The dog has historically been known as man's best friend. The most common and loyal companion animal is, however, the source of an irrational fear that affects a considerable number of people around the world who suffer from cynophobia. The presence of a real or imaginary dog is a stimulus that generates extreme anxiety and even panic attacks in people with cynophobia, which leads them to anticipate and avoid certain places for fear of encountering these animals. Being afraid of dogs is something that can greatly affect the daily lives of these people, given the high presence of these pets in today's society.
Cynophobia usually has its origins in traumatic childhood experiences related to dogs, either directly or as a third-person witness to an unpleasant situation. Another factor that intervenes in the development of this phobia is vicarious learning, that is, a child of someone whose parents are afraid of dogs is more likely to fear them as well. This is a specific phobia with different degrees of severity depending on the individual's willingness to address it - there are those who flee from contact with dogs and those who endure it with discomfort - and different stimuli that can cause it, whether dogs in general or those of a larger size. a specific breed.
The common response to the presence of a dog among those who suffer from cynophobia is immediate and is given by physiological activation. The symptomatological picture usually consists of excessive sweating and accelerated heart rate, tremors and chills or dry mouth, among others. This, together with distorted thoughts regarding the stimulus, characterizes the anxiety and panic attacks that can occur.
When it comes to intervening in a case of cynophobia, therapists have several alternatives, according to professional experts in an article for Psychology and Mind, which we detail below.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective options for treating cynophobia. It consists of the introduction of exposure and relaxation techniques that confront the patient with the stimuli that cause fear or anxiety so that they learn to control their responses. The goal is to identify and neutralize ingrained thought patterns that influence her behavior.
This is a key technique to overcome cynophobia. It consists of gradually exposing the patient to the phobic stimulus, in a controlled and safe situation supervised by a therapist. They can be one or several sessions in which the presence of a dog is maintained and, little by little, it gains freedom of movement until the patient can control and reduce his anxiety.
Education about dog behavior and psychology can improve the perspective that people with cynophobia have about dogs. For example, attending a dog training center will help the patient learn more about the behavior of these animals, observe positive interactions with humans, and become familiar with their presence in a safe environment. The objective is to provide the patient with information to dismantle and correct false beliefs about dogs.
Psychotropic drugs should only be used in severe cases to complement these treatments and always under the guidance of a psychiatrist.
