The VERA, Dhaka (2025)

26/09/2022

Aversion to happiness also called cherophobia and fear of happiness is an attitude towards happiness in which may deliberately avoid experiences that invoke positive emotions or happiness.

Someone who has cherophobia isn’t necessarily a sad person but instead is one who avoids activities that could lead to happiness or joy. Some of the symptoms associated with cherophobia could include:
•Experiencing anxiety at the thought of going to a joyful social gathering like parties.
•Refusing to participate in activities that most would call fun.
•Certain thought that can occur if a person is experiencing cherophobia is "being happy will mean something bad will happen to you".
•Happiness makes you feel like you’re a bad person.
•You’ll feel like you’re wasting time and efforts on happiness. It is almost taken granted that happiness is one of the most important values guiding people’s lives.

Western cultures are more driven by an urge to maximize happiness and to minimize sadness. Failing to appear happy often gives cause of concern.

An introvert may more be likely to experience cherophobia. An introvert is a person who typically prefers to do activities alone or with two people at a time. They’re often seen as reflective and reserved.

Perfectionists are another personality type that maybe associate with cherophobia.Those who are perfectionists may feel happiness is a trait of lazy or unproductive people.

Cherophobia hasn’t been lately largely detailed or studied as its own separate disorder. However we can cure it with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a therapy that helps a person recognize faulty lines of thinking and identifying behaviors that can help them change. Relaxation strategies are also a part of the cure. Exposure to happiness provoking events as a means to help a person identify that happiness doesn’t have to adverse effects.

Caption credit: Tasfia Ashraf
Content Writer, VERA
Poster credit: Zahin Rahman Apshara
Technical Moderator, VERA

25/09/2022

Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of night or darkness that can cause intense symptoms of anxiety and depression.
It can be instigated by certain incidents in life or can be formed at early childhood too.
"I used to sleep with my grandmother until she died. After her death I couldn't sleep in the dark, or be in the dark places, if sometimes electricity goes out or my parents turned off the light when I was sleeping, it's like my subconscious mind instantly gets alarmed and I wake up immediately and when I see my room in pitch black darkness I start panicking, my heart starts to beat faster, I feel suffocated, breathless like someone is going to choke me and can't sleep until I lit up the light" - It is the statement of someone who had recently built up fear of darkness also known as Nyctophobia.
People may fear night and darkness because they cannot see what’s around them.
While some fear is normal, when it starts to impact daily life and sleep patterns, it may be time to visit your doctor.
Different phobias share similar symptoms. These signs may be either physical or emotional. With nyctophobia, symptoms may be triggered by being in the dark or even thinking about situations where you’d find yourself in the dark.
Physical symptoms include:
* trouble breathing
* racing heart rate
* chest tightness or pain
* shaking, trembling, or tingling sensations
* lightheadedness or dizziness
* upset stomach
* hot or cold flashes
* sweating
Emotional symptoms include:
* overwhelming feelings of anxiety or panic
* an intense need to escape the situation
* detachment from self or feeling “unreal”
* losing control or feeling crazy
* feeling like you may die or lose consciousness
* feeling powerless over your fear
If any person faces these symptoms extremely and triggered by darkness you should seek for as soon as possible because no darkness should take away the light of happiness in your life.

Caption credit: Faria Mehejabin
Content Writer, VERA
Poster credit: Zahin Rahman Apshara
Technical Moderator, VERA

28/08/2022

Hemophobia, a term used for referring to fear of blood. With this particular phobia, you might get scared at sight of blood - both in real life or even seeing in on-screen, also the thought of it. According to research, Hemophobia falls under the category of a specific blood-injection-injury (BII) phobia. It can start at an early age and take root in one's mind between the age of 7-15 years.

People with hemophobia express various reactions when exposed to blood. It includes-
•Drop in heart rate and blood pressure in response to a trigger to the phobia (in this case, blood) - known as a "vasovagal response" in medical terms.
•Feeling light-headed and dizzy along with trouble breathing
•Feeling an overwhelmed need to escape situations that involve blood.
•Trembling due to sudden memory flashes of blood-related trauma.

A survey in 2014 shows that about 80% or more people with this kind of BII phobia experience the aforesaid 'vasovagal response'. But,. it's necessary to remember that every person with this phobia might not show the same symptoms or go through the same thing.

Fortunately, the diagnosis and treatment of hemophobia is rather easy and doesn't require any equipment or procedure regarding blood. When exposed to blood, if you go through any of the previously mentioned symptoms, you might have it. It's better to contact with a specialist in this case.
With hemophobia, exposure therapies can be very effective. If you deal with the sight or thought of blood or trauma related to blood head-on slowly but regularly, it can reduce your fear of it and help you relax.

Fear of blood is not an abnormal fear. Blood is not a thing we encounter often, which might make any of us develop a fear to it. Anyone can develop a fear to it and there's nothing to be ashamed of. Remember, it's always okay to seek help. Just because you fear something, it doesn't make you the odd-one-out. Go ahead and seek a bit of help to get yourself healed, for yourself and your loved ones.

Caption credit: Afia Fahmida Smita
Content Writer, VERA

Poster Credit: Shah Sindid
Head of Technical Moderator, VERA

27/08/2022

Mysophobia presents itself in a person by causing an irrational fear of contamination, dirt, bacteria or anything of the sort. Not to be confused with necessary precautionary steps to maintain good hygiene, a person fixates on keeping themselves away from environments which they might deem unsafe or unclean.

If you think that you might have mysophobia, try analysing your behaviours. Such as-
•How often you use a sanitizer
•How comfortable you are in public places,
•How often you feel the urge to avoid physical contact etc.
In simpler words, take note of how much time you are spending on keeping your surroundings microbe free.

If a person has a family history of depression or anxiety disorders, they may have an innate fear of germs and contamination. Moreover, a person with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) also has a higher chance of developing mysophobia. Mysophobia induced panic might sometimes manifest physical pain like nausea, sweating and even paranoia.

To be able to manage such urges can prove to be difficult, but if you make the leap you will find yourself more comfortable in your surroundings. Besides consulting with a professional, you can find courage and support from your loved ones and those who suffer from the same problems. Even if mysophobia may stand in your way, it won’t be able to stop you from being comfortable in your own skin if you can trust yourself to be able to manage it. Always know that it is our human nature to have unique experiences and those experiences make us who we are.

Caption Credit: Lubaba Benazir
Poster Credit: Zahin Rahman Apshara
Content writer, VERA

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