Literally, Hoplophobia means irrational fear of firearms, for hoplon actually means weapon and phobia means irrational fear.

Normally, for a person to be called a hoplophobic, he or she should possess some signs and symptoms associated with the intense fear of something like a firearm or the like that poses little or no actual danger at all.

Symptoms of Hoplophobia

Typically, a person suffering from hoplophobia may experience usual phobic symptoms such as excessive sweating, fear of dying, breathlessness, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, heart palpitations, and inability to speak or think clearly.

Some other symptoms like immediate lose of temperament, sense of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack may also become apparent if the condition turns more serious and severe.

Possible Cause of Hoplophobia

Exact cause of hoplophobia and all kinds of phobias is normally associated with the unconscious mind that might have been affected by a certain tragic event or incident from the past.

However, there are also some cases that development and eventually occurrence of hoplophobia and some other similar phobias are linked to some television shows or movies where in there so much action and at the same time presence of firearms of various kinds and caliber.

Treatments for Hoplophobia

Normally, a person with hoplophobia is encouraged to undergo some therapies that deal with some gun training, sometimes for reality, sometimes just good for the imagination to bear.

At times, therapies that use some slides and pictures of guns and some firearms are also recommended. These are actually considered as the best means to conquer the fear for firearms gradually but surely.

However, if therapies alone won’t work, medications will then be advised as well. There are a lot of potent drugs out there but some can actually cause much trouble, so it’s vital that you take some cautionary measures beforehand.