Definition
How about split this word in two parts?
Dendro = tree (Greek)
Phobia = Fear (Greek)
It's simply the fear of trees and also related to other types of phobia such as fear of forest, fear of wooden subjects, and fear of dark wooded areas or forests at night, known respectively as Hylophobia, Xylophobia and Nyctohylophobia.
Dendrophobia is a specific type of phobia. since there exist three types, either Social phobia (fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or other social situations), or Agoraphobia (fear of being outside), or specific phobias (fear of particular items or situations).
Causes?
In fact, there's no specific known reason for phobias, they are believed to be a combination of hereditary characteristics and traumatic events. For dendrophobia to be triggered there must be something that happened with the person in his early age (i.e watching a horror movie where someone is attacked in a forest, being attacked in a forest or under a huge tree, being badly wounded by a woody object..etc)
From a personal experience, I figured out recently that the reason was a "movie" that I watched when I was a child. The movie speaks about a brother and a sister who live with their grandma, (in that time, I had only one brother and I loved him a lot).
One day, while it was snowing outside, granny was swinging slowly on her chair and the two children sitting on the couch. the girl notices the face of the "Queen of snow" in the mirror and freaks out, but her brother tells her "there's nothing to fear, and there's no one here". she was afraid of the attack of that evil queen, and her brother was playing the hero-joker role and said "if she attacks our house, I'll simply put her on fire! and she'll melt!"
Meanwhile, the Queen was watching them and decides to send her snowy wind of Glassy-ice to attack the boy and make him an evil child. Since then, the boy becomes really mean to his sister and everyone. Until the day he flees and gets lost.
The girl and her grandma had to find him! where to go? During the time they're searching, the girl reaches a forest, in that Scene all kind of scary music, sad emotions, anxiety, concern, fear, and loneliness were exposed to my little eyes!
I had to feel her because I have one only brother like she does!
I remember the whole movie except for this part, I remember before and after it, but this part had to be saved in my subconscious mind.
And to be honest, I believe that this can't be the only reason, it's also genetic, because once my father mentioned that he fears huge trees (either he wanted me to feel that I am not the only one, or he really feared them when he was young and it decreased with time)
Symptoms?
Personal experience, when I was young I couldn't stand looking at a huge tree, I simply used to close my eyes because I was afraid (fast heartbeat, nausea, and slight dizziness) and I had the feeling that I want to avoid it.
Who said phobias can't be managed and cured?
Step 2: Watch a video with dogs in it.
Step 3: Look at a dog through a window.
Step 4: Stand across the street from a dog on a leash.
Step 5: Stand 10 feet away from a dog on a leash.
Step 6: Stand 5 feet away from a dog on a leash.
Step 7: Stand beside a dog on a leash.
Step 8: Pet a small dog that someone is holding.
Step 9: Pet a larger dog on a leash.
Step 10: Pet a larger dog off leash.
How about split this word in two parts?
Dendro = tree (Greek)
Phobia = Fear (Greek)
It's simply the fear of trees and also related to other types of phobia such as fear of forest, fear of wooden subjects, and fear of dark wooded areas or forests at night, known respectively as Hylophobia, Xylophobia and Nyctohylophobia.
Dendrophobia is a specific type of phobia. since there exist three types, either Social phobia (fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or other social situations), or Agoraphobia (fear of being outside), or specific phobias (fear of particular items or situations).
 |
| Nyctohylophobia, fear of forest at night |
 |
| Huge wooded tree |
Causes?
In fact, there's no specific known reason for phobias, they are believed to be a combination of hereditary characteristics and traumatic events. For dendrophobia to be triggered there must be something that happened with the person in his early age (i.e watching a horror movie where someone is attacked in a forest, being attacked in a forest or under a huge tree, being badly wounded by a woody object..etc)
From a personal experience, I figured out recently that the reason was a "movie" that I watched when I was a child. The movie speaks about a brother and a sister who live with their grandma, (in that time, I had only one brother and I loved him a lot).
One day, while it was snowing outside, granny was swinging slowly on her chair and the two children sitting on the couch. the girl notices the face of the "Queen of snow" in the mirror and freaks out, but her brother tells her "there's nothing to fear, and there's no one here". she was afraid of the attack of that evil queen, and her brother was playing the hero-joker role and said "if she attacks our house, I'll simply put her on fire! and she'll melt!"
Meanwhile, the Queen was watching them and decides to send her snowy wind of Glassy-ice to attack the boy and make him an evil child. Since then, the boy becomes really mean to his sister and everyone. Until the day he flees and gets lost.
The girl and her grandma had to find him! where to go? During the time they're searching, the girl reaches a forest, in that Scene all kind of scary music, sad emotions, anxiety, concern, fear, and loneliness were exposed to my little eyes!
I had to feel her because I have one only brother like she does!
I remember the whole movie except for this part, I remember before and after it, but this part had to be saved in my subconscious mind.
And to be honest, I believe that this can't be the only reason, it's also genetic, because once my father mentioned that he fears huge trees (either he wanted me to feel that I am not the only one, or he really feared them when he was young and it decreased with time)
 |
| A tree captured by me (facing fear) |
- Anxiety
- Dread mouth
- Rapid breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Shaking
- The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid what you fear
- The inability to function normally because of your anxiety
- Powerless to control the fear
- In children, possibly tantrums, clinging or crying
Personal experience, when I was young I couldn't stand looking at a huge tree, I simply used to close my eyes because I was afraid (fast heartbeat, nausea, and slight dizziness) and I had the feeling that I want to avoid it.
Now, it's different. I also have an irregular heartbeat, a slight dizziness, and nausea but it's less than before, and I have a feeling that I should come closer and face it. Except when it was terribly scary.
Till now, I didn't have the chance to face those very huge trees, or highly wooded trees, or a dark forest.
Treatment?!
Who said phobias can't be managed and cured?
Self-help is a strategy that helps you overcome you phobia!
It's really important to give it a try and help yourself out, face your fears as a start. Don't make it a very terrifying for the first time, but climb a "fear ladder". commence with the minimum scary situation and gradually to the maximum.
here's a fear ladder sample (by helpguide.org)
Facing a fear of dogs: A sample fear ladder
Step 1: Look at pictures of dogs.It's really important to give it a try and help yourself out, face your fears as a start. Don't make it a very terrifying for the first time, but climb a "fear ladder". commence with the minimum scary situation and gradually to the maximum.
- First, you have to make a list, write in it the scary situations that you're phobic about.
- second, face them one by one starting from the less frightening
- third, practice! It's very important to practice, the more you face it, the more you'll get used to it and it'll vanish faster.
here's a fear ladder sample (by helpguide.org)
Facing a fear of dogs: A sample fear ladder
Step 2: Watch a video with dogs in it.
Step 3: Look at a dog through a window.
Step 4: Stand across the street from a dog on a leash.
Step 5: Stand 10 feet away from a dog on a leash.
Step 6: Stand 5 feet away from a dog on a leash.
Step 7: Stand beside a dog on a leash.
Step 8: Pet a small dog that someone is holding.
Step 9: Pet a larger dog on a leash.
Step 10: Pet a larger dog off leash.
Learn relaxation techniques
- Sit or stand comfortably with your back straight. Put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach.
- Take a slow breath in through your nose, counting to four. The hand on your stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little.
- Hold your breath for a count of seven.
- Exhale through your mouth to a count of eight, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little.
- Inhale again, repeating the cycle until you feel relaxed and centered. (by helpguide.org)
We all tend to be relaxed all the time, not only when we're phobic. Deep breath exercise and stress toys, for example, are very useful. Try applying them when you're angry, anxious, or even afraid!
Always Remember to keep the positive mood and challenge your negative thoughts. Be optimistic and believe that anything happens to you is for your own good. The more you worry, the more you'll face problems, but when you are optimistic it's easier to face problems and you'll deal with them as tasks to solve!
Why not share your personal experience?
If you are Dendrophobe or have any other type of phobia, share it below in a comment!
You have the option to post anonymously for privacy issues!
Read more about Phobias
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