Why do most of us have a fear of cockroaches? We take a look at this fear (called katsaridaphobia) in our latest blog and offer some tips on getting rid of cockroaches at home.
We’ve all heard the phrase “they’re more scared of you than you are of them“, but that does little to change the horror some of us feel at the sight of cockroaches. For some, cockroaches aren’t just insects but a psychological gateway to a long list of traumatic experiences.
For some people even viewing an image of a cockroach renders them catatonic. I’ve seen my grandmother, in her old age, leap up like a spring chicken at the mere glimpse of a cockroach scuttling across the living room. Seeing my grandmother vexed by this fear for so long has made me wonder why people fear these particular pests quite so much.
What is Katsaridaphobia?
I was compelled to dig deeper and uncover the source of katsaridaphobia (the official name for the fear of cockroaches). In most cases, this fear stems from a cockroach-related traumatic experience: like waking up to a cockroach hiking up your sleeping body.
Is it normal to be afraid of cockroaches?
Yes, it’s completely normal to be afraid of cockroaches. Many people suffer from katsaridaphobia, so if you do have it, you can find comfort in knowing that you’re not alone.
But why don’t we have the same response when we are confronted by pests that are far more dangerous, like mosquitoes? Mosquitoes are not only vectors for disease (like cockroaches) but also feed on our blood! So what makes our response to cockroaches different from our response to mosquitoes?
What causes katsaridaphobia? (A Nightmare on Roach Avenue)
Upon further research, I noticed that the fear-inducing nature of the cockroach may lie in their behaviour. Many people moan about how they sneak up on you. Much like a successful horror movie, cockroaches thrive in darkness and silence, and spotting one unexpectedly is akin to experiencing a jump scare in a horror flick. The sudden, jerky movements they exhibit once the jump scare has been triggered taps into the primal flight or fight response that all animals share.
Christian Grillon, PhD, a psycho-physiologist who studies fear and anxiety at the National Institute of Mental Health, states that an imminent threat evokes a phasic fear response, which is an active coping mechanism characterized by fight or flight.
He goes on to elaborate that a more distant or uncertain threat generates a more persistent state of anxious apprehension and hypervigilance. This then plays into a cockroach’s tormenting behaviour; they lurk in the shadows, peeking through crevices where we least expect them, and the constant worry that we may encounter one when we grab a late-night glass of milk feeds into our anxiety, thus making the fear ever more prevalent.
How can we overcome our fear of cockroaches?
Like any phobia, therapy may be your best bet, but for those who don’t wish to seek professional help, I’d recommend doing some light reading on the critters. Gaining more information may help ease the exaggerated fear that may have been formulated over the years.
I’d also recommend systematic desensitization, whereby you gradually expose yourself to cockroaches. I’d suggest starting small: ask a friend to select the least revolting image of a cockroach they can find and then slowly get used to looking at it. The gradual exposure should desensitize you to the pest.
Tips on how to get rid of cockroaches
Here are some helpful tips to help keep cockroaches out of your house:
- Eliminate cockroach food sources by storing food is stored in sealed containers,
- Clean up food debris and waste
- Remove uneaten pet food
- Don’t leave dishes unwashed overnight
- Declutter your home
- Seal entry points into your home
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