A Look at Mirror Phobia

While Snow White’s stepmom fears what the magic mirror has to say – that she’s not the fairest woman of all – some people fear the mirror itself, magical or not.

It’s seems strange that although people who have mirror phobia or fear of mirrors know that mirrors are just reflective surfaces that bounce light back, and that horror films are just figments of filmmakers’ imagination, they still shudder at the sight of mirrors and the thought of any unpleasantness they might see in them.

‘Eisoptrophobia’ is the fancy term for mirror phobia. The word is derived the Greek ‘eis’ (into), ‘optikos’ (vision, image, sight) and ‘phobos’ (fear).

Some phobia lists also refer to it as ‘catoptrophobia’ or ‘spectrophobia’ – fear of mirrors and seeing one’s reflection on mirrors. Now that’s not a funny thought.

Superstitions and horror movies often cause mirror phobias. A broken mirror brings bad luck, they say. Some people think looking into the mirror will summon supernatural forces or creatures.

Others feel that they’re being watched through the mirror, which has nothing to do with their megalomaniac tendencies. You might think it funny, but those who suffer from this psychological condition are not just being cute.

Eisoptrophobes suffer from anxiety even though they realize their fear is irrational. To them, their fear is real. It doesn’t help if the phobic loves books and movies.

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray shows how the corruption of man’s inner being can cause the deterioration of a handsome young man’s portrait. And terrifying mirrors scenes have become scary-movie clichés.

The best way to deal with mirror phobia is to see a psychotherapist. There’s no pill you can take to calm your mirror-troubled nerves; it’s difficult to find a place where you can’t see your reflection; you don’t want to gouge your eyes out; and you can’t teach yourself to be like Narcissus.