The world is full of terrifying creatures. Spiders that can kill you with a single sting, wasps that bite and tear human flesh, jellyfish capable of being reborn. And cockroaches. Maybe they can’t kill you, But just imagining them laying eggs in your home makes your blood run cold.. If you already have goosebumps, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. These phobias are much more common than you can imagine.

This is how psychologist Leticia Martín Enjuto explains it to us, who tells us that she “often encounters people who feel intense fear of certain animals.” According to the expert for Bodymente, “These phobias, although they may seem irrational from the outside, are very real and limiting for those who experience them.” And not only because they are evolutionarily useful, “our ancestors survived by avoiding potentially dangerous creatures,” continues the expert. “Psychology invites us to look beyond the obvious and explore what each of these fears may be symbolizing.”

Spiders and fear of control

iStock Photo.PaulMaguire

The fear of spiders is, perhaps, the most widespread. We all know his official fear: arachnophobia. The psychologist confirms the data. «Arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias. From a symbolic point of view, the spider is usually associated with the feeling of being trappedmanipulated or controlled,” explains the expert.

All this is perhaps understood more clearly when thinking about everything that this arachnid represents. “His fabric,” exemplifies Martín Enjuto, “It can remind us of relationships or situations in which we feel we cannot escapewhere everything seems to be carefully woven so that we have no way out.”

This causes, unconsciously, our fear of this small eight-legged being to multiply. “Fear of spiders can appear in people who are especially sensitive to manipulation or who fear losing control over their environment or their decisions”assures the psychologist.

Another possible explanation for this phobia, Leticia continues, is found in childhood. “Sometimes arachnophobia can be related to childhood experiences, family learning or even the maternal figure, as indicated in studies related to psychoanalytic approaches. It is not uncommon for those who suffer from it to feel misunderstood or even ashamed.which can reinforce the feeling of isolation and increase anxiety,” he reveals.

Cockroaches and the fear of the repressed

ISTOCK

Another insect that tops the list of phobias is the cockroach. We all feel a certain rejection towards them, because we associate them with what is unhygienic. But if what you feel is genuine dread when seeing one, it is possible that yours is a full-blown phobia. In this case, the expert explains to us that “The fear of cockroaches is usually accompanied by a deep feeling of disgust. Beyond their association with dirt, they represent what we want to hide or repress: thoughts, memories or emotions that we consider “dirty” and unacceptable.”

In this way, we see that the fear of cockroaches can reflect something much deeper, “a difficulty in accepting our own internal ‘shadows’ or in facing unpleasant situations that we prefer to avoid”points out Martín Enjuto.

Furthermore, he adds, “this visceral rejection It is usually related to fear of contaminationthe invasion of our intimate space or the feeling of losing control.”

Jellyfish and the fear of the invisible

Unsplash

If you are afraid of jellyfish, that time of year that gives you chills has begun. The summer. And with it, bathing on the beach. Do you find it difficult to enter the water for fear of a jellyfish appearing? The expert explains to us what it can mean.

“Jellyfish, with their certainly ethereal appearance and unexpected stings, usually symbolize fears related to the intangible: emotions that are difficult to identify or wounds from the past that ‘sting’ without warning,” says the psychologist. “The fear of jellyfish can be linked to anxiety in diffuse emotional situations, or to the difficulty in setting limits in the face of people or experiences that affect us in a subtle way.but painful.”

In her clinical experience, Leticia Martín Enjuto recognizes that this phobia can be very limiting, and that those who suffer from it “They describe a feeling of vulnerability in the face of the unknown, as if danger could appear out of nowhere.” For this reason, he continues, “on an emotional level, it can reflect the difficulty in anticipating or managing conflicts that emerge suddenly, leaving a mark that is difficult to heal.”

Wasps and the fear of criticism

iStock Photo.Digicomphoto

We thus come to the wasps, which according to the expert “evoke danger, aggressiveness and the possibility of being attacked suddenly.” For Leticia Martín Enjuto, this, in the unconscious, “It may be related to fear of criticism, hostility from others, or being hurt by unexpected words or actions.”. In addition, he adds, «it may reflect a hypersensitivity to competitive or conflictive environments, where the person fears being ‘stung’ or emotionally hurt.»

There is no doubt that fear can be limiting, “especially in times of good weather,” recalls the expert. “The simple buzz of a wasp can trigger a flight reaction or constant vigilance, making it difficult to concentrate and well-being.” In this sense, he concludes, “many times this fear is linked to past experiences of physical pain, but also to the feeling of always being on guard against possible attacks, whether real or symbolic.”

If you were interested in this article and would like to receive more about a healthy lifestyle, join the Bodymente WhatsApp channel.

Download the free ebook «Anti-inflammatory Recipes» and start your anti-inflammatory meal plan today with this exclusive content.