Chionophobia is an extreme fear of snow, classified within the natural environment type of specific phobia in the DSM-5 alongside fears of storms, heights, water and darkness. People with severe chionophobia can experience anxiety and panic attacks at the mere sight or thought of snow, and even the forecast of a winter storm can bring on cold sweats, panic and a sense of dread. Like most specific phobias, its causes are thought to involve a mix of psychological, environmental and genetic factors, and it commonly traces to a traumatic childhood experience involving snow, such as an injury sustained while playing in it. Talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are the treatments used. The name comes from the Greek chion, snow, and phobos, fear.
Facts
Classification
Type of Phenomenon Diagnostic ChapterAnxiety or Fear-Related Disorders 2 Sources
1. Chionophobia (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia Chionophobia lead paragraph (w-bbfill-psych-diag-0926, keyword classification against phenomenon-kind enum definitions, hand-checked)View the Source 2. ICD-11 Browser (WHO)
World Health Organization
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