Coping With Siderodromophobia, or the Fear of Trains

Siderodromophobia, or the fear of trains, is a broadly encompassing diagnosis that includes all concerns related to trains. Some people fear crashing, while others are afraid of the lack of control. Still, others do not directly fear trains but find them to be a trigger for other phobias such as claustrophobia, agoraphobia, travel phobia, or germ phobia.

This article will explore the underlying reasons for the fear of trains, as well as ways to cope.

Understanding Siderodromophobia

Siderodromophobia comes from the ancient Greek word sidero - meaning iron, and dromos - meaning racetrack. This fear of trains can be rooted in many other phobias.

Depending on the severity of your phobia, symptoms like shaking, sweating, nausea, heart palpitations, or choking sensations may begin long before a scheduled train trip.

If you have siderodromophobia, you might be afraid only of traditional railroad trains, or your fear may encompass subways, monorails, and trollies as well. Some people fear only subways or monorails but not traditional railroads, which is believed to be more rare.

Some fears generalize beyond riding on a train, and feelings of anxiety may be triggered by seeing a train, hearing the sound of a locomotive in the distance, or watching movies that involve scenes with trains. Even seeing train tracks can produce feelings of panic.

Your fear may be rooted in other fears, such as:

• Being confined or trapped in small spaces
• Being in crowded spaces
• Engaged in extended travel or taking a trip
• Fear of being exposed to germs
• Fear of riding in any vehicle
• Fear of dying

Fears Related to Train Tracks

Although it lacks an official "phobia name," the fear of train tracks may not be that rare. A quick Internet search turns up hundreds of discussions involving this fear. The phobia of train tracks generally hinges on one main concern: the fear of accidentally being stuck on the tracks, whether by their shoelace or in their car.

These fears often encompass not only railroad tracks, but subway tracks as well. Many people report that subway platforms are particularly terrifying, as they worry about being pushed or falling onto the tracks below and unable to escape in time.

Common Causes of siderodromophobia

The fear of being stuck on railroad tracks is often, though not always, related to a previous negative experience. If you have ever had a car stall on the tracks and felt yourself panicking, you may be at increased risk of developing a phobia. However, the negative experience need not have happened to you.

Media Exposure. Every once in a while, we hear about a train derailing or a stalled car that causes someone to be struck by an oncoming train. Although these events are extremely rare, they generally receive ongoing media coverage for several days. Watching an accident on TV could be enough to spark intense fear.

Genetics. The propensity for phobias has a genetic component as well. If one of your parents had a phobia, especially if it was related to railroad tracks, you may be more likely to develop a similar fear by inheritance or from learning from their reactions.

Another popular superstition involves picking up your feet when crossing a railroad track by car. The origins of this one are lost to time, but kids and even adults continue to follow this "rule" today.

Whether legends and ghost stories are true or not, it demonstrates how pervasive stories about railroad tracks have become.

Coping With the Fear

Overcoming fear is challenging but do-able! There are several strategies you can try on your own, and if needed, seek professional counseling.

Self Help Methods

If your fear is mild, you may be able to contain it with self-help methods. Purposeful and mindful breathing, visualization, and meditation relieve stress and can help ease panicky feelings. Simply spending time at a railroad track or subway station near your home can help dissipate some of the fear.

Support groups for phobias can also be helpful, even if those in the group don't share the exact same fear. Having a 'shared experience' with other people can help normalize your feelings. You will also learn how others have found strategies to overcome their fears that can be helpful and motivating for your own face-your-fear journey.

Therapy

For some people, this fear becomes life-limiting and a source of distress. If fear of trains (or train tracks and other train-like features) severely impacts your life, it is best to seek professional assistance. If your fear is severe enough, you might find yourself engaging in the following behaviors to cope:

• Saying 'no' to a beautiful train ride across Europe with your friends.
• Taking long, circuitous routes to avoid crossing tracks on your way to work or school
• Unable to use the subway system in any city
• Avoid taking a public bus because you would be unable to control the driver's route to avoid trains and train tracks

The good news is that train phobia is highly treatable, with good rates of success. One of the most popular treatments is cognitive-behavioral therapy. In this treatment, you will be taught to stop and redirect your negative thoughts about trains. Some elements of exposure therapy would be used to help desensitize you to the sights and sounds of trains so you can relax and regain your ability to function normally. You will also learn to change your unhealthy coping behaviors regarding trains.