Hygrophobia is a word that may be difficult to spell for many people. The word is pronounced /haɪɡrəˈfəʊbiə/, with the stress on the second syllable. The first four letters "hygro" derive from the Greek word for "moisture," while the suffix "-phobia" means "fear of." Therefore, hygrophobia refers to the excessive and irrational fear of moisture or dampness. Knowing the phonetic transcription can help to understand the spelling of this word and make it easier to remember.
Hygrophobia is a noun that refers to a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear or aversion towards moisture, water, or dampness. It is derived from the combination of the Greek word "hygro," meaning wet or damp, and the suffix "-phobia," which conveys fear or dread. Individuals affected by hygrophobia experience intense anxiety, discomfort, or panic attacks in wet or humid environments, and may actively seek to avoid such situations.
People with hygrophobia often exhibit various symptoms when confronted with dampness or water, including rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, nausea, and a feeling of impending doom. The fear may be rooted in a traumatic experience related to water, or it might emerge without any identifiable cause.
Hygrophobia can significantly impact an individual's daily life, limiting their participation in activities that involve water or even making them unable to live in areas with high humidity. In severe cases, the phobia can lead to social isolation and affect one's emotional well-being.
Treatment for hygrophobia typically involves a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy, which helps individuals challenge their irrational thoughts and gradually confront their fears, and exposure therapy, which exposes patients to progressively increasing levels of dampness or water-related stimuli in a controlled environment. Medication may also be prescribed to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
A morbid fear of moisture or dampness.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "hygrophobia" is derived from two Greek roots: "hygro", meaning moisture or wetness, and "phobia", meaning fear or aversion. "Hygro" comes from the Greek word "hygrós", which means "wet" or "moist". "Phobia" comes from the Greek word "phóbos", which means "fear" or "dread". Therefore, "hygrophobia" combines these roots to denote a fear or aversion to moisture or wetness.