Tocophobia

Tocophobia refers to the condition of having an abnormal, extreme fear of giving birth.
(A related term is teratophobia, fear of bearing a malformed child.)

Extreme fears (phobias) such as tocophobia can lead to a variety of disturbing symptoms such as: Breathlessness; difficulty in thinking or speaking clearly; dizziness; dry mouth; fear of dying, "going mad" or losing control; feeling sick; nausea; palpitations, shaking; sweating profusely; or a full blown anxiety attack. Not all sufferers are affected by all possible symptoms, and some individuals may also have other reactions.

Even though many adult sufferers of tocophobia (and/or other fears/phobias) are aware that their fears are unreasonable, many still experience severe anxiety even when just thinking about the subject or situation they fear.

Textbooks about Phobias:

Anxiety and Phobic Disorders: A Pragmatic Approach
Anxiety Disorders and Phobias: A Cognitive Perspective

 




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