Monday, July 4, 2011

YES, IRENE, THERE IS A SANTA CLAUS PHOBIA

 

Irene, a follower of this blog, commented on an earlier blog on Phobias and asked if there was a phobia of Santa Claus!

child_crying_on_santas_knee

Hagiophobia seems to be the closest named phobia. It is the fear of saints or holy things ... but Irene there is more!.

Santaphobia is an abnormal, persistent fear of Father Christmas

A good way of avoiding the tears that so often ruin photos of kids with Santa is to back the child onto Father Christmas's knee. Small children often react more to Santa's size than out of a phobic fear and height differences are less apparent when seated.

Symptoms of Santa Phobia

Many people who live with a phobia use avoidance as a coping mechanism. The truth is avoidance only holds the fear back as long as the condition of “out of sight, out of mind” is in place. A person living with Santa phobia will not have or display Santa ornaments, they may refuse to shop at Christmastime. Their wrapping paper will not include Santa and they will not watch movies that include Santa.

Other symptoms may also include…

· Panic attacks

· Loss of control

· Trembling

· Air hunger

· Nausea

· Fainting

· Elevated heart rate

· Sweating

· An urge to flee

· Crying

· Weeping

This should be treated with empathy and understanding, but it should also be treated as a phobia and help should be sought.

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