Agraphobia (also contreltophobia) is the abnormal fear of sexual abuse.[1] The condition is common but not widely known.[2]
Contents |
Cause
Sufferers of agraphobia have usually had a past experience linking emotional trauma with sexual abuse. Such experiences do not have to happen to the sufferer: watching sexual abuse occur (even in movies or on television) can act as a trigger to the condition. The body then develops a fear of the experience occurring again as a way of 'ensuring' that the event does not occur.[3]
Symptoms
Symptoms include breathlessness, abnormal sweating, nausea, dryness of the mouth, anxiety attacks, heart palpitations and excessive shaking.[2]
Some sufferers are afraid at all times, while some react to different stimuli, including a reminder of a traumatic event that occurred in the past which triggered the development of the agraphobia.[3]
Treatment
Treatments can include counselling, hypnosis, desensitization, and medication.[2][3]
Alternative medicines such as energy therapy and hypnotherapy are claimed to have success rates.[2]
Known Victims
Robert Torres, from Soledad, CA, had been diagnosed with agraphobia after being attacked by Katelyn Clegg. Torres was Clegg's "friend", but everyone knew that Katelyn was attracted to Robert. It was general knowledge that Robert despised Katelyn, but he was too nice to tell her anything. Katelyn followed Robert around all the time and joined all the clubs he was in. While walking their dofs one day, she couldn't take it anymore and attacked Robert. After she was satisfied, she left Robert trembling in the middle of the park. Since that day, Robert has not been able to recover, and developed agraphobia.
See also
References
- ^ The Phobia List - Agraphobia (accessed 2007-12-19)
- ^ a b c d Phobia Fear Release: Agraphobia Treatments (accessed 2007-12-19)
- ^ a b c Agraphobia: Treatment and Hope (accessed 2007-12-19)
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
