Entomophobia: Fear of Insects

Entomophobia, the intense fear of insects, can provoke overpowering anxiety that often disrupts everyday life. A range of therapeutic approaches can help reduce these symptoms.

Entomophobia is an extreme, persistent dread of insects. It’s categorized as a specific phobia, meaning the fear is focused on a particular object or situation. Fear of insects is among the more frequently encountered specific phobias.

A phobia produces severe anxiety and is more than merely disliking bugs or feeling uneasy when one darts past. For some people, the anxiety is debilitating and interferes with routine tasks and activities.

What are the symptoms of entomophobia?

Unlike a simple aversion to insects, entomophobia involves an irrational, excessive fear of them.

Adults with specific phobias often recognize that their fear is disproportionate, yet even thinking about an insect can trigger intense mental and bodily reactions, including:

• instant waves of extreme fear or anxiety when seeing or imagining an insect
• escalating anxiety as an insect draws nearer
• inability to control the fear despite knowing it’s unreasonable
• difficulties functioning because of the fear
• extreme avoidance behaviors, such as steering clear of parks, basements, or events where insects might appear

Entomophobia can also manifest in physical signs, such as:

• panic attacks
• rapid heartbeat
• tightness in the chest
• excessive sweating
• rapid breathing or hyperventilation
• dry mouth
• trembling or shaking
• crying spells, especially among children

How is entomophobia treated?

Treatment aims to prevent the phobia from diminishing your quality of life by teaching strategies to manage your reactions to insects.

Entomophobia and other specific phobias are addressed with psychotherapy. Your clinician may suggest more than one therapeutic method. Medications might also be considered.

Approaches used to treat entomophobia can include:

Online therapy options

See our evaluation of top online therapy services to determine which might suit you best.

Exposure therapy

This method involves progressively exposing you to the feared object and repeating that exposure to alter your response to insects. It’s also called systematic desensitization.

Exposure therapy typically starts with discussions about your insect fear. You may view photos or videos of insects, and eventually be exposed to live insects in a safe, controlled setting.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the thoughts and beliefs that drive your fear and how they affect your reactions.

CBT is often combined with exposure and other behavioral techniques to reshape how you perceive triggers and respond to them.

The objective is to gain control over your thoughts and emotions so they no longer overpower you.

Medication

Psychotherapy remains the most effective way to overcome insect phobia. Depending on your symptoms, a clinician might suggest medication to ease anxiety and related symptoms of entomophobia.

Anxiolytic medications — such as benzodiazepines, which are sedatives — are sometimes prescribed to reduce acute anxiety. Because sedatives can be habit-forming, they’re usually recommended for short-term use.

Beta-blockers may be used to blunt adrenaline effects like rapid heartbeat, elevated blood pressure, palpitations, and trembling.

Antidepressants  can also help lower anxiety and fear.

Note that anxiety medications, beta-blockers, and antidepressants are not FDA-approved specifically for phobia treatment.

At-home treatment

Certain lifestyle adjustments and home practices can ease the anxiety associated with your insect fear.

Consider: relaxation practices like yoga, meditation, and diaphragmatic breathing; mindfulness exercises; regular physical activity; cutting back on caffeine and stimulants; and joining a support group.

How is entomophobia diagnosed?

To diagnose entomophobia, a clinician will perform a detailed clinical interview and review your symptoms along with your medical and psychiatric history.

Diagnosis is based on the interview and on diagnostic criteria found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) from the American Psychiatric Association.

If you think you may have entomophobia, you can complete a specific phobia screening online and print it to bring to your appointment.

Only a qualified healthcare professional can officially diagnose a phobia.

What causes entomophobia?

Experts don’t fully understand what causes specific phobias. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood, including age—many phobias begin in childhood, although they can develop during adulthood.

The Mayo Clinic  notes that temperament traits, like being more negative or sensitive, can raise the risk of developing a phobia.

Potential contributors to entomophobia may include:

• A negative incident. A traumatic or upsetting event can spark a specific phobia. For example, being stung by a wasp as a child or being startled awake by an insect crawling on you might trigger lasting fear.
• Family influence. Children can adopt a phobia from a parent or other family member—for instance, learning to fear insects from a mother who screams at the sight of a spider in the home.
• Genetics.Research  indicates that genetic factors may contribute to phobias and anxiety disorders.
• Traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries like concussions have been associated  with the emergence of anxiety disorders. Such injuries may heighten fear conditioning and make the brain more susceptible to fear learning after stressful experiences.

What’s the outlook for people with entomophobia?

As with many phobias, entomophobia can be effectively treated.

If your insect fear is significantly affecting your life and causing distress, contact a healthcare professional or locate a therapist experienced in treating phobias.