Meningitophobia is the fear of meningitis or brain diseases. Meningitis ia an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

-The origin of the word meningi is Greek(meaning membranes enveloping the brain and spinal cord.) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear).

-Meningitophobia is considered to be a specific medical phobia,in general illness phobia.

-Meningitis is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately or it can be fatal.The symptoms include fever , stiff neck, nausea, vomitting and seizures.Some type of bacterial meningitis are contagious. The risk of harboring the infection increases in family members or school or college mates or at job via coughing or sneezing.

-Phobia arises from a combination of  external events ie a traumatic events and internal predispositions ie. heredity or genetics.Some Phobias are common to some family.

-Meningitophobia can be developed by witnessing traumatic experience at an early age.It is also believed that brain chemistry together with above factors and real life experiences can lead to development of phobia.The person thinks that he or she is receiving information or warnings about potentially dangerous disease.

-The fear can be harbored from others like parents who react with fear witnessing the patient of meningitis and the suffering they go through.In some cases if a closeone dies of meningitis than the fear grows more over the years as they are not able to cope with the loss.Very emotional person catches the fear quickly.

-The feared person in intense cases has fear of dying.In some cases the phobic will corelate their bodily symptoms to the meningitis symptoms and will often fear to already harbored the disease and would go to the doctor to get a clean chit again and again. They would also get reassurance from friends and family.

-They generate various personal problems like anxiety, self pity,depression. They are often complaining about poor health, pain and symptoms like a meningitis patient.In severe cases the panic attacks, dizziness, vomitting is in excess.They would avoid the situation or the place to escape the stimulation. Reading articles,media and hospitals with such patients and their information is avoided.

-General symptoms are palpitation,fast heart rate,chest pain,fear of loosing control.

-The self realisation that your fear is excessive and unreasonable is very important.It is a first step to success.Understanding your phobia and realising that it can be treatable helps  to overcome it faster. Channelising  negative and unrealistic thoughts to the positive ones, taking help from friends and visiting your therapist regularly is beneficial.

-The exposure therapy is a type of Cognitive-Behavioral therapy which involves gradual encounters with the fear producing subject,first in mind and then in reality.It lowers the fear in few sessions,followed by counseling.

-Hypnotherapy with Neurolinguistic Programme is also beneficial where the therapist learn and decide the line of therapy based on the words the person speaks when hypnotised. This is done by an expert and only in severe cases.

-Relaxation tech. including Pranayam, Yoga and muscle relaxation is also beneficial.

-Specific phobias are treatable without medications except in few cases.

-The participant modeling therapy where therapist models healthy ways of interacting with the subject of fear in 2-4 sessions. The phobic will feel safe and will feel accompanied.

-The first step to becoming is to will it, rightly said by Mother Teresa. Have a will,it is upto one,if it is to be.

Brief bio of Author : The author is Jigna Chinoy, a medical lab tech. ,served a well known Hematology lab and Blood bank  for over 14 yrs. Served as a hon. Prof. of general microbiology, practical microbiology and genetics, for 10 yrs at a post graduate level. Volunteered marrow donor registry of India, A yoga trainer  and a reader, a student of Adv.Diploma in Counseling and Guidance.
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