Coping With the Fear of Long Words (2024)

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is the fear of long words. The exact triggers are highly personalized; for example, some people fear long, multisyllabic words, and others, long, obscure words. Some even fear common words of moderate length.

Specific phobias like hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia affect between 3% and 15% of the population. Their relative rarity, however, does not change how devastating they can be for those who have them.

Symptoms of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Although some phobias lead to physical symptoms such as shaking, freezing in place, or sweating, symptoms of the fear of long words can be more subtle.

You might mentally lock up when confronted with particularly long words. Or, you might limit your speaking and writing, brushing off textbooks and scholarly works by saying "that author is too pretentious" or "I never did have a head for science."

Children with hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia might develop school-related phobias or lose interest in their academics. Other possible symptoms associated with a specific phobia such as the phobia of long words include:

• A feeling of imminent danger or a need to escape
• Heart palpitations, sweating, or trembling
• Shortness of breath or choking sensation
• Chest pain
• Abdominal discomfort or nausea
• Lightheadedness or dizziness
• A feeling of "going crazy"
• Tingling, chills, or a heat flush

Diagnosis of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5), but a mental health professional might consider the criteria for a specific phobia when evaluating for a diagnosis of the fear of long words.

This criterion includes having a pronounced fear or anxiety around the phobia which, in this case, is long words. This fear or anxiety also:

• Often happens immediately upon encountering it
• Is out of proportion with how dangerous it actually is
• Causes the person to avoid it
• Lasts for six months or more

The fear of long words may be related to other fears of reading or writing. For example, bibliophobia (the fear of books) could be aggravated or caused by the fear of long words. Mythophobia (the fear of legends) also could be caused by the fear of lengthy, unfamiliar passages, particularly in older legends.

Another potentially related fear is metrophobia or the fear of poetry. By its nature, poetry often contains unfamiliar words and unusual phrasing that can strike fear in those predisposed to discomfort with long words.

Logophobia is the fear of words altogether. This might encompass only words with particular sounds, suffixes, prefixes, etc. or words at large.

Causes of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Anxiety disorders are thought to be caused, in part, by environmental factors such as experiencing a traumatic event. In terms of hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, a person may have experienced a traumatic event tied to a long word.

Research suggests that genetics may play a role as well. It's not uncommon for patients with a phobic disorder to also have a family history of these types of conditions.

The DSM-5 adds that people with specific tempers, like behavioral inhibition, may be more at risk of developing a specific phobia. However, more research is needed to determine the risk factors for developing a phobia of a specific object, such as a long word.

Impact of Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

Like all phobias, the fear of long words can have a very real impact on a person's daily functioning and quality of life. A college professor who is constantly exposed to lengthy words might have serious difficulties at work, for instance.

In the classroom, a young person with a fear of long words may experience anxiety that potentially leads to the development of a social phobia or feelings of isolation and depression. As they head toward adulthood, they may even choose a career path that provides less exposure to lengthy words, cutting their list of opportunities short.

Treatment for Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

If you are diagnosed with a phobia, there is treatment available to help manage your symptoms. Treating a specific phobia such as hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia may involve medication, psychotherapy, or both.

Medication

The most commonly prescribed medication for anxiety disorders are antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax (alprazolam), may be prescribed as well.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are two types of psychotherapy that may be used to help treat the fear of long words. CBT helps identify and change negative thought patterns while exposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy that involves facing your fears.

Coping With Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

If your phobia of long words is mild and doesn't significantly impact your life, making a conscious effort to expand your vocabulary can help. Look for opportunities to learn new words through reading or everyday conversation.

Additionally, if you come across an unfamiliar word, look it up. Developing a level of familiarity with the word may help ease your symptoms of anxiety.

If your symptoms are more serious and impacting your daily life, professional assistance may be needed. A mental health professional can help you work through your fears and provide more coping strategies for managing your symptoms during the treatment process.

The Takeaway

Living with a phobia can be difficult. However, proper treatment can help relieve symptoms and provide coping strategies.

If you're experiencing a profound fear of long words—or any other fear that's disrupting your everyday life, reach out to a mental health professional for help. They have tools that can help you manage your fear.

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By Lisa Fritscher
Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics.