‘Empathy and gradual exposure are key for those with a cicada phobia,’ panic and anxiety expert says

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Individuals with anxiety or phobia of insects still have time to prepare for the upcoming emergence of cicada Brood XIII and Brood XIX this summer.

Richard Zinbarg is professor and director of clinical psychology at Northwestern University and founder and principal investigator of the Anxiety and Panic Treatment Research Program at The Family Institute at Northwestern. He can be reached at rzinbarg@northwestern.edu or by contacting Stephanie Kulke at stephanie.kulke@northwestern.edu.

Quote from Professor Zinbarg
“A response to a phobic object — such as an insect for someone with an insect phobia — often presents as a panic attack. This includes intense physical sensations such as heart racing or pounding, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness and a strong emotional response of fear. This is because we are all born with a fear system that releases adrenaline as part of the activation of the fight or flight or freeze response. 

“Please be empathic. Though you might not be afraid of insects, please remember that we all fear something(s) and even if your fear response is only triggered by objectively dangerous stimuli, your loved one’s phobic response is the same as what you experience in those situations. 

“If your loved one shares their fear of cicadas with you prior to the peak period when cicadas emerge, encourage them to do gradual exposure to cicadas. Exposure means confronting that which we fear and usually avoid at least to some extent. Gradual means two things. First, they should start wherever they are willing to start. This could be looking at pictures of cicadas or talking about them if they usually avoid talking about cicadas. Second, let them decide when they are ready to challenge themselves and how much to increase the challenge of their next exposure step. Next steps may include standing in front of their front door when they think there might be a small number of cicadas outside or moving closer to cicadas when some begin to appear.”