There are many psychological disorders in the world that we do not understand. From common anxiety to ‘out there’ phobias, people everywhere are struggling. These struggles change their lives in subtle ways for some people: perhaps they avoid going to the grocery store or avoid cinemas.
For others, like those who have Tokophobia, their illness can change the course of their life and the lives of their family members for good. Tokophobia is a severe psychological disorder that affects women, and their families, all around the world. Tokophobia is summed up by the irrational fear of pregnancy in severe cases and a general fear of having children in other cases.
So let’s take a deeper look into this unsettling psychological disorder to understand and help those with the phobia of getting pregnant.
Defining Tokophobia
The work Tokophobia is derived from the Greek words ‘tokens and ‘photos, which means ‘childbirth fear’. As the name implies, Tokophobia focuses on women who are afraid of pregnancy.
This fear of giving birth is not that unusual because it is such a huge life event. Many women fear the process of having a baby, and they usually carry a little bit of anxiety with them throughout the process.
Tokophobia comes into play when this fear is exacerbated to extreme measures. Everyday worries become full-blown panic attacks, general anxiety becomes true panic, and common pregnancy fears become a true terror.
Primary and Secondary Tokophobia
Tokophobia exists in two different states for the people that are suffering from it. There is the primary form of Tokophobia as well as the secondary form. Let’s take a look at their differences to get a better understanding of how they work.
- Primary Tokophobia – The primary form of this debilitating disorder rises before any form of pregnancy. The fear of having a baby typically instils itself at the beginning of adolescence. There may be no clear path to trace the origins of this fear of childbirth. One day the fear seemingly existed.
- Secondary Tokophobia – This secondary form of the disorder is a result of previous experiences. Many women who have this fear of pregnancy have suffered some trauma in their lives. Tokophobia can stem from sexual abuse, difficult births, or other severe pains. Tokophobia is a rare but not uncommon condition.
Tokophobia Is Rare, but Not Unheard Of
Studies show that this pregnancy phobia afflicts anywhere from 3% to 8% of women worldwide. Though those numbers seem small, they still represent hundreds of thousands of women worldwide. As we have learned above, this fear can represent itself in many different ways.
The person suffering from the disorder can have a deep-seated, from birth, fear of being pregnant or be traumatized by past experiences. As you can see, this disorder does not care about age, race, creed, or wealth. It is truly an indiscriminate problem.
Common Tokophobia Symptoms
If you or someone you know may have Tokophobia, it is important to keep an eye out for common symptoms. Tokophobia is similar to any other form of mental illness in that it can only get worse if left untreated.
Unfortunately, many people are afraid to step on the toes of their friends and families regarding this disorder because sex, and the consequences, seem too personal. It is worth it, however, in our eyes to help them out. So here are common symptoms to be aware of:
- Depression During Pregnancy – While it is common for pregnant women to go through mood changes due to the stressors of pregnancy, prolonged depression is still something to keep an eye out for. Constant ‘lows’ should send off a red flag.
- Dread and Anxiety – As mentioned above, pregnant people are normally more than a little anxious about childbirth. This is understandable, pregnancy is stressful, and there is life on the line. When this stress turns into full-blown dread and constant anxiety, there is an issue. If this dread is prolonged, then there might be more at play than meets the eye.
- Over-usage of Contraceptives – Contraceptives are the best way to stay sexually healthy and away from getting pregnant. Yet, when there is an insistence on multiple overlapping contraceptives, this might signal a baby phobia. Combining ‘the pill’ with a condom and another form of contraceptive may be bordering on a true phobia of babies. This fear of babies, and pregnancy, could be a sign of Tokophobia.
- Certainty of Birth Defect – A common fear of pregnant women is that their baby will come out with some defect or complication in the pregnancy. While it is normal to ponder these dark thoughts occasionally, mothers should not constantly hold this fear of having a baby. These fears could turn into an obsession which results in all sorts of problems.
Treating Tokophobia
If you, or someone you know, is afraid of getting pregnant and you fear that Tokophobia may be at play, then it behoves you to try and treat the problem at hand. So let’s look at a few ways that treatment can come into play for this common phobia of pregnant women.
- Seek Professional Help – Tokophobia is a psychological disorder much like anxiety or PTSD, and, as such, Who can treat it accordingly. Going to a psychiatrist and an obstetrician to talk about your fears is almost necessary to address the problem at hand. These physical and mental health professionals will help you attack your phobia at its foundation. Whether you developed Tokophobia due to a primary or secondary event is irrelevant as options are available for you.
- Speak Openly With Your Partner – If you find that Tokophobia may be hindering the romantic relationship you have with your significant other, then it is time to open up an honest discussion. Many people get frustrated when confronted with the belief that they do not understand. If your partner doesn’t understand your Tokophobia, then explain it to them. Being able to vent about your fears will go a long way toward helping your relationship.
- Join a Support Group – We come back to ‘discussion’ as the key way to address psychological disorders. Merely getting your fears out of your echo chamber can go a long way toward addressing and remedying them. Support groups exist in cities all over the world. They are presided over by professionals and attended by similarly suffering individuals.
As you can see, Tokophobia is a disorder, unlike many other disorders. The condition strikes women both young and old, rich and poor, without regard for the other aspects of their life. While the disorder exists in under 10% of women, it still affects every person they are friends and family to.
To adequately treat Tokophobia, it is important to analyze, understand, and comprehend the issues that these brave women may be facing. Tokophobia is not permanent, and, like other disorders, it can be treated so as not to become a lifelong burden.
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