Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of a Fear of DemonsWhat Causes a Fear of Demons?Fear of Demons and Legend TrippingFear of Demons in ChildrenGetting Help for a Fear of DemonsCoping With a Fear of Demons

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of a Fear of Demons

What Causes a Fear of Demons?

Fear of Demons and Legend Tripping

Fear of Demons in Children

Getting Help for a Fear of Demons

Coping With a Fear of Demons

Daemonophobia, or the fear of demons, is a phobia oftenrooted in religious beliefs. Some religious denominations believe that demons are real, powerful entities that can possess humans, causing them to behave in unthinkable ways.

Other sects believe that possession is unlikely or even impossible but that demons are capable of wreaking havoc in other ways. Still, others believe that the spirits capable of possessing us are helpful and beneficent, and ritualized spirit possession is part of regular religious practice.

At a GlanceThe fear of demons is a type of specific phobia that can lead to intense anxiety in response to objects, situations, or thoughts about demons. It’s often, but not always, connected to religious beliefs. If you experience such fears, talk to your doctor or therapist about effective treatments that can help, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

At a Glance

The fear of demons is a type of specific phobia that can lead to intense anxiety in response to objects, situations, or thoughts about demons. It’s often, but not always, connected to religious beliefs. If you experience such fears, talk to your doctor or therapist about effective treatments that can help, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy.

The fear of demons is a type ofspecific phobia. Specific phobias are intense, irrational fears of a specific object or situation.

According to the"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM-5-TR), the symptoms of specific phobia include:

To be diagnosed as a specific phobia, these symptoms must lead to limitations in one or more areas of a person’s life. Symptoms must last six months or longer and must not be due to another mental health condition, such asobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)orpanic disorder.

The fear of demons often stems from religious beliefs. However, not all daemonophobia is rooted in religious issues.

Some research suggests that fears related to supernatural entities often co-occur with other types of phobias.

If you have this fear, it may be worthwhile to examine both your current belief system and the one with which you were raised. Some people develop a fear of demons while going through a crisis of faith or a major change in religious traditions.

Events that cause you to reexamine your childhood can also lead you to question changes you have made as an adult, including changes in religious beliefs.

The term daemonophobia is derived from the Greem words “daimon” meaning deity, evil spirit and “phobos” meaning fear.

Like ghosts, demons feature prominently in many blockbuster films and best-selling novels. Released in 1973,The Exorcistis perhaps the best-known film depiction of demonic possession, but demons remain a popular theme in today’s movies.

ParapsychologyAlthough the mainstream scientific community does not generally recognize parapsychology, experiments in parapsychology have produced results that cannot always be fully explained. Some people might develop a fear of demons after undergoing an unusual experience with an Ouija board, a séance, or a ghost hunt.

Parapsychology

Although the mainstream scientific community does not generally recognize parapsychology, experiments in parapsychology have produced results that cannot always be fully explained. Some people might develop a fear of demons after undergoing an unusual experience with an Ouija board, a séance, or a ghost hunt.

“Legend tripping” is a rite of passage for many teens and young adults. Urban legends about haunted locations are prevalent around the world, and many of the stories feature a demonic element.

In a legend trip, a group of friends heads out to face down the urban legend. The trips generally take place at night. In effect, the kids set themselves up for a scare.

Expectations can influence perceptions, and legend-tripping teens usually expect a frightening experience. Planning the trip, retelling the story over and over, and finally making their way to a deserted bridge or highway or cemetery in the middle of the night heighten the anticipation.

Under these conditions, it is very easy to convince themselves that strange noises or optical illusions are proof that the legend is true.

Fears are exceptionally common in young children, but most kids grow out of them. Like the bogeyman, demons may represent nothing more than a child’s attempt to make sense of the unpredictable world around them.

Nonetheless, some children do develop legitimate phobias. Check with your child’s doctor if the fear seems unusually severe, if they begin refusing to do things they previously enjoyed, or if the fear lasts more than a few months.

Treatment for the fear of demons may include psychotherapy and sometimes medications.

Before seeing a mental health professional for daemonophobia, it is helpful to organize your own thoughts and beliefs. Although the phobia may reflect a disorder, most mental health professionals recognize the importance of taking the client’s personal beliefs into account in treatment.

In addition, think through yourgoals of therapy. Do you want to stop believing in demons altogether? Do you simply want to be able to watch horror movies with your friends?

Knowing the answers to these questions ahead of time can help you and your therapist plan acourse of treatmentthat is appropriate to your needs.

Although it is always best to seek professional help for any phobia, many people can manage their symptoms on their own.

3 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.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.de Oliveira-Souza R.Phobia of the supernatural: A distinct but poorly recognized specific phobia with an adverse impact on daily living.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:590. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00590Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

3 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.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.de Oliveira-Souza R.Phobia of the supernatural: A distinct but poorly recognized specific phobia with an adverse impact on daily living.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:590. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00590Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

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.

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.de Oliveira-Souza R.Phobia of the supernatural: A distinct but poorly recognized specific phobia with an adverse impact on daily living.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:590. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00590Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

de Oliveira-Souza R.Phobia of the supernatural: A distinct but poorly recognized specific phobia with an adverse impact on daily living.Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:590. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00590

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

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