Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of SpectrophobiaHow Is Spectrophobia Diagnosed?Causes of SpectrophobiaTypes of SpectrophobiaHow Is Spectrophobia Treated?Coping With Spectrophobia

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Spectrophobia

How Is Spectrophobia Diagnosed?

Causes of Spectrophobia

Types of Spectrophobia

How Is Spectrophobia Treated?

Coping With Spectrophobia

Spectrophobia, a type of anxiety disorder classified as aspecific phobia, is the fear of mirrors and/or the fear of what may be reflected in them. It may also be referred to as eisoptrophobia or catoptrophobia. Individuals with spectrophobia may be extremely fearful of their own reflection, of the mirror itself, or of ghosts appearing in mirrors.

This condition is very rare, but it can also be quite serious.Like other phobias, spectrophobia can disrupt all aspects of an individual’s life and lead to avoidance behaviors. Experiencing symptoms of spectrophobia can be incredibly debilitating and can impact one’s overall quality of life.

Symptoms of spectrophobia will vary depending on the individual, but may include the following:

It is important to note that individuals who experience spectrophobia may also have a comorbid diagnosis, which may include panic disorder. Bothspecific phobias and panic disorderare classified as anxiety disorders, and despite some overlapping symptoms, they are distinctly different diagnoses.

When to Seek HelpExperiencing spectrophobia can be incredibly scary. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or you are having difficulty with acts of daily living, reach out for help immediately. Call 911 if you are in a life-threatening situation, and consider contacting a mental health professional orSAMHSAfor ongoing treatment and support.

When to Seek Help

Experiencing spectrophobia can be incredibly scary. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, or you are having difficulty with acts of daily living, reach out for help immediately. Call 911 if you are in a life-threatening situation, and consider contacting a mental health professional orSAMHSAfor ongoing treatment and support.

During thediagnostic process, your treating clinician will rule out other conditions and may diagnose you with a co-occurring condition. By taking the time to fully understand the scope of your symptoms, your clinician can offer you the best treatment and/or referrals possible. Your treating clinician may rule out:

Comorbidities with SpectrophobiaResearch indicates that having a specificphobiastrongly correlates with an individual experiencing a later onset of another mental health disorder, with the most common beingmood disorders, anxiety disorders, andsubstance use disorders.

Comorbidities with Spectrophobia

Research indicates that having a specificphobiastrongly correlates with an individual experiencing a later onset of another mental health disorder, with the most common beingmood disorders, anxiety disorders, andsubstance use disorders.

Trauma-Induced Spectrophobia

Spectrophobia may be used to describe several different types of mirror-related phobias. Keep in mind that these subtypes are not official diagnoses.

Fear of Mirrors and Body Image

If you experiencebody image-related issues, the thought of mirrors or reflections may trigger a phobic response. You may also concurrently experience symptoms of spectrophobia, along with afeeding and eating disorder, and/orbody dysmorphic disorder.

Fear of Reflections

A fear of mirrors may be related to a more generalized fear of reflections. In addition to mirrors, you may be afraid of any reflective material such as a highly polished car or some types of sunglasses. Reflections inherently distort the reflected items, causing them to appear slightly unreal, which some may find disturbing.

Spiritual Fears

Mirrors have long been linked toreligious rituals, customs, and superstitions. Some believe that a mirror reflects a person’s soul. In some cultures, individuals cover the mirrors in a newly deceased person’s home, whether to prevent dead spirits from appearing or to keep surviving loved ones from being marked for death.The link between a mirror and the soul has led to a wide range of urban legends that may contribute to an individual’s fear ofdeathand/or ghosts.

Treatment for spectrophobiawill depend on your unique needs, although it typically involves some sort of psychotherapy. While seeking treatment for spectrophobia may feel overwhelming or scary, it’s important to prioritize your well-being. Know that you do not have to experience this alone and that there are resources andskilled cliniciansavailable to help you learn to overcome your fears.

Exposure therapy is the most commonly used method for treating specific phobias.

Medication

Treatment of spectrophobia typically doesn’t require medication, but psychoactive drugs are necessary on occasion, particularly if an individual has a co-occurring mental health disorder. Research has found that medication works best for treating specific phobias when used in conjunction with psychotherapy.Medication options may include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is often an effective treatment option for people who experience symptoms of spectrophobia. Psychotherapy may be used in conjunction with medication or on its own. Therapeutic techniques will vary depending on your unique needs as well as your therapist’s treatment style. Some common techniques used to treat specific phobias include:

The Best Online Therapy ProgramsWe’ve tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain.

Experiencing spectrophobia can feel incredibly overwhelming and may significantly decrease your quality of life. Whether you are currently seeking treatment for spectrophobia or not, finding healthy ways to cope may decrease some of your symptoms.

If you are supporting a loved one with spectrophobia, be sure to take care of yourself as well. Watching a loved one experience something life-altering can feel heartbreaking, so make it a priority to check in with yourself and seek therapeutic support if needed.

Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast

A Word From Verywell

Regardless of the underlying cause of your spectrophobia, know that there are many effective treatment options available. If you are experiencing a decrease in your overall quality of life because of spectrophobia or are having difficulty with acts of daily living, it’s important to reach out to a mental health professional as soon as possible.

10 of the Most Common Phobias

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pitchot W.Effective treatment of eisoptrophobia with duloxetine: a case report.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(5):10.4088. doi:10.4088/PCC.14l01636American Psychological Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychological Association; 2013.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Rochat P, Zahavi D.The uncanny mirror: A re-framing of mirror self-experience.Conscious Cogn. 2011;20(2):204-213. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.06.007Thng C, Lim-Ashworth N, Poh B, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Pitchot W.Effective treatment of eisoptrophobia with duloxetine: a case report.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(5):10.4088. doi:10.4088/PCC.14l01636American Psychological Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychological Association; 2013.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Rochat P, Zahavi D.The uncanny mirror: A re-framing of mirror self-experience.Conscious Cogn. 2011;20(2):204-213. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.06.007Thng C, Lim-Ashworth N, Poh B, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Pitchot W.Effective treatment of eisoptrophobia with duloxetine: a case report.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(5):10.4088. doi:10.4088/PCC.14l01636American Psychological Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychological Association; 2013.Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Rochat P, Zahavi D.The uncanny mirror: A re-framing of mirror self-experience.Conscious Cogn. 2011;20(2):204-213. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.06.007Thng C, Lim-Ashworth N, Poh B, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

Pitchot W.Effective treatment of eisoptrophobia with duloxetine: a case report.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(5):10.4088. doi:10.4088/PCC.14l01636

American Psychological Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychological Association; 2013.

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116

Rochat P, Zahavi D.The uncanny mirror: A re-framing of mirror self-experience.Conscious Cogn. 2011;20(2):204-213. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2010.06.007

Thng C, Lim-Ashworth N, Poh B, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1

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