cur every time they experience anxiety from their technophobia, panic attacks are still quite common among people suffering from phobias.
The term technology itself is a very broad term and is defined as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. This can be interpreted to mean virtually anything, from an advanced server used to run thousands of businesses worldwide to a pencil used to help 1st graders learn to write their names. Such nuance lends those suffering from technophobia to have many different symptoms insofar as it relates to their specific fears.
Depending on the individual’s genetic makeup, it may also not be uncommon for someone with technophobia to develop additional anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the risk for this will vary greatly from person to person.
Below, you will see some more common symptoms of this phobia:
- Anxiety when thinking of technology
- Anxiety when seeing technology
- Unable to cope with their anxiety
- Muscle tension, shakiness, and sweating
- May experience panic attacks
Causes of Technophobia
There are no known causes of technophobia. However, genetics and one’s environment are likely to play significant roles. For example, if someone has a family history of mental illness, especially of phobias, then they may also have a higher chance of developing technophobia. This likely has to do with them also having a higher chance of being genetically predisposed to developing mental illness in general.
If someone were to have such a genetic predisposition, then it may only require them experiencing some sort of traumatic event for them to develop full blown technophobia. Essentially, any very damaging event that someone experienced which involved technology in some capacity may be enough for someone to develop technophobia (e.g. losing a limb while working with machinery).
Though we do not know the exact reason as to why someone may develop technophobia, the consensus among most mental health professionals is that both genetics and one’s environment play very significant roles. So, taking a closer look at these two different parameters may shed some light as to whether or not you may be at risk for developing technophobia.
Exposure therapy may be very effective at helping to treat many of the symptoms of technophobia. Exposure therapy works by having the patient be exposed to that which they fear over a given period of time. Though the patient can expect to experience a great deal of anxiety during such exposure, it will also help the patient to become desensitized to their fear as well.
Theoretically, the more someone is exposed to something they fear, the less it will bother them over time. This philosophy is kept in mind during exposure therapy. However, though this may be true in many instances, if a patient is exposed to too much too soon, then it can have a counterproductive effect and may overwhelm the patient, leaving their condition worse than it was at the start of treatment. So, it is very important that this form of therapy be implemented by an adept and experienced therapist.
Anti-anxiety medication may also be effective at helping to reduce some of the symptoms of technophobia. However, this is something that should first be discussed with your doctor. Though taking anti-anxiety medication can be very effective, taking it without simultaneously being involved in some sort of therapy may not be a very good idea for long term treatment as medication alone will not teach the patient the skills needed to cope with their condition in various situations.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Technophobia
CBT is a psycho-social intervention that aims to improve one’s mental health. It is a modality that is often used to treat people suffering from anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder and OCD. Someone with technophobia may also be able to benefit from CBT as well seeing as how it would allow them to have a much better understanding as to why th