Gigantasophobia: A Fear Of Tall People

If you avoid social situations where you might encounter tall people, such as parties, concerts or sports events, you may have gigantasophobia.  

What is gigantasophobia? 

Gigantasophobia is a specific phobia involving a person suffering from an irrational and excessive fear of tall people. People suffering from this phobia may feel anxious, nervous, shy, uncomfortable or panicked when they see someone taller than them or think about being around tall people. They may also avoid places where they fear encountering tall people, such as malls, parks, or public transport.

Gigantasophobia only involves fear of tall people, while anthropophobia can involve fear of any person in a rare social situation. 

What causes gigantasophobia?

There is no definitive answer to what causes the fear of tall people. Like most phobias, it is a complex psychological condition that may have multiple factors involved. However, some possible causes are:

Traumatic experiences: You may have had a negative or frightening experience with a tall person. For example, you may have been bullied, threatened, or harmed by someone taller than you. This traumatic experience could have left a lasting impression on your subconscious mind that associates the presence of tall people with danger, harm or pain.

Genetic factors: You may have inherited a tendency to develop anxiety disorders from your parents or relatives. Some studies suggest a genetic component to phobias, anxiety and other mental health conditions. If you have a family history of gigantasophobia or other phobias, you may be more likely to develop or suffer from one yourself.

Environmental influences that trigger you control fear: You may have been exposed to certain situations or stimuli that triggered your fear. For example, you may have watched a scary movie or read a horror story that featured a tall villain or monster. Or you may have heard someone else express their fear and adopted it as your own.

Learned behaviors: You may have learned to fear tall people from observing others’ reactions or behaviors. For example, you may have seen someone else have panic attacks or run away when they saw a tall person. Or you may have heard someone else comment negatively or joke about tall people. This could have influenced your perception and attitude towards them.

These are some possible causes of gigantasophobia, but they are not exhaustive. Everyone’s experience with this phobia is different and unique. It is important to recognize that your fear is irrational and excessive and can be overcome with proper treatment.

The symptoms of gigantasophobia

Some common psychological symptoms and physical symptoms of gigantasophobia are:

• Sweating and trembling
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Chest pain or palpitations
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fear of losing control or dying
• Feelings of dread or panic
• Guilt, shame, or self-blame
• Withdrawing from others or avoiding social situations
• Feeling sad or hopeless

How gigantasophobia can affect people’s life

Gigantasophobia can also have serious consequences on one’s life, such as: 

• Making them avoid places where they might encounter tall people, such as malls, parks, or public transport.
• Making them isolate themselves from friends, family, or colleagues who are tall or who are tall friends might introduce them to.
• Making them miss out on opportunities for education, work, or personal growth to avoid awkward situations that involve standing, talking or interacting with tall people.
• Making them feel anxious, depressed, or hopeless about their condition and their future.

How to overcome tall people phobias

Gigantasophobia can be treated with various options, such as: 

-Talking treatments or talking therapies, such as counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help you change your thoughts and behaviors toward tall people.

– Medication, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, can help you reduce your physical and emotional symptoms of fear.

– Exposure therapy involves gradually facing your fear of tall people in a safe and controlled environment, with the guidance of a therapist.

Helpful resources losing control is out of control from your phobia

You are not alone and there is hope for overcoming your fear. Here are some tips and resources that may help you cope with gigantasophobia:

1. Seek professional help from a therapist or counselor who specializes in phobias. They can help you with most phobias, understand the root cause and severity of your phobia, experience anxiety, panic attacks, or fear, and provide effective treatment options such as psychological therapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy or medication².
2. Join a support group online or offline where you can share and talk about your experiences, symptoms, fears, and feelings with friends and other people who identify or have similar symptoms and fears. Some support groups are on websites like Phobia Support Forum or Anxiety UK.
3. Educate yourself about tall and short people and their challenges. You may discover they are not so different from you and face their difficulties, such as finding clothes that fit them well, dealing with back pain, or being teased for their height. You may also learn to appreciate tall people for their positive qualities, such as being good at sports, having a better view of issues you care about, or being more confident.
4. Challenge your negative thoughts and beliefs. Try to replace your irrational thoughts with realistic ones whenever you fear them. For example, instead of thinking, “They are going to hurt me” think “They are just normal people who happen to be taller than me”. Or instead of thinking, “They are looking down on me,” think “They are just curious about me”.
5. Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga whenever you feel stressed, scared or anxious. These can help you calm your mind and body and reduce the intensity of your fear response.
6. Expose yourself gradually to tall people in a safe and controlled environment. Start with pictures or videos of them on your phone or computer screen. Then move on to seeing them from a distance in public places like parks or malls. Finally, try interacting with them in friendly settings like cafes or libraries. Remember to go at your own pace and reward yourself for each step.

Remember that gigantasophobia and other anxiety disorders are not something to be ashamed or scared of but rather overcome with courage and support. You can improve your life by facing your fear and anxiety head-on.