Automatonophobia – Fear of Animatronics and Mannequins

Automatonophobia is the phobia of objects such as animatronics, mannequins, ventriloquist dummies, and wax sculptures. 

Inanimate or robotic objects that appear to move on their own may appear hazardous to those who suffer from Automatonophobia. This article defines Automatonophobia and discusses its symptoms, causes, and treatments.

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Price Comparison

Online therapy has taken the place of traditional in-person therapy. People no longer have to worry about transportation and can now attend online therapy from anywhere and anyplace.

BetterHelp therapists are all well equipped to assist you in your quest for treating your Automatonophobia. 

It is a lot less expensive than traditional treatment sessions, BetterHelp can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 each session. Some therapists who are in great demand charge considerably more.

They offer two memberships.

1. The weekly plan costs $60 to $90 for 1 weekly live session..
2. The monthly session costs $240 to $360 for 4 monthly live sessions..

Symptoms of automatonophobia

The impact of Automatonophobia is determined by how simple it is to avoid the object of fear. Many people will go to considerable efforts to avoid being in the presence of such characters. Malls with mannequins, museums, and movies with automatons are examples of this. 

According to studies, people with phobias have enhanced visual threat detection of their fear, even when just seeing photos of that fear.

Automatonophobia can manifest itself in a variety of ways in different individuals. The sheer prospect of coming across a human-like sculpture might send you into a panic attack. 

This fear may be frightening and even humiliating for some people. Moreover, some people report having overwhelming fear and panic reactions. Below are some Automatonophobia symptoms:

• Avoiding human-like objects
• Anxiety symptoms encompass both psychological and physical manifestations
• Feeling disconnected from reality
• Sweaty palms
• Dizziness
• Suffocating sensation
• Choking sensations
• Lightheadedness
• Increase in heartbeat
• Excessive anxiety, such as a panic attack or various types of discomfort
• Shaking and trembling
• Flushes that are hot or chilly
• Death or dying-related thoughts
• Pain in the chest

Causes

Automatonophobia is caused by unknown and enigmatic circumstances. There can be many causes of the phobia to originate from. It might be caused by people’s weak tempers and lack of bravery. 

On the other hand, Automatonophobia might occur when a person has strong beliefs in imagination and is unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. When a person suffers from Automatonophobia, there are always logical and unique Automatonophobia reasons.

A traumatic experience such as horror films and other forms of media with humanoid characters or an in-person encounter with humanoid characters is also one of the reasons for the phobia development. 

On the other hand, a non-experiential phobia is when Automatonophobia develops without a distressing incident. Phobias can arise from a variety of causes, such as:

• Genetics can play a key role. If you have a family member who suffers from Automatonophobia, you are more likely to get the phobia yourself. Some persons appear to be susceptible to anxiety disorders and certain phobias due to their genetic makeup.
• Environmental influence such as In some people, the mere suggestion of a horrific occurrence involving human-like beings might trigger Automatonophobia.
• Development causes include phobia that may be more likely to emerge as a result of early brain development.

How is Automatonophobia Diagnosed?

Your doctor will first want to be sure that there are no underlying illnesses causing your worry before making a diagnosis of a phobia. Persistent anxiety can be brought on by some medical problems, such as nutritional abnormalities or brain tumors.

Your doctor will utilize the diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to make the diagnosis of a phobia after concluding that there is no underlying reason. You meet the requirements for automatonophobia in the DSM-5 if:

1. You often, excessively, or unreasonably dread humanoid objects.
2. Exposure to human-like figures triggers panic attacks or other anxiety symptoms right away.
3. Your terror outweighs the danger that these humanoid entities provide to you. 
4. You use every effort to avoid coming into contact with any of these people so that you never find yourself in their presence.
5. This phobia has significantly decreased your day-to-day functionality.
6. The phobia has plagued you nonstop for more than six months.
7. Examination reveals no underlying illnesses that might be the source of this fear.

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Treatment for the fear of animatronics & mannequins

For individuals suffering from Automatonophobia it is crucial to get therapy as soon as possible.

Psychological therapy is an effective way to treat phobias like automatonophobia. Psychological treatments are crucial because they pinpoint the root reasons for phobias, add a fresh perspective to the problem, and educate you on how to deal with triggers.

Psychotherapy, like other particular phobia treatments, is the most effective treatment or intervention. 

There are several therapies available to treat the phobia. For best results, each therapy can be taken either on its own or in conjunction with others. These treatments can be administered to an individual or a group of automatonphobic patients.

Exposure treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy, or medication may be used to treat this phobia. We have discussed the treatments in detail below:

CBT

The most common therapy for particular phobias like Automatonophobia is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Moreover, CBT may be an effective initial line of treatment for persons with anxiety symptoms due to Automatonophobia.

This treatment includes a progressive introduction to the feared factors, as well as relaxation training to help calm the nervous response. and acclimate the patient to the stimulus’s presence

In addition, cognitive therapy sessions are included to help the client overcome their illogical ideas and beliefs about the things that are at the focus of their phobia.

If the symptoms of Automatonophobia are causing you severe anxiety, receiving therapy from a phobia specialist might be beneficial. 

On the other hand, a therapist will assist you in understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are linked, as well as how your worries may be affecting your life. This helps in the management of anxiety crises by breaking patterns.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy provides systematic desensitization, which has the best effectiveness rate.

Desensitization, which involves exposing oneself to the object of your fear which is automatons or human-like figures until you no longer experience distress or anxiety, is one of the procedures used in CBT. 

According to research, CBT has been demonstrated to successfully modify brain circuitry associated with these illnesses, making it a beneficial therapy choice for severe anxiety and phobias.

Exposure Therapy for the fear of animatronics

Some therapists may recommend exposure therapy as a therapeutic option, in which they will gradually expose you to a human-looking item to help you retrain your brain’s present fear reactions and bring you to a point where you are not as incapacitated by it. 

A qualified specialist can aid you in addressing and overcoming your concerns. They will also teach you coping techniques to help you live a better life.

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral treatment that focuses on exposing the feared item or scenario in a controlled context. This low-risk exposure is intended to minimize avoidance and other phobia responses associated with anxiety.

Your therapist’s initial objective during exposure treatment is to help you see the wax figures and dummies that terrify you. You will go through a methodical procedure where you will start with something that gives you a little dread before moving on to something more terrifying.

On the other hand, this therapy can substantially assist persons with Automatonophobia to improve their quality of life, especially if they have been avoiding activities because of their fear.

When a person is exposed to human-like figures on a regular basis, it can assist to minimise the acute terror response and anxiety symptoms that occur.

There are a number of methods to help an individual relax, including deep breathing and muscular relaxation. You can practice these methods at home once you are at ease with them.

Hypnotherapy for automatonophobia

Hypnotherapists utilize strategies to assist phobics to relax so they can figure out what is causing their fear. The core aim is to recognize that you are not alone in your struggles, and that help is always available.

Medicines

Using medicines like antidepressants, tranquilizers, and beta-blockers help to relax the mind and reduce anxiety. 

While antidepressants may be used to treat the long-term symptoms of Automatonophobia, benzodiazepines may be used to treat the symptoms of Automatonophobia in the short term. However, these medications should only be used as a last option. 

Many of these medications have negative side effects, such as drowsiness. When CBT and exposure therapy are insufficient, medication can be used. Due to the increased danger of dependency, a mental health practitioner may not prescribe benzodiazepines.

Cost-Effective Online Therapy

Most of us can benefit immensely from counseling. However, there are some people who neglect their own mental health and emotional well-being. Therapy has the potential to significantly enhance one’s quality of life. 

BetterHelp.com is worth the money and a good deal if you discover that online treatment and live sessions are as beneficial and fruitful for you as traditional also known as in-person therapy. 

Unlike, in-person therapy you can get your therapy session virtually at the time and place you are comfortable with. You no longer have to spend hours searching for a therapist near your area or waste money and hours on transportation.

BetterHelp makes it easy to find and switch therapists according to your requirements. They have the best Automatonophobia therapists to select from. This increases your chances of receiving effective treatment. 

By qualifying for financial help, you can get a cheaper weekly fee for a certain period of time. Keep in mind that financial help is only valid for 90 days, so you will have to reapply after three months of treatment. 

The amount of assistance you receive is determined by your circumstances, which are detailed in a separate questionnaire. You can get a cheaper weekly cost for a limited time if you apply for financial help. 

Bottomline

Automatonophobia, like other specialized phobias, may appear bizarre to other people, yet it may bring significant misery to individuals who suffer from it. 

There are times when our fear of something leads us to have problems in our daily lives. However, someone with Automatonophobia might have severe anxiety when they come into touch with human-like figures, or even just think about them. 

The good news is that virtual therapy is both easy to come by and very effective. Through BetterHelp you can get competent therapists who can assist you in overcoming your phobia and leading a fear-free life.