Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Causes People to Fear Colors?Signs of XanthophobiaDoes Someone With Xanthophobia Fear the Sun?How to Treat Xanthophobia
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Causes People to Fear Colors?
Signs of Xanthophobia
Does Someone With Xanthophobia Fear the Sun?
How to Treat Xanthophobia
Xanthophobiais the fear of the color yellow. “Xanth” is a prefix derived from the Greek word for yellow, and phobias are persistent, extreme fears.Xanthophobia is a kind of chromophobia, or color phobia.
It’s not clear how common color phobias like xanthophobia are, but are generally considered rare. Color phobias are a kind ofspecific phobia. Specific phobias are when you have ongoing, intense fears about particular objects, concepts, activities, situations, or people.
Some of the most common phobias include fear of dogs, darkness, water, flying, tunnels, blood, and heights.Researchers estimate that about 5%-10% of the U.S. population lives with a specific phobia.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at xanthophobia, including causes and symptoms, along with expert advice on how to treat this condition.
Phobia Symptoms, Types, and Treatment
Experts aren’t completely sure what causes a person to develop a specific phobia like xanthophobia. But it’s likely that a combination of genetics, family experiences, developmental factors, and environmental factors causes a person to develop a phobia.
Trauma Involving a Specific Color
Stefania Dannacher, PsyD, a clinical psychologist atFree from OCD LLC, says that people who experience obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or other anxiety disorders have an increased propensity to develop xanthophobia.
“If an individual has a slight aversion to a certain color and subsequently avoids that color, the fear will grow,” she describes. “This leads to more avoidance which leads to more fear.” Avoidance is more comfortable for people, but it maintains and fuels anxiety, Dr. Dannacher says, perpetuating a vicious cycle of avoidance and fear.
The Differences Between Panic Disorder and PTSD
Although research has found that it’s common for humans to have strong emotional reactions to colors, when you avoid a specific color at all costs, and experience intense fear when thinking about that color, you likely have developed a color phobia.
Phobias like xanthophobia are usually diagnosed when you’ve experienced a persistent, specific fear for six months or more and the fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes significant distress or impairment in your life.
Signs and Symptoms of Xanthophobia
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of xanthophobia:
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Many of us associate the color yellow with the sun andsunshinein general, and you may be wondering if people with xanthophobia tend to have a fear of the sun.
The Sun May Relate to Past TraumaAccording to Dr. Joseph, this is certainly a possibility, especially if you have a history of trauma that involves the sun.If a person had trauma that was complex or severe that happened during a time of sun exposure, they might develop xanthophobia, she says. “For example, a near drowning on a beach where CPR was performed and your face was looking at the sun—that memory may triggerPTSD responses.”
The Sun May Relate to Past Trauma
According to Dr. Joseph, this is certainly a possibility, especially if you have a history of trauma that involves the sun.If a person had trauma that was complex or severe that happened during a time of sun exposure, they might develop xanthophobia, she says. “For example, a near drowning on a beach where CPR was performed and your face was looking at the sun—that memory may triggerPTSD responses.”
According to Dr. Joseph, this is certainly a possibility, especially if you have a history of trauma that involves the sun.
If a person had trauma that was complex or severe that happened during a time of sun exposure, they might develop xanthophobia, she says. “For example, a near drowning on a beach where CPR was performed and your face was looking at the sun—that memory may triggerPTSD responses.”
How to Identify and Cope With Your PTSD Triggers
Living with a phobia like xanthophobia can be challenging and distressing. You might be ashamed of how you feel and may not want to share your extreme fears with others. You might be unhappy with how the phobia is restricting your life. And you may not know how to move past the phobia.
First, you should remember that you aren’t alone, and there is nothing you did wrong to feel this way. Phobias are relatively common. Importantly, there are effective treatments out there for managing them. These may include therapy, lifestyle changes, and medication.
In some cases, “these treatments are aimed atgroundingthe person so that they do not have a severe trauma response,” Dr. Joseph explains.
Let’s take a look at some treatment options for xanthophobia.
Lifestyle Tips
Managing to cope with your stress and learning coping techniques is important for people who live with anxiety.
“Relaxation techniques such asdeep breathingandmindfulnessmay be utilized to help cope with anxiety symptoms,” says Dr. Dannacher.
The American Psychological Association (APA) recommends that people with anxiety avoid or reducecaffeine, as it can make anxiety symptoms worse. The APA also recommends speaking to your physician about any medications you’re taking and whether they may be worsening your anxiety.
Therapy
Therapy is the most widely recommended method for managing phobias. Specifically,exposure therapyand cognitive-behavioral therapy are often used to treat phobias.
Inexposure therapy, you are gradually exposed to the thing you fear, in a controlled, therapeutic environment. “Avoidance is what maintains and fuels anxiety and it is important to stop this cycle as early as possible,” Dr. Dannacher says.
Through exposure, two main things happen, she says. First, you’ll learn that the color you fear is safe. Secondly, you will habituate the anxiety so that the anxiety will decrease over time, and with repeated prolonged exposure, Dr. Dannacher explains.
Stefania Dannacher, PsyDAvoidance is what maintains and fuels anxiety and it is important to stop this cycle as early as possible.
Stefania Dannacher, PsyD
Avoidance is what maintains and fuels anxiety and it is important to stop this cycle as early as possible.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for specific phobias involves becoming more aware of certain automatic distorted thoughts, feelings and behaviors you have surrounding your phobia.
Then, you work with your therapist on techniques for what to do when you notice those thoughts and feelings arise. Eventually, you will begin to become desensitized to the thing you fear and begin to feel that it’s safe.
Medication
Sometimes medication, along with therapy, can be helpful in treating phobias. Here’s what to know, according to Dr. Joseph:
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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.
Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias. Learn and Memory. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116
Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific Phobia. StatPearls Publishing.
Eaton 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.What are Anxiety Disorders?
Szeleszczuk Ł, Frączkowski D.Propranolol versus Other Selected Drugs in the Treatment of Various Types of Anxiety or Stress, with Particular Reference to Stage Fright and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. International. Journal of. Molecular. Sciences. 2022;23(17):10099. doi:10.3390/ijms231710099
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