Not Everyone Is Terrified Of Massive Objects, But These 75 Pics Might Have You Thinking Otherwise

There are all kinds of phobias, but most of the time, we don’t even realize we have one. Research shows that 1-10% of the population experiences a specific phobia, with females several times more likely to have one than males. 

Megalophobia is one such specific phobia, which is defined as an irrational and excessive fear of large objects that can occur as a result of a negative experience or due to an unknown cause. Symptoms of megalophobia include anxiety or panic attacks in the presence of large objects, but it can be treated with therapy and medication.

While megalophobia is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), it is recognized as a specific phobia. People with it experience intense fear when confronted with something overwhelmingly large, whether it’s a massive object, structure, or even something natural like a giant wave or a mountain.

Unfortunately, research about megalophobia is pretty limited, which puts people who have it in a tricky spot. They might not seek help because they are unaware, or their symptoms might overlap with other conditions. 

The challenging part is that experts don’t fully understand where these specific phobias come from. However, they have pieced together potential causes and contributing factors. Past traumatic experiences involving a large object or vast space can cause a lasting psychological mark. Strangely, fear can also be learned by observing others’ reactions.

Genetics might play a role, too, as some people who inherit anxiety could be vulnerable to phobias. Culture could also be an influence. After all, social stories frequently shape perception, such as portraying nature as something scary. 

However, people should not take such phobias lightly, as they can hamper a person’s quality of life. People go to extreme lengths just to avoid what scares them. According to Cleveland Clinic, when people with megalophobia come across large objects, they might experience symptoms other than fear.

These include a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, trembling, and a strong urge to escape the situation. Going through all this can be daunting for anyone, so treatment is essential.

Studies highlight that in children, specific phobias can be short-term problems that disappear within a few months. However, in adults, about 80% of new phobias become chronic (long-term) conditions that do not go away without proper treatment. 

They can harm a person’s physical and mental health, especially when frequent encounters trigger severe effects. Moreover, phobias often tend to worsen over time. This can restrict a person’s daily activities and choices, affecting their life altogether. That’s why professionals encourage treatment, which can include exposure therapy and/or cognitive behavioral therapy.

While we might be aware of this concept today, philosophers identified something similar and named it “the sublime.” Records show that philosopher Edmund Burke described “certain experiences which supply a kind of thrill or shudder of perverse pleasure, mixing fear and delight.”

He focused the conversation about the sublime toward experiences caused by nature’s larger-than-life size or mystery. He claimed that these experiences aren’t just beautiful, but also terrifying because of their sheer scale or unknowable nature. 

Meanwhile, philosopher Immanuel Kant shifted the analysis toward the impact and consequences of the sublime experience on consciousness. He argued that it was essentially about a negative experience of limits. 

“It was a way of talking about what happens when we are faced with something we do not have the capacity to understand or control – something excessive.”

That definitely comes close to megalophobia, doesn’t it? If you think you might have it, don’t delay consulting a professional. Going through these images might help you understand whether you are afraid of such massive things. Let us know in the comments if it did. Also, if you want more such terrifying images to test yourself, check out the older post that we covered!