Pedophobia: What Is It and How to Treat It?

If you don’t want to have children, that’s perfectly valid, since being a parent is a titanic task for which not all of us are prepared. However, when this preference turns into fear, it takes on a pathological character and we would be talking about a disorder known as Pedophobia.

And we mention it this way because it is not normal to feel afraid of the little ones. Children are innocent creatures who come into this world to play and learn. Babies need us and require constant attention and care during their first months to learn how the world around them works.

Talking about pedophobia means mentioning one of the most common psychological phobias today, contributing significantly to the decline in birth rates in developed countries. That irrational fear (like all phobias) of children is causing unfathomable damage to society, changing and affecting the regeneration of the social fabric.

The fact that you don’t like children will never justify treating them badly or discriminating against them as if they were undesirable monsters. Mistreating or discriminating against them because of their age will leave indelible marks on their subconscious, turning into a kind of trauma that will be a major obstacle to moving forward successfully in the future.

If you feel identified with everything you’ve read so far, stay with us because this post is for you. This article aims to educate and inform the public about pedophobia and how it can be given appropriate treatment, considering how great the existing lack of knowledge about pedophobia is.

Want to know more? Go ahead!

What is pedophobia?

 

It is defined as the irrational fear of being near children or babies, perceiving them as a threat to one’s integrity. Pedophobia involves everything from anxiety attacks that can become uncontrollable, affecting the daily life of those who suffer from this condition, to emotionally and physically affecting the person.

It is not only considered one of the rarest phobias in the world, but also quite complex to treat. When we walk down the street, go shopping or even have dinner at a restaurant, we come across lots of families with young children, which makes it impossible to avoid contact with them.

The term pedophobia derives from the words “Paido” and “Phobia”, which translate to “Child” and “Phobia” respectively.

What is the origin of that exaggerated fear of children?

 

Each case is a true universe to explore. There are those who suffer from pedophobia because of very harsh circumstances they experienced during their childhood, where they had to assume a position of premature maturity to cope with them and prevent the bad actions of third parties from affecting their existence.

This made them see children as something sublime, who “do not deserve to come into this world to suffer all the calamities that marked them when they were little”. That fear is also often rooted in unnatural and irresponsible parents, who were physically present but were not able to transmit that filial love to their children, making them feel like “unwanted burdens”.

Are we exaggerating? Not at all! Almost all pedophobia patients come from broken homes with extreme emotional deprivation, because one of the 2 parents was absent or because they received contemptuous treatment because of their condition as children.

 

Symptoms of pedophobia.

 

If, after seeing a child under 12 years old or being in direct contact with them, you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you see a doctor immediately.

Do not take any medication such as sedatives, as this can exacerbate your emotional state to the maximum.

• Excessive trembling.

 

• High blood pressure.

 

• Dizziness.

 

• Vomiting.

 

• Chest pain.

 

• Anxiety.

 

 

Does pedophobia have a cure?

 

Yes, of course. The catch is that an exhaustive prior analysis must be carried out in order to find out whether you really have pedophobia or simply don’t like children. To do this, you will undergo several psychological tests that will look into your family background and how parent-child relationships have developed. You will also have to answer various questions about your childhood, stating whether there was any special incident that could have left a considerable mark on you.

If the result is positive, you will undergo exposure therapy. What does this consist of? Simple! You will be in physical contact for 2-3 hours with those children who cause you so much panic. These cognitive-behavioural sessions will be gradual, increasing in hours until you manage to overcome that pedophobia that won’t let you live in peace.

Pedophobia can never be normalized by thinking that “it is not the right time to bring children into the world”. Every little one is a seed that is beginning to germinate, which deserves ideal care so that it can become a spectacular plant capable of contributing endless positive things within its environment.

If you are one of those who fear children to the point of verbally mistreating them and engaging in harmful actions towards them, let me tell you that you must seek professional help. Your bad childhood doesn’t have to drag a new generation down, causing them traumas that are difficult to overcome.

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