There are many phobias in the world that we know are irrational. All fears are irrational but have roots in either instinct or trauma. So, what is daemonophobia?

TRIGGER WARNING: PTSD | Anxiety | Phobia | Daemonophobia | Mental Illness | Mental Disorder | Paranoia | Medical Terms

The Overall Fear Called Daemonophobia

Daemonophobia is an overwhelming fear that otherworldly beings, primarily demons, can take over their mind and body. The fear is persistent and can, in some cases, be paralyzing. It targets people who believe supernatural or paranormal beings roam freely in the world and can possess a human.

For this article, I will refer to supernatural and paranormal beings as demons, specifically from the Roman Catholic belief. That doesn’t mean that the phobia is only present in people who are of the Roman Catholic belief. However, my knowledge of demons is more significant within these parameters.

Daemonophobia is more frequent among Christians and Catholics but is not limited to it. I can only begin to imagine what living with the fear of losing control over my body could be. I have OCD and SAD, and these mental disorders have me crave control over myself and my life.

The fear of losing control and leaving it in the hands of creatures one believes to be evil is horrifying. Fears are irrational, but if they do not come from instinct, they mean trauma. So, let’s dive into the fear that is daemonophobia.

The Common Denominators Of Daemonophobia

Not everyone in Christianity or Catholicism acknowledges or approves of the existence of Satan or Hell or demons. However, because being part of a religious background or belief is not required, daemonophobia can happen to anyone.

Phobias aren’t exclusive to anyone or anything. They don’t discriminate in any capacity. Another characteristic is that they don’t have to be congenital as sometimes they are, but many times, they also come and go following an event or personal growth. 

Phobias come in all varieties and affect us in some way or capacity. So, what are the common denominators of daemonophobia? As acrophobia could be due to a specific fall that provoked the phobia of heights to develop, daemonophobia usually needs a bed to root itself.

But what if someone isn’t religious? Then how could they get daemonophobia? One doesn’t need to be religious to watch a movie like 1973 The Exorcist. As a professional vampirologist and demonologist, I encountered many people who feared that demons could travel through technology such as phones, televisions, tablets, etc. Some are afraid that it’s enough to attract demons because they like horror movies.

What If I Love Horror Movies And I’m An Atheist?

People asking about demonic possession through technological matters is a form of daemonophobia. We’ve established that a phobia doesn’t discriminate, so atheism or not doesn’t matter. But if you’re an atheist, how can you have daemonophobia? A belief questioning or crisis is enough to trigger anxiety.

When there is doubt in a fundamental system, it doesn’t matter if you are an atheist, part of a religious belief, or agnostic. Daemonophobia has the word ‘demon’ in it, and that word alone has a lot of connotations and carries many meanings, as well as encompassing a variety of creatures.

However, the more religious someone is, the more the anxiety can amplify and spread. If someone practices witchcraft, uses spirit boards, or participates in ghost hunting, it is possible to experience something unusual. 

Despite parapsychology not having recognition in the scientific field, there is documentation about unexplainable events. It is important not to reject those who lived through the unexplained. We do not know how we would react or what someone saw or felt. It is crucial to analyze and show compassion.

At Its Source, What Is Daemonophobia?

Like any other phobia that falls under specific phobias, it is an anxiety disorder characterized by an overwhelming fear of demons triggered by objects or situations.

What people living with daemonophobia go through is extreme anxiety mixed with panic and dread over the subject of demons. Sometimes, the simple mention of the word demon can be enough to trigger anxiety. 

While it could be from religious belief, community influence or entertainment, it can be from personal experiences or nightmares. The fear can creep in from any method and persist depending on the trauma that started it.

It is documented that daemonophobia can paralyze an individual’s life. People living with daemonophobia can seek to avoid situations or gatherings and events that may imply the word or visual of demons. Distress, impairment, involuntary spasms or trembling can occur. It is a severe phobia.

What Are The Symptoms And Do I Have Daemonophobia?

Like most phobias, gathering some general symptoms about the fear you believe you may suffer from is possible. It is possible to either eliminate or confirm that you may have daemonophobia. I want to state that those symptoms are general factors and do not substitute, in any way, shape or form, the diagnosis of a mental health professional.

People living with daemonophobia may suffer from anxiety caused by fear, which may be accompanied by panic and a fear of imminent doom. The phobia can induce rapid heartbeat, sweating, uncontrollable trembling, and difficulty breathing. Those are general signs of anxiety, but the source can be related to the fear of demons.

Those who have daemonophobia might avoid specific situations, religious gatherings, surroundings or places, objects or words linked to the subject of demons or its lore. It is essential to understand the context and not force someone with daemonophobia to face their fear by attending religious places or specific locations.

Conversations and specific words or wording may create discomfort and overwhelm the person suffering from daemonophobia. If the person shows discomfort, avoid the subject of demons altogether. The anxiety may go as far as intrusive thoughts about the subject and occupy the person’s brain. It is crucial to change the subject.

Another significant symptom is difficulty sleeping or the presence of repetitive nightmares with demonic themes. Because of the lack of sleep or other daily factors related to daemonophobia, someone with the phobia may show problems concentrating or lack focus.

It is imperative to understand that, unlike other phobias, daemonophobia and its symptoms may lead the person suffering from it to believe they are possessed. The general points of anxiety and demonic possession can blur when mixed together. It is crucial to seek professional help to reach a good diagnosis.

Is It Possible To Cure Daemonophobia?

The treatments available for daemonophobia are the same as most phobias. Professional help is often an excellent place to start. It is essential to know to look for the right therapist and that you have the right to shop for the one you feel comfortable with and like their approach.

The usual cocktail is psychotherapy to understand the phobia, where it comes from and what can be the game plan to part with it. But all is according to your needs. The same goes for medication that is available to you to keep anxiety under control. There are many forms of professional help, varying from therapists to psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, etc. Find the one that is for you.

For people who are determined to move on and are more of an ‘attack the problem head-on’ type, cognitive-behavioural therapy or CBT, is also available for daemonophobia. It is a form of therapy that challenges darker thoughts, the source of anxiety, and helps improve your life with coping skills. 

The bottom line is that with proper support and help from people around, someone living with daemonophobia can suffer from anxiety. Sometimes, the phobia doesn’t go away, but someone can learn to live with it. Remember that not all demons are bad; some go to war for you every day and protect you. The image society gave demons is wrong, but not you. You are worth helping and worth healing.

The OCD Vampire