Megalophobia

Megalophobia may occur due to reactions to any type of stimuli or situations that may bring out fear or anxiety related to large buildings. An awareness of these trigger factors can assist people to look ahead and cope in a more relaxed manner.

Height and Size

Tall Buildings: High-rise buildings and skyscrapers that have imposing heights can trigger megalophobia, resulting in feelings of being a victim and insignificant to the people suffering from this phobia.

Large Structures: Huge constructions like bridges, towers, and dams may also be the reason for mankind’s fear because of their gigantic size and scale [3].

Open Spaces

Vast Landscapes: The big spaces, like vast fields, desert sand, and the ocean, can induce anxiety in individuals who are afraid of the big things. Spaciousness in these areas can cause vulnerability and overwhelming feelings.

Empty Rooms: An unoccupied room with a high ceiling and large dimensions can lead to megalophobia, which is the fear of large spaces, vacant rooms, or open spaces usually if they are unoccupied or there is nothing familiar or containment objects [3].

Crowded Spaces

Crowded Places: A mass crowd or a large building can be a trigger for someone with megalophobia. The claustrophobia may worsen, or the crowdedness can be overwhelming for the individual.

Congested Traffic: The situation of traffic jams or congested roads, especially when you are in urban areas, will cause someone with megalophobia to have strong anxiety because there is a sense of losing control and that one is trapped.

Enclosed Spaces

Elevators: Being locked up in elevators or lifts, particularly those in high buildings, is one of the most common specific triggers of megalophobia among people who are afraid of being trapped or confined.

Tunnels: The lack of exit routes and low visibility in underground tunnels or passages with long stretches or low light can be the cause of anxiety in people suffering from megalophobia.

Media and Imagery

Movies and Television: Scenes of gigantic objects or constructions in films, TV series, or documentaries can make me feel terrified especially when they are accompanied by exciting or threatening stories [3].

Photographs and Artwork: Individuals with megalophobia may experience feelings of anxiety or discomfort from depictions of large objects such as oversized sculptings or landscapes towering over them even when these images are viewed from a distance.

Megalophobia, just like any other specific phobia, can have a tremendous negative impact on someone’s life and well-being, thus it is very important to seek professional treatment that would enable a person to cope and overcome the persistent fear of the feared object.

The Importance Of Treating Megalophobia

Improved Quality of Life: Successful treatment of megalophobia can enhance the quality of life by diminishing the extent to which fear and anxiety affect daily activities, relationships, and general well-being.

Increased Functioning: Overcoming megalophobia is a key factor that allows people to function properly in all environments, including work, school, or making new friends, without the disturbance of irrational fear.

Prevention of Complications: If left untreated, megalophobia may result in social isolation, avoidance behaviors, and raised stress levels, which in turn may worsen existing mental health issues and/or lead to the formation of additional problems.

Treatment Options For Megalophobia

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Exposure Therapy: CBT usually includes therapy with exposure technique, whereby people are gradually exposed to very large buildings or objects in a safe and supportive environment. They will learn to deal with their fear over time through repeated exposure, and they will acquire coping skills.

Cognitive Restructuring: CBT further includes cognitive restructuring that enables people to replace their irrational thoughts and beliefs with more balanced and realistic ones by alleviating their fear of large animals [1].

Medication

Anti-Anxiety Medications: In some cases, doctors may give patients anti-anxiety medications which include benzodiazepines or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to eliminate the symptoms of anxiety that result from megalophobia. These medications are just for short-term relief, but mostly they are used together with therapy.

Beta-Blockers: Beta-blockers can be prescribed to help focus on the treatment of the physical manifestations of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and tremors, during exposure sessions and other anxiety-inducing situations [4].

Mindfulness-Based Interventions

Mindfulness Meditation: It is through mindfulness-based interventions, like mindfulness meditation, that people with megalophobia can learn to be in the present and observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help in reducing the intensity of their fear responses.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): MBSR programs integrate mindfulness practices within a structured program dedicated to lowering stress and improving overall health. Such programs might involve techniques such as meditation, yoga, and mindful movement.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)

VRET employs virtual reality technology to imitate real surroundings consisting of big things, which is the very reason why an individual can expose himself or herself to fear safely. This experiential approach can be a boon for therapy with exposure technique and megalophobia.