What Is Dendrophobia (Fear Of Trees)?

When we talk about the fear of trees, it could be a specific phobia related to trees present in different situations. For example, some people might have a fear of trees underwater meanwhile, some people might have a fear of trees in the dark.

Fear of trees is referred to as dendrophobia. Dendrophobia is a type of specific phobia that makes people anxious while thinking, seeing, or hearing something about trees.

One of the main factors behind the development of dendrophobia is that dendrophobia is mostly developed due to negative or traumatic experiences with trees.

In this blog, let us take a deep look at what dendrophobia is, its symptoms, causes, treatment, and more. So, let’s get started! 

What is Dendrophobia? 

Dendrophobia (dend-ro-pho-bia) is a specific fear of trees. The Greek word Dendron represents trees and phobia represents fear. People experiencing dendrophobia struggle with extreme fear or anxiety when encountering, thinking about, or hearing the sound of trees. In such situations, people struggling with dendrophobia try to avoid situations that include trees or plants.

Dendrophobia can be classified into two types based on its severity, mild or severe. Mild cases can be effectively resolved with self-help strategies. Meanwhile, in severe cases, people stop leaving their houses and in such cases, proper diagnosis and treatment are important. Someone struggling with dendrophobia might get triggered by: 

• Seeing trees in dark bushy forests 
• Encountering trees at night 
• Encountering shadows of trees 
• Hearing the sound of trees 
• Thinking about hidden dangers in trees such 
• Seeing or encountering tress branches falling 
• Thinking about big tree roots 
• Encountering trees or plants underwater or in the sea 
• Driving or walking near trees 

Other Related Phobias to Dendrophobia 

• Biophobia: Fear of nature
• Hylophobia: Fear of forests 
• Nyctophobia: Fear of dark night  or darkness
• Nyctohylophobia: Fear of forests or dark woods 
• Xylophobia: Fear of wooden objects or forests 
• Thalassophobia: Fear of the sea

Symptoms of Dendrophobia 

Below listed are some of the common symptoms of dendrophobia: 

• Chilling 
• Dizziness 
• Excessive sweating 
• Lightheadedness 
• Nausea 
• Palpitating heartbeats 
• Shaking or trembling 
• Shortness of breath 
• Upset stomach

Causes of Dendrophobia

Below listed are some of the possible causes of dendrophobia: 

• Family history or genetics: People having a history or heredity of anxiety disorders or phobias are at a risk of developing phobias such as dendrophobia. 
• Modeling: People hearing someone talk negatively about trees or related features might put them at a higher risk of developing phobias such as dendrophobia. 
• Negative traumatic events or experiences: Research shows that people who have experienced traumatic or negative events related to trees are at a higher risk of developing dendrophobia. For example, seeing someone getting hurt by a fallen branch. 
• Negative stories: Research shows that listening to scary stories or negative stories related to trees might lead to the development of dendrophobia. For example, watching movies related to scary trees, dark powers, or supernatural activities occurring on the branches of trees. 

People are likely to develop any specific phobia such as dendrophobia in cases of: 

• Anxiety disorder
• Presence of another phobia 
• Panic disorder
• Substance use disorder

Diagnosis and Treatment of Dendrophobia 

If you think you or your loved one might be struggling with dendrophobia, it’s important to connect with a mental health professional to seek proper diagnosis and treatment. To connect with an experienced and registered mental health professional through online platforms, click below: 

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Your therapist or professional is likely to make a diagnosis based on: 

• Symptoms 
• Presence of symptoms (the symptoms must be present for more than 6 months) 
• The severity of symptoms (the symptoms must be so severe that they interrupt the overall quality of life 
• Presence of other mental health conditions (the symptoms must not correlate with the presence of other mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety disorders, and others)

Coming forth to the treatment process, below are some of the effective treatment options for dendrophobia: 

• Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy is one of the most effective therapy options for specific phobias such as dendrophobia. Exposure therapy involves gradual exposure to the source of fear in a safe environment. 
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps in replacing negative thoughts related to trees with positive ones. Additionally, it also teaches some effective and healthy coping techniques. 
• Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy provides guided relaxation and focused attention which helps in altering the negative experiences of trees. 

Quick Takeaway: Self-Help Tips to Overcome Dendrophobia 

• Practice yoga or meditation to keep yourself fresh and away from negative thoughts. 
• Try journaling to track your symptoms and practice mindfulness.
• Practice mindfulness-based techniques to get rid of anxiety and stress related to fear. 
• Try gradual exposure techniques to get rid of negative thoughts related to the source of fear.
• Seek support from your loved ones and communicate your feelings.

I hope this blog helps you understand what dendrophobia is (fear of trees). For more such content, connect with us through all social media platforms. 

Thanks for reading!