Understanding Chionophobia or the Fear of Snow

Chionophobia, or intense fear of snow, is a type of phobia categorized as an environmental phobia. Environmental phobias include other weather-related phobias like the fear of thunderstorms (astraphobia) and the fear of wind (ancraophobia).

According to the American Meteorological Society, environmental phobias like chionophobia are the second most prevalent phobia subtype.

Overview

Chionophobia is not just a dislike of snow or a rational fear of severe weather forecasts. It is an irrational fear of snow that is typically linked to a fear of death or bodily harm. Though phobias can and do manifest themselves differently in different people's experiences, there are typically two primary fears behind chionophobia: the fear of becoming snowbound and the fear of being stranded in snow.

Symptoms

Like all phobias, the fear of snow may cause a variety of symptoms. Paying undue attention to weather reports, refusing to leave home during snowy weather, and experiencing panic attacks are extremely common in people with chionophobia. 

Some of the physiological symptoms that a person might experience in response to snow include:

• Rapid heart rate
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• A feeling of choking
• Stomach upset
• Sweating
• Trembling
• A sense of unreality 

Coping

The best methods for coping with the fear of snow depend on the severity and the level of impact that your fear has on your life. Some people find that becoming educated about different types of snow and their effects on local conditions can calm their fears. Others find that gradual exposure to winter activities is calming.

If your fear is severe or life-limiting, however, seek the guidance of a trained mental health professional. Winter weather is a fact of life in many areas. With proper treatment, there is no reason for this phobia to seriously curtail your life.

Other Snow-Related Fears

Like any phobia, the fear of snow is highly personalized. No two people experience snow phobia in precisely the same way and not all fears related to snow are, in fact, clinical phobias. Nonetheless, the vast majority of known snow-related fears fall into a handful of common categories.

Fear of Severe Weather: The fear of snow is often, although not always, associated with a more generalized weather-related phobia. Lilapsophobia is the fear of severe weather events, while astraphobia is the fear of more run-of-the-mill storms. Although snowfall is not generally affiliated with thunder and lightning, these events may certainly occur. For those with a fear of weather-related phenomena, even the possibility of a severe storm may be enough to trigger a phobic reaction.

Fear of Being Trapped: Avalanches, unstable snow forts, and thin ice are just a few of the potential hazards of winter activities. Most people take precautions to guard against becoming seriously trapped by snow or ice, but for some people, the idea of being trapped is a major anxiety trigger. For people with a strong phobia of being trapped, even the slight sinking feeling of walking through a light layer of snow may be enough to induce a panic attack.

Fear of Injury: Snowy conditions are often accompanied by ice, which is slick and potentially dangerous, and sometimes covered by a layer of snow. For those who have medical phobias or a fear of being injured, snow may present an anxiety-inducing risk. Some fears of injury due to ice and snow are rational, so it's important to note that fears that are rooted in rational considerations are never considered phobias.

Fear of Cold: Hypothermia and frostbite are very real conditions that, if not properly treated, may lead to serious injury or even death. However, they are relatively rare in the modern world except during emergency situations. Particularly in colder climates, clothing, blankets, and emergency heat supplies are readily available and adequate for the prevailing local conditions. Nonetheless, some people have a specific irrational fear of being cold. Known as cryophobia, the fear of cold can be paralyzing, inducing sufferers to remain indoors even at great personal cost to relationships and obligations.

Fear of Illness: Remember that old playground advice, "don't eat the yellow snow?" Although pure, new-fallen snow is relatively safe and clean, snow that has sat on the ground may be contaminated with bodily fluids, chemicals, and numerous other hazards. The risks are minimal, particularly for those who do not make a habit of eating old snow. For those with germ phobia or a tendency to ruminate about possible health concerns, even the slight risks associated with snow may be too much to bear.

Fear of Driving: Winter driving is often tricky and potentially hazardous. Caution is prudent, and most people develop winter driving habits that minimize the risks. For those with a pre-existing fear of driving, however, driving in winter weather may seem impossible. In addition, some people with no fear of driving in mild weather develop a specific phobia of winter driving.