Many react incorrectly: If you are afraid of dogs, you should know these behavioral tips
Lots of people have respect for dogs. Large dogs in particular cause palpitations or sweats in some people. If you are afraid of dogs, you shouldn’t panic, but stick to a few rules.
If we meet a large, shaggy dog while walking on the path, we react with caution. In the case of a phobia, however, a natural basic fear translates into an anxiety disorder around cynophobia, as it is called in the case of dogs.
This manifests itself, for example, in sweaty hands, a racing heart and faster breathing, explains the psychologist Johannes Rother from the psychological center for fear, panic and phobias, Phobius. Also very typical of a dog phobia is the freezing when a dog comes near.
The dogs themselves don’t seem to be interested in such a fear at first. They neither run away, nor do they come very close. But because dogs react to the behavior and gestures of a person, dog phobics should adhere to a few rules so that the dog does not follow them any further.
Stay calm and avoid eye contact
This includes breathing calmly and not screaming under any circumstances. Overall, rest is the order of the day, because if you run away, the dog might think you want to play with him. It is best to look elsewhere, because staring at a dog could misunderstand it as a request for contact.
If the panic is great, calm is of course difficult. Therapy can then help deal with the fear. Among other things, calming and relaxation techniques are learned. The goal is to be able to live normal everyday life again. Because some people hardly even go out of the house in order not to meet a dog.
Often such an exaggerated fear stems from early childhood. Perhaps caregivers have passed on this fear or someone has been seen to be knocked over by a dog. According to Rother, a traumatic experience of its own like a dog bite is rather rare.
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Categories: General