TERATOPHOBIA Meaning and
Definition
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Teratophobia is a noun that refers to an excessive and irrational fear of bearing or giving birth to a deformed or abnormal child. It is derived from the Greek words "teras," meaning "monster," and "phobos," meaning "fear." Teratophobia is classified as a specific phobia, which is an anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.
Individuals with teratophobia experience overwhelming anxiety and distress at the mere thought or possibility of having a child with physical, developmental, or genetic abnormalities. This fear may stem from a variety of factors, including personal experiences, exposure to disturbing information or images, societal views on disability, or cultural beliefs.
The symptoms of teratophobia may vary from person to person but commonly include palpitations, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, nausea, and panic attacks. The fear can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, relationships, and reproductive decisions.
Treatment for teratophobia often involves a multidimensional approach aimed at addressing the underlying causes of the fear and managing the associated anxiety and distress. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used and may include techniques such as exposure therapy, cognitive restructuring, and relaxation exercises. Medications, such as anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants, may be considered in severe cases.
Teratophobia is a specific phobia that can inflict significant distress on individuals and may require professional intervention to overcome.
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Abnormal dread on the part of a pregnant woman lest she give birth to a monster.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for TERATOPHOBIA
- reratophobia
- feratophobia
- geratophobia
- yeratophobia
- 6eratophobia
- 5eratophobia
- twratophobia
- tsratophobia
- tdratophobia
- trratophobia
- t4ratophobia
- t3ratophobia
- teeatophobia
- tedatophobia
- tefatophobia
- tetatophobia
- te5atophobia
- te4atophobia
- terztophobia
- terstophobia
Etymology of TERATOPHOBIA
The word "teratophobia" is a combination of two Greek roots: "teras" and "phobos".
The root "teras" (τέρας) means "monster" or "marvelous thing" in Greek. It can also refer to an unusual or abnormal object or organism.
The suffix "-phobia" comes from the Greek word "phobos" (φόβος), which translates to "fear" or "phobia".
Therefore, "teratophobia" refers to a fear or aversion towards monsters, abnormal things, or unusual phenomena.
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