Alektorophobia

Alektorophobia is a specific phobia, the fear of chickens and other fowls such as roosters.^[1] Alektorophobia may also include eggs and dead chickens (although typically does not include cooked chickens). Suggested rationales for this fear include a general fear of birds, past trauma related to an attack or aggressive behavior by chickens, and feelings triggered by the daily habits and behaviors of chickens.^[2]

Prevalence

Both genetic and environmental factors are often responsible for the presence of a phobia. Some phobias have been associated with a fearful first encounter with the phobic object or situation, in this case, a chicken. Specific phobia is characterized by extreme fear of an object or situation that is not harmful under general conditions.

Symptoms and effects

People with alektorophobia tend to feel uneasy around chickens, or around certain places in which chickens are known to reside, such as farms. Visible signs indicating the presence of chickens, such as eggs, may also trigger symptoms and overwhelming fear. As with any phobia, the symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include extreme anxiety, dread and anything associated with panic such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, inability to articulate words or sentences shaking and paranoia that a clicking noise may occur. ^[3]

Upon reaching a farmhouse, someone with alektorophobia may not be able to enter the general vicinity until they have overcome the panic attack that is often associated with their phobia. Some people scream, cry, have trouble breathing, have excessive sweating or even heart trouble when they come in contact with an area near chickens, or occasionally even eggs or feathers. In some extreme cases, even a picture or a realistic drawing of a chicken can also trigger fear. Generally, alektorophobia only applies to live chickens - not cooked ones.

Treatment

Counseling, systematic desensitization, hypnoanalysis, and medication are some of the most commonly used treatment techniques for a wide variety of phobias.

Systematic desensitization

As with most phobias, systematic desensitization (also referred to as exposure therapy) is a common procedure in which a person with alektorophobia is taught relaxation techniques. Systematic desensitization can be performed with live chickens, but more often begins with getting the individual to imagine places or situations involving chickens and teaching the patient to control his/her reactions, often leading to a reduction in actual symptom visibility as treatment progresses.^[4]

Hypnoanalysis

Hypnoanalysis (also called Hypnotherapy) is a type of therapy by which a person, with the assistance of a trained specialist, has their subconscious mind opened to suggestion for the purpose of changing one or more behavior patterns. When the subconscious is spoken to directly, it may be possible to find the issue triggering their phobia and introduce new ideas and positive suggestions. These positive suggestions may then be used to help make the changes you desire. Teaching the mind to attach different feelings to their feared item can usually be accomplished in a several sessions. Some people do not like people playing with their minds. However, hypnoanalysis is considered to be safe and works fast. Hypnoanalysis has been approved as a method of therapy since 1958 by the American Medical Association. ^[5]

Medication

In serious cases of any phobia, medicine can be prescribed licensed health care providers. However, prescribed medications may induce side effects, and possibly withdrawal symptoms. It is also important to note that medication cannot cure phobias. ^[6] Rather, the purpose of medication in extreme phobia cases is to temporarily suppress or reduce the manifestation of symptoms.

See also

• List of phobias
• Ornithophobia (fear of birds)
• Ovophobia (fear of eggs)
• Pteronophobia (fear of feathers)

References