Bibliophobia (Fear Of Books): Causes, Symptoms, Complications, And Treatment

Bibliophobia is commonly referred to as a phobia for reading books. It is an unusual condition in which a person develops a fear for books or reading books. It is characterized by the tendency of anxiety or panic in the person who's just having the thought of reading books. The condition can be accompanied by shaking, sweating or crying or other abnormal activities of the person when he/she is asked to read out loudly publicly in a classroom.

This leads to a shattering of the wish to read or interact with books or going out in places such as libraries and museums where reading is what we have to do.

Bibliophobia may be of various types such as it may be limited to the specific kind of books and not all the books. Certain people suffering from this may only develop a fear of reading books related to witchcraft. Other people who are included under this condition are dyslexic types who have had difficulties in reading since childhood. Besides these, it may be related to simple activities such as reading books or just holding onto the book.

The fear turns into anxiety as a result of lack or loss of control over the books or other reading materials which develops a hatred or feeling of isolation from them. In other words, we can say this abnormality cannot be considered as irrational as many phobias are. There are some other symptoms that are related to the conditions like bibliophobia and those symptoms include confusion, sweating, shaking, increase in heart rate, high rate of breathing, and inability to think normally.

The causes of bibliophobia may be related to any congenital abnormalities or it may have developed since the start of childhood. The reasons for the development in early childhood may be different in different cases depending upon the environment in which the upbringing of the individual is done or the behavioral status of the individual itself.

In some circumstances, bibliophobia may be generated as a result of an individual's negative experiences in the past which have affected his/her mind adversely and repeatedly. The society also plays a role in stimulating such conditions as children who usually have fear of opening up in public get anxious when it comes to their turn to read out loud in front of other children.

Inabilities like difficulty in reading books and nervousness also inhibit them from doing so. But the people unaware of their problems and hesitations, make fun of such children, leading to a feeling of embarrassment in them.

The causes being the combination of congenital factors as well as environmental factors may include the following:

1. Dyslexia: This is an abnormality in children which may be present either since birth or may develop afterward in early childhood. This is a type of learning disability in which the child is unable to read the books and thereby develops a sense of fear and anxiety for books and reading words, especially in front of other children in the classroom.
2. Negative childhood experiences: During early childhood, many children usually suffer from some negative experiences which may include rejection, embarrassment, loss of freedom to choose to read a book which attracts them more due to some inappropriate content related to beliefs against our culture or society. The embarrassment of the child in front of their friends or teachers or parents due to their inability to read or learn may initiate a sense of fear in him which can further exacerbate the condition.
3. Learning disabilities other than dyslexia: These include certain neurological disorders other than dyslexia present in the child which sometimes does not get recognized even by their parents or teachers. As a result, the child who is a sufferer remains ignored or unnoticed for years leading to the development of a sense of fear or rejection inside their mental setup against reading or learning activities or interaction with the books.
4. Behavioral disorders: some behavioral disorders are also considered responsible for developing and aggravating conditions like bibliophobia in children as well as adults. These involve confusion and hesitancy in front of other persons or children or in between public. Such abnormalities can be overcome or controlled by the moral support of peers and friends or teachers.
5. Reasons related to some mental abnormalities: Some neurological disorders are also responsible for the development of bibliophobia in some individuals. These neurological disorders may include specific learning disabilities, hyperactivity, attention-deficit disorder, language disorder, difficulty in speech, disabilities related to intellect, and abnormalities in fluency, organization, or rhythm of the speech.

   Some other nervous disorders which are related to the development of conditions like bibliophobia may include bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and other psychotic disorders.

Bibliophobia is an abnormal response towards fear of books or reading which may be a result of exaggerated as well as irrational forms of the same. The neurological abnormality may be a result of the combination of physical as well as psychological abuse raised due to the inability of an individual to read properly. Some of the important symptoms which are associated with this condition include the following:

• A kind of hatred is developed towards books or reading or learning as well. This inhibits the individual from going into places like libraries, museums, classrooms, or any other places related to the learning.
• A sense of fear in the irrational form is also seen in the individuals suffering from bibliophobia. Such persons get anxious or worried when asked to read texts publicly or loudly in front of other persons.
• The appearance of symptoms such as excessive sweating, increased heart rate, increased palpitations, the occurrence of tremors in lower as well as upper extremities and all over the body.
• Confusion in thoughts is also one of the common symptoms related to bibliophobia. The thoughts about an object or situation become diffused in some conditions or may get in a status of confusion.
• Hyperventilation commonly referred to as difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath is also associated with bibliophobia. The breathing rate gets increasingly faster but becomes short in duration.
• The feeling of panic or terror is also important to be noticed in such conditions. An irrational and massive form of fear can induce the symptoms of flight in the individual or may paralyze him which terminates in a panic attack.
• Persons with bibliophobia are more prone to anxiety. This symptom is accompanied by a feeling of worry or tension which is constant and also causes recurrence in thoughts. It is also followed by panic attacks and fear or sweating.
• Some other symptoms associated with bibliophobia may include tightness in the chest, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, and clamminess.
• In children, the symptoms appear as discomfort around books which leads to avoidance around books. These feelings collectively may produce crying or tantrums.

Like other fears, there is no justification for bibliophobia. It is an irrational fear developed by humans. As per the research, this kind of fear usually emerges from childhood incidents. People with learning disabilities are prone to bibliophobia. In fact, illiteracy can also make a person suffer from bibliophobia. Most of us often associate fear of discovering new things with bibliophobia.

One can’t be tagged as a bibliophobia patient just because he is not feeling comfortable with the latest discoveries, however, illiteracy can make you feel shameful and could possibly turn you into a bibliophobia patient.

Many times there are serious repercussions linked with the cases. Most people read newspapers, the internet, magazines, and books to get information about the world. But for bibliophobia patients, reading is a major fear which could detach the person from the world of information. There are several ways and therapies to overcome this fear. One such therapy is desensitization therapy.

This therapy invites bibliophobia patients to overcome the phobia by giving them a brief exposure to books. Gradually when patients start feeling comfortable with the presence of books then they will be given tasks to read the books so that they will be able to establish friendly connections with books. This is the coping strategy that gives them a chance to lead a normal life.

Bibliophobia when left in an untreated condition or undergoes delayed treatment, may lead to some complications which include the following:

• Isolation - It includes social isolation work and social relations and leads to a world of loneliness.
• Neurological complications like depression and mood disorders.
• Alcohol or drug-related abuse can arise as a result of self-efforts of dealing with the phobia and its medications.

Summary: Bibliophobia which is an unusual neurological disorder refers to the developing fear or hatred towards learning or reading books. It may be a result of exaggerated as well as irrational forms of fear which is a result of the combination of physical as well as psychological abuse raised due to the inability of an individual to read properly.