What is Ornithophobia: Phobia of Birds - Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

In simple words, ornithophobia is referred to as a fear of birds. When one experiences a feeling of anxiety or stress while coming in contact with birds, they are treated for ornithophobia. 

With the advancement of medical sciences and the practice of different therapies, ornithophobia can be controlled over time. This article highlights symptoms, causes and relevant treatments of ornithophobia with the idea of creating awareness. 

There is a plethora of factors that people with ornithophobia are afraid of, that includes:

• Specific species of birds like hawks or eagles or all types of birds.
• Any bird sculptures or models kept in museums or historical places.
• Videos or images of birds are shown in the movie or animated series.
• Any sound of birds or the flattering sound of winds
• Bird feathers

Generally, the signs and symptoms of ornithophobia depend on the severity of the phobia. As individuals may fear large birds or only giant specimens that are kept in a historical museum, different symptoms can be noticed. 

However, for easy identification of the problem, the early symptoms of ornithophobia can be classified into two groups which are: psychological and physical.

Some of the psychological symptoms of ornithophobia are: 

• Uncontrollable anxiety or fear which is heightened in adverse scenarios
• Continuous feelings of escapism or running away
• Premonition stating of losing control
• An overwhelming state of chronic terror

Apart from the symptoms as mentioned above, there are some acute physical signs that individuals with ornithophobia face: 

• Increase in heart rate or palpitation
• Light-headedness or feeling of dizziness
• Feeling of tightness or pain in your chest 
• Dry mouth or throat
• Feeling short of breath
• Nausea or vomiting
• Trembling or shaking 

People who have ornithophobia mostly face tremendous fear of birds like crows, hawks or vultures. In addition to this, there are instances where animated features shown in the movies or series frighten individuals to a great extent. In addition to this, fluttering sound of the wings, feathers, or squealing noise creates a massive sense of terror among individuals.

In general, phobias can occur at any age and a, the main causes of ornithophobia are still unknown. However, some of the most common causes of ornithophobia are: 

• Genetics

In a lot of cases, genetics affect people, and it manipulates how that individual will feel and experience terror and anxiety. Some individuals facing this type of phobia are born with a tendency to anxiousness and terror. 

• Personal experiences

When we encounter issues that are instigating any negative impact on our brain, that affects us greatly. Similarly, any encounter involving birds might develop a great fear or anxiety. 

• Influenced by Observations

Sometimes, ornithophobia influences people as someone close or in the family suffering from such phobias can trigger the fear of birds. 

• Informational Learning

Sometimes people start to fear birds by just reading or hearing negative situations that involve encounters with birds. 

There can be countless other reasons that cause ornithophobia; however, it becomes extremely quintessential to consult with a therapist and seek treatment.

Though anyone can develop ornithophobia due to external as well as internal factors, however, certain risk factors may instigate the chances of ornithophobia: 

• Someone having a past traumatic and damaging experience with birds
• Individuals with a traumatic encounter with flying animals
• Someone with a similar kind of phobia, like pteronophobia or aerozoophobia
• Individuals in their childhood or adolescence are exposed to fear of birds
• Have a family member or sibling with the same type of phobia
• Anyone with a history of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, or other mental health disorders. 
• Someone who is naturally nervous or anxious.
• Anyone who has a history of substance misuse disorder

As it is nearly impossible to avoid birds, people suffering from ornithophobia tend to stay indoors. Unfortunately, due to this different type of phobias can arise in the long run, which is known as agoraphobia. In addition to this, if there is no treatment for such phobias, they may instigate chronic depression, panic disorder and acute panic attacks and even substance use disorder. 

However, d the cascading effect of ornithophobia can be reduced with proper treatment. For this reason, anyone suffering from anxiety or trauma must consult healthcare professionals to get fast relief. Moreover, incorporating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help monitor symptoms of ornithophobia to a great extent.

It is impossible to avoid birds while outdoors, which becomes detrimental for someone with ornithophobia to carry out daily work. Sometimes individuals may decide to stay at home and adapt to a different type of phobia called agoraphobia. In addition, other complications are associated with ornithophobia: 

• Panic disorder and anxiety attacks
• Substance use disorder
• Depression 
• Social isolation and instigating self-harming thoughts.

The diagnosis for ornithophobia is articulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM – 5. This guideline includes a plethora of criteria which include the following: 

• Understanding the effect and severity of the phobia based on the symptoms triggered
• If any individual is going through the terror of birds for more than six months
• If the fear of birds is causing significant disruption in performing daily activities. 

When a healthcare professional observes the factors as mentioned above and other symptoms of ornithophobia, he/she processes the treatment for the fastest relief.

Psychologists or counselors always suggest satisfactory remedies to treat phobias like ornithophobia. Here are the different treatments of ornithophobia that doctors suggest for positive results: 

• Exposure Therapy: This kind of therapy is also known as desensitization. An individual suffering from these phobias slowly get familiar with the image of birds by implementing relaxation techniques. In this phase, therapists offer complete support while the individual is slowly coming in contact with the pictures of birds. This therapy aims to elevate the individual's confidence and reduce the state of terror in the presence of birds. 
• Hypnotherapy: Sometimes the cause of this phobia emerges due to the past or childhood traumas. Hypnotherapy helps the patient to overcome the traumatic memories by placing the patient in a hypnotic state. 
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): In this therapy session, the therapist conducts talk sessions where both parties get to explore the causes of ornithophobia. The practices of these talk sessions offer relaxation techniques to manage terror. 
• Medications: To offer individuals the utmost ease from the issues of anxiety, the therapists prescribe the following types of medicines:
  
  • Sedatives: Doctors recommend sedatives to offer relaxation from the anxiousness due to any trauma or phobia. Another name for these sedatives are benzodiazepines, and some prominent examples are Valium and Xanax. 
  • Antidepressants: Antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are what therapists practise worldwide advice to the patient with such phobias. The most common medicines advised are Prozac and Paxil. 
  • Beta-blockers: This form of medication treats cardiovascular conditions like pain or tightness in the chest. 

Though beta-blockers and benzodiazepines have side effects if consumed for a longer period; hence it becomes crucial to consult with a registered therapist before taking such medicines.

Generally, adult phobias start at around 20 years of age and continue to stay for a longer period of time. Moreover, 75-80% of phobias need to be treated for recovery. However, childhood phobias do not stay more than ages 5 to 9 and tend to fade as the child ages.

It is important to reach a registered healthcare professional or therapist if an individual is suffering from consecutive panic attacks after an encounter with birds. Moreover, if there is any trace of anxiety affecting sleep and showing signs of depression, medical guidance must be availed in no time.

Many people are experiencing the effect of ornithophobia in the world. Moreover, with proper medical intervention and therapy, the person suffering from the same can obtain maximum relief. Since it is nearly impossible to avoid birds, taking medical assistance to accept the exposure to birds slowly will be beneficial.