This guide exists to help you understand the fear of demons – and how to overcome it.
In my role as a life coach, I am often helping clients take steps to move past specific phobias and fears.
Often, the required steps are similar, regardless of the type of phobia being experienced.
That’s why I’m confident this guide can help you to overcome demonophobia.
It’s not always easy to eradicate phobias like this, but plenty of people have done so by following the steps mentioned in this guide.
So, let’s dive in.
1. What Does Demonophobia Mean?
Demonophobia surrounds the fear of evil supernatural beings. Sufferers tend to hold a belief that there are such beings in this world and are afraid of the harm they cause.
However, the belief that such beings exist isn’t a prerequisite of this phobia. It is common that sufferers realize that worrying about an evil spirit is irrational, yet continue to experience this fear anyway.
2. What Are The Symptoms Of Demonophobia?
The symptoms of demonophobia are no different to any other phobia.
A person who suffers from it might experience:
- panic attacks or anxiety attacks;
- nightmares;
- problems focusing;
- sleep problems due to anxiety;
- chronic stress;
- a short temper;
- breathlessness;
- heart palpitations;
- excessive sweating;
- dizziness;
- fatigue;
- aches and pains.
The difference between individual phobias is what triggers these symptoms. In this case, it’s thoughts of evil supernatural beings causing harm to them and others.
3. When Do These Symptoms Occur?
Demonophobia symptoms tend to be automatic and uncontrollable.
They can occur even if the sufferer accepts that demons logically can’t be real. The symptoms still occur because they’re emotionally charged. As such, logically discussing demons and whether they exist will rarely prove helpful.
The behavior that triggers these symptoms of this irrational fear can wildly differ. Still, the sensations felt as a result of this fear can have a hugely detrimental impact on a person’s life.
4. How Does A Person Develop A Fear Of Demons?
Phobias will often develop following a traumatic event or events.
This leaves an impact in the subconscious mind of the sufferer, causing reactions based on fear and self-protection in the future. In extreme cases, they may also be unduly anxious throughout their everyday lives.
The fears, symptoms and scenarios that trigger them aren’t always completely aligned with the traumatic incident. Plus, because the trauma is often stored deep inside the subconscious mind, it can be difficult for sufferers to explain or understand what’s going on.
That’s why it’s often recommended for them to seek treatment from a therapist or other psychological expert to get to the bottom of their feelings.
5. Accepting Your Fear Is The First Step To Eliminating It
The first step to eradicating your fear of demons is to accept it. It’s not helpful to deny your fear or that anything is wrong. What you resist, persists. What you embrace, dissolves.
Please realize that there are plenty of people suffering with this or other specific phobias that are just as irrational. There’s no shame or harm in seeking treatment.
6. Make A Conscious Decision To Tackle Your Phobia
Whether you’re dealing with demonophobia or another specific phobia, you need to make a conscious decision to take action to eliminate this persistent fear.
Rather than accepting that this fear is part of your existence and normalising your behavior, take your first steps to eliminate it today. You deserve to live without having to experience panic attacks or be unduly anxious for no reason.
7. What Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – And How Can It Help Cure A Fear Of Demons?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a talk therapy treatment, which is specifically designed to help a person understand, challenge and change their negative thought patterns.
This treatment is one of the most common ways to discover and help people deal with phobias.
Therapists and other mental health professionals are able to help you explore your subconscious to find the source of your fear using CBT. They will also guide you through the process of overcoming it.
It’s not the only way to treat your phobia. However, a great advantage of this treatment is that it can be practiced alone, as well as with the assistance of a mental health professional.
In most cases, it’s recommended you get professional help, at least to learn the CBT-based coping skills to help you recover from a phobia.
CBT treatment can also be used to treat anxiety disorders, depression and PTSD among other mental health problems.
For more guidance, see this guide on: What Kind Of Therapy Do I Need – Types Easy Explained
8. How Breath And Mindfulness Exercises Can Help You Cope With Fear Of Demons
In some cases, it may be possible to overcome a fear of demons in one therapy session. Sometimes though, it’s more of a gradual process. In the latter case, breath and mindfulness exercises are among the coping measures which can help you regain a strong sense of composure when your symptoms strike.
It can be as simple as taking deep breaths, placing focus on your chest and abdomen and getting into a meditative state.
By getting out your mind and into your body, it becomes so much easier for you to regain control of your emotions.
There are many different forms of mindfulness meditation. You can learn more about meditation and other forms of mindfulness-based stress reduction in this guide on 19 Ways To Practice The Pause.
9. Fear Of Demons: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about the fear of demons and other similar mental disorders.
What Do You Call A Group Of Demons?
A legion is the most commonly-used collective pronoun for demons.
However, it’s worth noting that demonophobia sufferers aren’t necessarily scared of or haunted by multiple demons.
What Does Phasmophobia Mean?
Phasmophobia is a fear of ghosts. It covers the fear of all spirits of the dead. These might not necessarily be evil. It differs from demonophobia, which relates specifically to evil supernatural beings.
What Is The Fear Of Evil Called?
Panphobia or pantophobia is widely defined as the “fear of everything”, although this is somewhat vague and rarely used by most mental health professionals. The term is also used to describe a fear of some “vague and persistent unknown evil.”
10. Demon Of Fear And Anxiety
Although it can be widely agreed that demons aren’t physically real, the fear of them can cause very real problems that can leave a person deeply suffering.
Irrational fear and anxiety is an evil spirit that’s real in a lot of people’s lives. To these people, the demon is the anxiety itself.
By following the steps in this guide, they’ll have a higher chance of dealing with this phobia and getting back to an enjoyable life.
Any More Questions About Fear Of Demons?
Thanks for reading my guide on dealing with the fear of demons.
If you or someone you know is suffering from this phobia, I truly hope you seek treatment to cure these feelings of anxiety.
If you have a question about this fear, you can leave a comment below. But please ignore the urge to discuss your belief about whether evil supernatural beings exist. As already mentioned, discussing demons’ existence does nothing to help people suffering from demonophobia, nor decrease the probability of one developing demonophobia.
I have faith you’ll be able to keep the discussion productive. With that said, I always love to hear from my friends in the comments, so it would be great to discuss this topic further with you.
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