Afraid of Snow? Illinois Winters Might Be Triggering This Phobia
If your mood instantly drops the second snow hits the ground in Illinois, you're not being dramatic... you might be dealing with a real phobia.
There are so many kinds of fears in the world, but one I've never heard of before now is Chionophobia. Have you heard of this?
Afraid of Snow? Illinois Winters Might Be Triggering This Phobia
Related: 7 Ways Illinois Winters Are Costing You Big Money
For people with chionophobia, snow isn't "cozy" or "magical". It can trigger serious anxiety or even full-blown panic attacks just thinking about it or seeing it start to fall. While some of us complain and grab an extra hoodie, others feel completely overwhelmed. To cope, people may stay inside all winter, avoid traveling anywhere cold, or even choose to move to warmer climates altogether. And if you can't just pack up and leave Illinois? Winter can start to take over your whole life - from missing work to canceling plans and slowly pulling away from people.
What makes this phobia tricky? A lot of people don't even realize they have the phobia. Or they keep it to themselves because it feels embarrassing to say you're "afraid of snow." But specific phobias are way more common than you'd think. About 1 in 10 adults in America and 1 in 5 teenagers will experience a specific phobia at some point. Chionophobia falls under natural-environment phobias, which also include fears of tornadoes, hurricanes, and even the dark. Basically, our brains sometimes decide the outdoors is the enemy.
Read More: Here Are 5 Indoor Things to Do in Rockford This Winter
Healthcare providers believe Chionophobia comes from a mix of genetics, environment, and personal history. For some people, it's tied to a traumatic snow-related experience.. getting stuck in a blizzard, being in a bad winter car accident, or losing someone during snowy conditions.
Those moments can change your perspective forever.
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