Domatophobia

Domatophobia, also called oikophobia or eicophobia, is the fear of houses or of being inside a house, clinically classed as a specific phobia. Sufferers may perceive a home as unsafe or confining, sometimes after hearing of a robbery or a murder in a home, whether in real life or in film, and the fear can be reinforced by irrational beliefs such as a house being haunted, often rooted in childhood exposure to frightening films or television. Claustrophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces, can also sit behind the condition. People with domatophobia may experience intense anxiety or panic attacks, sweating, trembling, a racing heart, shortness of breath, nausea, fear of losing control, and avoidance of being inside a house, along with an overwhelming need for safety or reassurance. Cognitive behavioral therapy, relaxation techniques, exposure therapy and, when needed, medication are used to treat it.