I'm terrified of clowns?

Question

I made a total *** out of myself today at my boyfriends little brothers birthday. He had two clowns for his birthday, and nobody told me this after they knew I'm terrified of clowns! When I went to the backyard I didn't see them so I thought I was in the clear next thing I know one comes in front of out of me out of nowhere blowing up a wiener dog. I ran all the way upstairs, and into my bf's room locked the door, and waited until the clowns left. How do cure this "ridiculous" phobia?

Answer 1

The diagnosis is usually obvious based on symptoms.

Treatment may include exposure therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, and drugs (such as antidepressants and, for specific phobias, benzodiazepines).

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Answer 2

I am "not comfortable" around clowns either, I used to be terrified of them (my brother is too, neither one of us knows why) eventually I just learned to control the fear to a degree where people can't tell I am afraid. I am also afraid of most bugs, that fear I am not so good at controlling, ew spiders are the worst! But I don't have to check a room for them anymore, I think as time goes on it will get better, that's what happened with me.  

Answer 3

being afraid of clowns is a cliche. It's all in your head. It makes sense to be afraid of them as a kid (I was) but now its kinda in style to be afraid of clowns. It's stupid. Cure the ridiculous phobia by remembering not all clowns live in gutters where "they all float". Remember that they are goofy people in goofy makeup.

Answer 4

Just to let you know, there are many people out there who are afflicted by phobias to some degree or another.  Some anxiety may be traced to specific traumas which you may, or may not, know about.  For instance, in 1920, John B. Watson and Rosalie Rayner performed experiments on an orphan baby referred to as "Little Albert".  While this controversial (unethical by today's standards) experiment did expand our knowledge of behaviorism and of classical conditioning, it effectively created some long-term anxiety over a broad array of 'furry' items for Little Albert.

In brief, here's how the experiment went.  Infant Albert was first exposed to a white rat which he was curious about and liked.  In the next 6 times he was shown the rat, a loud noise was made, terrifying Little Albert.  Little Albert started to attribute seeing a white furry rat with fear and anxiety.  This fear continued and transfered to other white furry animals (like white kittens), and even the beard of Santa Claus.  (The birth of a phobia).

A trained behaviorist may provide insight into the underlying dynamic of your fears.  A pioneering founder of modern science, Francis Bacon (1561-1626) was one of the first to anticipate our mind's hunger to perceive patterns.  An example may be in the way we pigeonhole types of friends into general stereotypes.  This pattern helps us understand quickly behaviors that may be elicited in certain situations.  It is all very calming (whether you know it or not) to know and understand this predictable situation.  Your fear may stem from the over-exagerated painted face of a clown.  You may be confused on how to exactly interpret the facial non-verbal cues, therefore creating anxiety (about the now unpredictable situation).  This could be the underlying dynamic (or it could be something else).  Part of the clowns humor is in part to create this juxtaposition (opposite ends)- not being prepared for the antics that they do.

Most behavioral health practitioners at least employ a system of systematic desensitization to effectively reduce or possibly eliminate phobias.  Systematic desensitization exposes the subject in very small increments to slightly higher levels of progressive exposure.  Along with training the subject to manage their anxiety, this graduated exposure is slowly administered.  The overall goal is to eliminate unwarranted fears by creating an understanding of the underlying dynamic of their fears.

In plain terms, your path with a behavioral psychologist may resemble something like this (over multiple sessions depending on progress):

1) Thinking about clowns (concentrating on managing your breathing or other coping techniques)

2) Talking about your fears giving me positive things that clowns may provide to people (not particularly to you).

3) Asking you to draw a simple stick figure clown

4) Showing you a picture of a "nice" clown at a comfortable distance (perhaps with the picture 10 feet away even)

5) Showing you pictures of 5 "nice" clowns and asking you to indicate the cutest clown

6) Showing you a picture of a clown doll and having a collector explain the value of different types of clowns that they've collected

7) Having a clown doll in the same room facing away

8) Moving the doll closer in successive meetings until it can be held

9) Present the doll as a present to a child who would cherish it, and explaining to the child the positive things and value that it has (info from the collector)

10) See videotape of a clown making kids laugh at a party

11) Meeting with someone who is a professional clown (but not dressed up)

12) Touching some of the "clown gear" such as a rubber nose or funny shoes

13) Ask you to entertain children at a party (not necessarily as a clown) just keeping children's attention and laughs

14) Asking you to watch the clown in action (even if it is from a 2nd story of a house) entertaining children

15) Be in proximity with this (same) professional clown in an outdoor area

16) Be in proximity with this clown in a large room (then smaller rooms in the future)

17) Talk with this clown (same clown) while they are dressed up in a very neutral environment (perhaps a large room or outdoors)

18) Shake hands with the clown

19) Put on clown shoes and walk around (and put on other items)

20) (And eventually) Entertain as a clown at a party

Anyway, I think you get the picture. All of this would be guided by coping strategies from the therapist's training on an appropriate timetable.  It is natural to fear the unknown, but seldom do we take (small) steps to change or understand.  Would you pay a lot of money to eradicate your fear of clowns?  Maybe?  Maybe not?  But consider these other fears that  would be worth it:  there's women out there that are fearful of men, yet they long to be married and have a healthy relationship.  There are fears like agoraphobia (the fear of the outdoors) which cripple any social life if too deeply rooted.  The methods are probably along the same lines.

Perhaps you can gradually implement the system above yourself.  Take your time and go slow.  Good

Answer 5

hey chicka...dnt even trip...im scared of em too :(  

Answer 6

I understand your terror of clowns. I too am scared by them. It develops from your childhood well in most cases not all tho. for me it had to do with that dam movie but then it got me thinking, i dont trust people easily and to me I have no idea who's wearing alll that makeup under that clown costume. and not to scare you but i'm not kidding about the i wonder who's under cuz a reknown serial killer, John Gacy, used to dress up as a clown sometimes then..did his thing.

Don't be ashamed of it though soo many people have phobias and being afraid of clowns is actually a little common. I've met a lot who just can't stand them.

I'm not sure if there is a 'cure' but there certainly is therapy to lessen your phobia of clowns maybe even take it all away.

prolly same goes for the bugs. although it sounds like the bugs may jsut be more of a disliking and the whole grossed out factor kicks in.