Coping With Ornithophobia or the Fear of Birds

Coping With Ornithophobia or the Fear of Birds Phobias Types Print Coping With Ornithophobia A Specific Phobia That Can Limit Your Lifestyle By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Updated on March 18, 2019 shan.shihan / Moment / Getty Images More in Phobias Types Causes Symptoms and Diagnosis Treatment In This Article Table of Contents Expand Causes Symptoms Complications Treatment Popular Culture and Folklore View All Back To Top The animal phobia ornithophobia, or fear of birds, can take many forms.?? Some people fear only birds of prey, such as vultures, while others are afraid of household pets like parakeets. Learn more about this animal phobia.?? Causes Like all animal phobias, the most common cause of ornithophobia is a negative encounter with the feared animal.?? Many birds can be somewhat aggressive in hunting for food, and childhood run-ins with pigeons or seagulls bent on stealing popcorn or other snacks are common. You dont have to experience the negative encounter directly.?? Birds sometimes fly through open windows or down chimneys, causing an uproar in the home. If your parents were nervous during such events, this could be enough to trigger a phobia as well. Symptoms Like many specific phobias, the symptoms of ornithophobia vary according to its severity.?? You might fear only large birds or only wild birds. You might be afraid of specimens that have undergone taxidermy, such as those in natural history museums. You may fear all representations of birds, including photos. When forced to confront a bird, you might:?? ShakeCryFreeze in placeRun awayAttempt to hide You might also experience anticipatory anxiety in the days before a likely confrontation with birds. Complications Birds are extremely prevalent throughout populated areas of the world making it nearly impossible to go through an entire day without a single encounter. Therefore, it is not uncommon for those with ornithophobia to gradually restrict their activities, for example, you may:?? Avoid picnics and other outdoor activitiesBecome unable to visit pet storesBecome agoraphobic, afraid to leave your house for fear of confronting a bird Treatment Ornithophobia typically responds well to cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques.?? A trained therapist can help you confront your fear, replacing your negative thoughts with more positive self-talk. She will teach you  relaxation techniques to use when your anxiety flares. Systematic desensitization, in which you are gradually exposed to birds while practicing your new skills, can also be extremely helpful.?? If your phobia is severe, your healthcare provider may suggest  hypnosis and/or medications  in conjunction with therapy. The goal is to reduce your fear to a manageable level so that you can begin to work through it and regain control of your life.?? In Popular Culture and Folklore In the unforgettable 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds, birds  that appear intent on attacking humans overrun a California town. The suspense builds as the attacks increase from small nips to scenes of carnage. No reason is ever given for the small and normally docile birds’ transformation into killing machines. Many moviegoers were left uneasy about birds after seeing that film. Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven features a solitary bird that observes and provokes a grieving man’s descent into madness. There are various interpretations of the poem, some casting the raven as an unknowing chance visitor, others implying that the bird’s intention was to bring about the narrator’s destruction. Throughout history, birds have often been associated with good and evil, fortune telling and rebirth. From the legendary  phoenix believed to rise from its own  ashes to the unlucky albatross, folklore tales regarding birds come from all corners of the world.