How do I get rid of botanophobia?
How do I get rid of botanophobia?
Some people with mild botanophobia may not need treatment. But if the fear causes physical symptoms or interferes with daily life, talk to your healthcare provider.
Possible treatments include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is structured psychotherapy that can help you understand and control thoughts and emotions. This talk therapy can help you unlearn negative thoughts that happen when you think about or encounter plant life. One type of CBT is dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT). With DBT, your therapist asks you to think about a plant and then half-smile. Over time, this may change your emotions associated with plants.
- Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy, sometimes called desensitization, helps you confront your fears gradually. You’re exposed to the idea of plants over time in a controlled environment. Exposure therapy starts with something less scary, like a picture of a plant. Eventually, you’re asked to imagine plants, then be around plants, then touch plants. Through increasing exposure, you learn to manage botanophobia.
- Hypnotherapy: Hypnotherapy can put you in a trance-like but focused state. Under hypnosis, you’re more open to suggestion and change. Your hypnotist may be able to convince you that you’re are less afraid of plants.
- Medications: A variety of medications can temporarily lessen anxiety and its physical symptoms.