Cucurbitophobia is an excessive, irrational and unreasonable fear of pumpkins. The word Cucurbitophobia comes from Latin 'cucurbita' which represents different members of the pumpkin family ('Cucurbita maxima').

Most phobias, including the fear of pumpkins, start in childhood. Sometimes, they can come on for no apparent reason. However, in the case of Cucurbitophobia, the frightening significance of pumpkins during Halloween is the most common trigger.

We all know the use of pumpkins in carving Jack O’ Lanterns. The Celts, Irish and Scottish people who migrated to the United States started using pumpkins to create these frightening displays. Some symptoms of this phobia include anxiety, invasive thoughts (frightening and dangerous thoughts about pumpkins), terror and feeling dizzy or unsteady.

On a dark night, a display of pumpkins with carved, hideous faces and flickering candles inside can be a chilling vision for a person with an already sensitive disposition. A child who has been teased or scared by a friend or sibling with a scary pumpkin could easily develop Cucurbitophobia. The phobic’s mind tries to make sense of the unexpected sense of and intense anxiety or panic which, in turn, adds to the phobia. In most cases of childhood phobias, the phobic overcomes the fear with age.

Cognitive behavior therapy, neuro-linguistic programming and hypnotism are some phobia therapies that may be used to cure Cucurbitophobia..

More Info: www.fearof.net