Fear is one of the basic emotions available to most animals on the planet, including humans. Thanks to it we warn that certain stimuli are potentially dangerous for life, and we prepare a response according to the threat.

Thus, it is not a dangerous affection, nor is it “negative” as is traditionally thought. It is rather a useful and effective phenomenon to guarantee the survival of a species , since it keeps us safe in a sometimes tremendously hostile world.

Sometimes, however, such an emotion may extend to where it should not be, or acquire an intensity that is disproportionate to the objective characteristics of the stimulus being triggered. In this case we are referring to phobias, disorders that fall into the general category of anxiety.

In this article we will talk about a fear that is more common than people usually think and that can limit the quality of life of those who suffer from it. It is called ranidaphobia . Let’s see what it is, why it happens and how it is treated.

What is ranidaphobia?

Ranidaphobia is the particular label used to describe the atrocious and disabling fear of frogs . The term comes from two classical languages, whose etymology is rooted in Latin (“ranae” or frog) and Greek (“phobia” or fear). It is a specific phobia of the animal subtype, a form of aversion much more common in childhood than in adulthood, although it can affect anyone throughout their life cycle (regardless of sex).

The frog is attributed a whole series of qualities that many people find unpleasant. Among them are extremely mobile eyes, which stand out as the most visible anatomical region when submerged under water, and which also have both eyelids and nictitating membranes that cover their eyeballs and give them a bright and “attentive” appearance. Their skin is slightly viscous, and their legs are tremendously strong in relation to their weight and size.

People who suffer from ranidaphobia judge these traits as extremely aversive and extend this assessment to the “non-physical” characteristics of the animal, such as its unmistakable croaking, which also requires the action of thin membranes located under the skin of its throat (the movement of which tends to be “horrific” to those who fear them). As time goes by, if appropriate treatments are not applied, the fear gets worse and extends even to the simple viewing of a frog on TV or other media (e.g. internet).

During exposure to a stimulus associated with a frog, the person suffering from ranidaphobia experiences body sensations similar to those of a panic attack : hyperventilation, acceleration of the heart rate, pupil mydriasis (which can reduce visual acuity and hinder vision in very bright spaces), sweating and the feeling that the body itself is about to collapse. In the most severe cases, symptoms of depersonalization and de-realization may occur.

In addition, there are also cognitive symptoms that occur prior to exposure to the stimulus itself (anxious anticipation of encountering a frog because they are in a space where they are usually found) or during it (thoughts of not “being able to stand”; or mental images in which this animal moves, stalks, jumps or comes into contact with the person). In addition, there are also motor behaviors that contribute to maintaining the problem over time (flight or escape).

This fear, which is valued as irresistible, is often extended to those places where frogs live , which are numerous and very varied (as they are widely distributed throughout the geography). For this reason, spaces with excess vegetation or humidity are usually avoided, as well as locations too close to rivers or swamps. Furthermore, fear is heightened at or near night, when visibility is poor and the sound of these batrachians is most evident.

What causes this disorder?

The causes for which ranidaphobia can manifest itself are very diverse; they are related to psychic, social and biological variables. The last of these alludes directly to genetics, since it has been shown that vulnerability to the development of anxiety problems is associated with family inheritance , so that approximately 50% of this phenomenon is attributable to it (although it is not always easy to dissociate it from specific patterns of parenting that stimulate the appearance of this disorder).

The personal experience of a real and adverse situation involving a frog is also very common, as well as having witnessed how a person reacted with atrocious fear when interacting with this animal. It is called ranidaphobia . Let’s see what it is, why it happens and how it is treated.

What is ranidaphobia?

Ranidaphobia is the particular label used to describe the atrocious and disabling fear of frogs . The term comes from two classical languages, whose etymology is rooted in Latin (“ranae” or frog) and Greek (“phobia” or fear). It is a specific phobia of the animal subtype, a form of aversion much more common in childhood than in adulthood, although it can affect anyone throughout their life cycle (regardless of sex).

The frog is attributed a whole series of qualities that many people find unpleasant. Among them are extremely mobile eyes, which stand out as the most visible anatomical region when submerged under water, and which also have both eyelids and nictitating membranes that cover their eyeballs and give them a bright and “attentive” appearance.
Their skin is slightly viscous, and their legs are tremendously strong in relation to their weight and size.

People who suffer from ranidaphobia judge these traits as extremely aversive and extend this assessment to the “non-physical” characteristics of the animal, such as its unmistakable croaking, which also requires the action of thin membranes located under the skin of its throat (the movement of which tends to be “horrific” to those who fear them).
As time goes by, if appropriate treatments are not applied, the fear gets worse and extends even to the simple viewing of a frog on TV or other media (e.g. internet).

Psychological treatment is a very effective tool for tackling phobias , and this one in particular is no exception. The program incorporates a set of cognitive and behavioral strategies that have a high degree of evidence, and that are selected according to the particularities of the case and the history of the problem. The use of drugs for anxiety (such as benzodiazepines) is not considered a priority, and there are even studies that indicate that it could interfere with some of the psychotherapeutic procedures.

As noted above, avoiding the feared stimulus (the frog on this occasion) becomes counterproductive , as it exacerbates the problem through a negative reinforcement mechanism. It is important, for this reason, to schedule exposure sessions that allow for attenuation of the fear response by habituation to the stimulus. In addition, over time they will allow for improved self-efficacy and will modify the negative expectations about what happens when interacting with the animal (which are usually very dark at first).

Since it is not always possible to develop a live exhibition from the beginning of the therapy, it can be started only in imagination by using a progressive format. This modality is a good antechamber and allows the therapist and the patient to build a hierarchy of situations (according to the levels of anxiety they generate), which the latter will have to face by means of the "induction" by the professional. The technique is combined with diaphragmatic breathing or other relaxation modalities, and increases confidence about the ability to deal with fear. In addition, it can be enriched with audio-visual details (audio tracks on which you can hear the croaking of a frog, for example).

Certain cognitive techniques have also proven to be effective in this problem , especially those aimed at reflecting on the way in which mental contents (thoughts) can condition our emotions, articulating a proactive debate through which we will explore whether or not the beliefs we have about frogs are adequate to objective and rational parameters. For this occasion, the therapist and the patient dialogue and/or explore together, through a diversity of logical resources based on collaborative empiricism.

Finally, psycho-education is key throughout the process. It should focus on what anxiety is and why it happens, as well as on the characteristics of frogs. This can be done by reading books about them, including those that delve into their habits and anatomy. In this way, the aim is to know better what the object of the fears is, and to reduce the usual uncertainty that honors the phobic stimuli.

Bibliographic references:

  • Coelho, C. and Purkis, H. (2009). The Origins of Specific Phobias: Influential Theories and Current Perspectives. Review of General Psychology, 13, 335 – 351.
  • Singh, J. and Singh, J. (2016). Treatment options for the specific phobias. International Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, 5(3), 593 – 598.