

Causes of Fear of Cockroaches

Like the symptoms, the causes of cockroach phobia vary from person to person. Since the first symptoms of the disorder can appear at any time, anyone can develop this fear of cockroaches. The reason is that, like other phobias, they can develop in response to a traumatic experience to which one will be permanently exposed.

However, the vast majority of these events usually occur during childhood. Very rare are the cases that develop in adulthood.

The scientific community also considers evolution to be an important factor. Our prehistoric ancestors were programmed to remain vigilant for potential predators or enemies who harmed them. At the same time, they slept in caves, which are an ideal habitat for cockroaches due to their preference for warmth and darkness.

Science today disagrees with the concept of family conditioning. While some believe it is inherited and that developing a fear of roaches or another insect is more likely if you have relatives who have that fear, others think it is simply a reaction conditioned by what you see at home (a negative experience ).

Best Treatment Options

Fortunately, the cure for the fear of roaches has a positive success rate, regardless of the cause. Psychology and its professionals have played a significant role, and each time the methods for its elimination have become more effective.

The first step will undoubtedly require the involvement of an expert. They will determine whether your fear of cockroaches is a phobia or just disgusted by them. If you have the disorder, you will likely follow one or more of the therapies outlined below.

Exposure Therapy

Fear sensitization involves gradually exposing the affected individual to situations or stimuli that elicit uncomfortable feelings. Exposure can be anything from looking at a picture of a cockroach to actually seeing, touching, or being in the same room as one. It’s the go-to treatment for people who suffer from a fear of insects or animals.

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) aims to reframe one’s negative thoughts about what they are genuinely afraid of. The thoughts and behaviors toward the cockroaches will be changed, removing any fear, thanks to techniques like biofeedback or specific relaxation techniques.

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

NLP seeks to identify the underlying causes of someone’s fear of roaches. The causes may be quite different, as we mentioned earlier. But focusing on the trauma’s origin can transform irrational fear into calm and relaxation. A combination of psychotherapy, personal growth, and communication will be used to change the behaviors or abilities of the person with the disorder.

Using Virtual Reality

Due to its rapid development, virtual reality has recently gained a lot of validity in our society. Virtual reality technology is now available to treat phobias and other mental illnesses.

A system for treating the fear of spiders and cockroaches through virtual reality was explicitly developed in 2009 by the Laboratory of Psychology and Technology (LABPSITEC) of Jaume I University.

This treatment is similar to exposure therapy, where a patient gradually confronts fear while receiving therapy, but since everything is virtual, the patient feels more secure.

Best Medication Option

Only the most extreme, rare cases call for this therapy. Antidepressants (SSRIs), anxiolytics, or anticonvulsants are effective medicine options. Medication can help if the patient experiences prolonged panic attacks, anxiety, or other detrimental reactions to their health. They may help you feel calmer and less panicky, but you also risk experiencing adverse side effects from taking these medications.

Little Known Facts about Cockroaches

There are more than 3500 species of cockroaches.
Cockroaches measure around 3 cm to 7.5 cm. The most notable exception is Megaloblatta longipennis, which reached 9.7 cm.
The first fossils date from the Carboniferous period (354–295 million years ago). Since then, they have changed very little.
99% of cockroach species are neither pests nor live in homes; they live in nature (on leaves, trunks, or other debris). However, most people only see the remaining 1%.
In some eastern and oceanic countries, children have cockroaches as pets.
In the United States, 40% of phobias come from a fear of “bugs.” Cockroaches share the top positions with other insects, such as spiders, moths, and grasshoppers.
Cockroaches can absorb up to 15 times more radiation than a human.
They can survive without a head for several weeks until they die of starvation.

Are you also someone who can’t stand to be in the same place as a cockroach? Please tell us what your thoughts are about these bugs.