Whats it like to have a Phono-phobia ?

Nandesh Singhal
Sep 4, 2018 · 2 min read

Phonophobia or as doctors like to call it ligyrophobia is the fear of loud sounds or in my case sudden loud bursts of sounds like from a fire-cracker or when a balloon bursts. To fear something is one of the most basic and important quality of any living being, fear of death is what drives us to live longer.

Everyone has this fear at a very young age it’s like a survival trait but I was unlucky enough for my fear of sound to transform into a phobia instead of subsiding . Phobias have great power to affect the daily life of a person suffering with it. ‘Normal’ people would not understand but once we are out in a situation were we have to face the phobia the unadulterated mix of hormones and adrenaline kicks in and it becomes a fight or flight situation for us unfortunate lot.

“man closing his ear” by @chairulfajar_ on Unsplash

From the experience that I had I could say with absolute certainty that I would do anything to have my fear taken away. The sight of balloons and fire-crackers at functions and festivals would produce a chilly feeling down my spine and then even a hint of a sound could startle me to death. An occasional trip down the memory lane helps me evalute my life and assess the damage caused by the problem.

Good or bad my phobia has been a major player in determining the course of my life which I would like to change. It has prevented me to enjoy the world when it is at its beautiful. I don’t know if someone can get used to his or her phobia, I know I didn’t . Even now at the age of 18 my fear pf sound is going strong at the highest gear with no end in sight.

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