Teacher, I have never had a dog in my family, and I have never been bitten by a dog, but I am very scared when I see a dog, why is that? How do I get a system desensitization?
Your fear of dogs is very normal. Humans have a fear of some animals due to various reasons such as genetic inheritance, traumatic memories from childhood, fear of rabies, and social phobia. These fears may be caused by our own discomfort rather than by the object of fear itself. This could also explain the fact that even if you haven't been bitten by a dog, you get scared when you see a dog.
In response to your fears, I recommend that you take a systematic desensitization approach. Systematic desensitization is a psychological method that gradually lowers your fear by gradually exposing you to the fearful thing. In this process, you need to have patience and confidence to record your feelings every time until you can speak publicly on any occasion.
Here are some specific steps:
1.Know your fears: First, you need to understand why you're afraid of dogs. Can you recall if you ever been attacked or frightened by a dog? If you have one, you can learn about your fears by recalling these experiences.
2.Create a desensitization plan: Once you understand your fears, you can start developing a desensitization plan. In this program, you need to gradually reach out to dogs, starting with what you are most comfortable with and gradually increasing the number of dogs and the duration of contact.
3.Exposure to toy pet dogs: You can start practicing by touching toy pet dogs. These toy pet dogs are usually trained and will not be aggressive towards people. You can gradually get used to the presence of dogs by coming into contact with these dogs.
4.Observe the dog's behavior: You can observe the dog's behavior before you approach the real dog. Dogs' behaviors often represent their emotions and needs, for example, relying on the owner is to express liking, sneezing is playing, running fast is healthy and happy, reluctant eyes are to understand that the owner will come back, and looking at the owner when going to the toilet is trust. By observing the dog's behavior, you can get to know the dog better, which can reduce your fear.
5.Get close to a real dog: When you're ready to get close to a real dog, you can start approaching gradually. You can start from a greater distance and observe the dog's behavior, and if the dog does not show aggression, you can gradually get closer.
Keep in mind that systematic desensitization takes time and patience. Don't rush and gradually increase your level of exposure. At the same time, if your fear is very strong, you can seek help from a professional counselor.