Understanding Megalophobia or the Fear of Large Objects

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Megalophobia is the fear of big things. Large objects capable of inciting fear in this specific phobia can run the gamut from large ships or airplanes to big animals or towering sculptures.

Fully understanding megalophobia is the first step to getting the help needed to overcome it. Here we explain its potential causes and the symptoms that one may experience. We also discuss the treatment options that exist for this mental health condition.

If you or a loved one are struggling with megalophobia, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Overview of Megalophobia

Megalophobia is a specific phobia. The National Institute of Mental Health explains that a specific phobia involves "an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger."

While one of many different types of phobias, people with megalophobia may know that their fear of big things is irrational, yet still experience anxiety or fear when just thinking about these objects. Items that can trigger feelings of fear and anxiety for a person with megalophobia include:

  • Airplanes
  • Blimps
  • Buildings
  • Buses
  • Construction equipment
  • Elephants
  • Enormous trees, like sequoias or redwoods
  • Hills and mountains
  • Large bodies of water
  • Ships
  • Sculptures
  • Statues
  • Trains
  • Whales

Some people with megalophobia fear a wide variety of large objects, while others only fear specific items.

Symptoms of Megalophobia

Primary symptoms of megalophobia include an intense feeling of fear and increased anxiety. In addition, people may also experience:

  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Increased heart rate
  • Nausea
  • Shortness of breath
  • Strong urge to flee the situation

One of the criteria for a specific phobia is actively avoiding the phobic trigger or enduring it with extreme anxiety. So, someone with megalophobia may have limited social interactions if these interactions are set to occur in places where large objects exist.

Factors Contributing to Megalophobia

The exact causes of megalophobia are not known. However, several different factors can contribute to its development.

Exaggerated Normal Fears

It's normal to have some level of fear or apprehension of things that are so big that they seem overwhelming or threatening. For people with megalophobia, this fear becomes more severe than what other people normally experience.

Atypically Large Size

A fear of big things is usually associated with objects that are a larger version of the actual thing they are representing. It might be a larger-than-life sculpture of a person from history, for example, or an animal that does not fit the typical size we associate with the species.

For people with megalophobia, these abnormal sizes create a genuine feeling of fear where others may only be in awe at the size.

Media or Legends

Sometimes news stories or even legends can contribute to these fears. A perfect example is the fear of animals that are large in size, like the giant squid.

The giant squid has been a part of mythology and lore since the earliest days of sailing ships, with legends abounding of sailors lost to the monsters of the deep. In reality, it is likely that before modern navigational systems, many of those ships were simply run aground or dashed against the rocks. Still, the rumors persisted.

It is easy to imagine how hearing such stories could contribute to a full-blown phobia. Even today, phobias of giant “killer” animals persist and are exploited in such films as Jaws and Anaconda.

Treatment for Megalophobia

Although medication can sometimes help reduce symptoms experienced with megalophobia, psychotherapy is the preferred method of treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are two therapeutic approaches often used.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

During cognitive behavioral therapy, a person is encouraged to replace phobic thoughts with healthier ones. This helps shift their perspective to one that involves less fear.

CBT is also helpful for developing the skills needed to better cope with the stress and anxiety that large objects create. When exposed to these items in the future, these skills can be used to reduce the fear experienced.

Exposure Therapies

Another type of psychotherapy used to treat megalophobia is exposure therapy. This type of therapy involves being exposed to situations or objects that create fear, reducing the fear over time as the person learns to cope with the stress experienced.

This can be approached through systematic desensitization, a more gradual set of exposure techniques, or flooding, in which the client is quickly exposed to the feared object. At no time is the client placed in any danger.

Summary

It's important for people with a phobia of large objects or animals to seek treatment. With proper treatment, most phobias can be cured or managed. Conversely, untreated phobias tend to worsen over time. A mental health professional can help develop a personalized treatment plan.

7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  2. Cleveland Clinic. Megalophobia.

  3. National Library of Medicine. DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.

  4. May J. Megalophobia: Fear of large thingsCallaloo: Johns Hopkins Univ Press. 2015;38(1):75-75. doi:10.1353/cal.2015.0005

  5. Salvador RB, Tomotani BM. The Kraken: when myth encounters science. Hist Cienc Saude-Manguinhos. 2014;21(3):971-94. doi:10.1590/S0104-59702014000300010

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  7. Cleveland Clinic. Phobias.

By Lisa Fritscher
Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics.