What is anthropophobia?
Share
There are many different types of phobias that can significantly affect a person's quality of life. These include phobias such as agoraphobia and sociophobia, which is the fear of being alone. Each of these conditions requires attention and an individualized approach to treatment.
Anthropophobia is a fear of people. Although the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) does not use this term, if you enter it into the search engine on the NIMH website, you will find information about “social anxiety disorder.” Some researchers consider anthropophobia to be synonymous with sociophobia, which is expressed as a fear of society or communicating with people.
Other researchers argue that anthropophobia is a deeper fear. If you have sociophobia, you may feel relatively comfortable in an anonymous social environment, such as a random crowd. However, with anthropophobia, anxiety arises even in such an environment, and fear is present regardless of whether it is a crowd of people or another social situation.
Anthropophobia can manifest itself in different degrees. In mild cases, a person may experience only minor discomfort in social situations, while in extreme forms, even communicating with one person, including loved ones, can cause severe anxiety. In such cases, people often prefer to communicate with others exclusively through electronic means.
Anthropophobia can lead to a person stopping working or studying to avoid any social interactions. This fear of people interferes with the basic need to communicate, which creates an internal conflict in the mind. The brain feels a contradiction between the desire for isolation and the natural need for social interaction.
Causes of anthropophobia
All phobias are usually associated with traumatic events in a person's life. Sometimes one extremely negative experience is enough to develop anthropophobia. More often, however, it is formed gradually as a result of a series of negative or unsuccessful social interactions that lead to fear of people.
Betrayal by loved ones can trigger the development of a phobia. What begins with a single instance of betrayal can escalate into serious trust issues. Over time, this can lead to a complete fear of people and avoidance of any social interactions, as the person begins to see a threat in any relationship and contact with others.
Anthropophobia can also develop due to adrenal dysfunction. The hormones produced by the adrenal glands play an important role in regulating the stress response, and their imbalance can both alleviate and exacerbate stress reactions. In addition, problems with the thyroid gland and cardiovascular system can also contribute to anxiety disorders, including anthropophobia.
Symptoms of anthropophobia
People often do not notice the early symptoms of anthropophobia. At first, it can manifest itself in an attempt to avoid eye contact with others, as well as in a constant feeling of anxiety about being watched. Usually, a person is also concerned about the fear of being judged or negatively evaluated by others.
A more obvious symptom is “anticipatory anxiety,” when a person feels very anxious about an upcoming social event. The closer to the date, the more physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, sleep disturbances, and headaches, may become more acute.
Panic attacks are also a common symptom of anthropophobia. They can occur when a person with anthropophobia needs to interact with other people. Symptoms of a panic attack include
- sweating and trembling
- redness of the skin;
- difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking or making decisions;
- desire to run away;
- a sense of impending danger;
- rapid heartbeat.
Methods of treating anthropophobia
There is a widespread fear among mental health professionals that anthropophobia and other anxiety disorders can lead people suffering from them to seek relief in recreational drugs and alcohol. There is also a risk of misusing medications, such as prescription sedatives.
Unfortunately, drug and alcohol abuse usually only makes things worse for people with anthropophobia, especially when they are trying to keep a job and interact with other people.
If you suffer from anthropophobia, you should know that there are several effective treatment options. Despite the complexity of the phobia, early detection is critical to preventing its further progression.
Treatment for anthropophobia can be as simple as undergoing therapy sessions to help replace negative thoughts with positive ones. However, in more extreme cases of phobia, it will likely take more time and additional therapies to achieve positive results.
Your doctor will usually start by performing a full physical exam to identify possible bodily causes of your anxiety. He or she may also prescribe medications to help relieve symptoms and check for signs of addiction. If you do not want to use medication, you can ask your doctor about the possibility of using hypnotherapy as an alternative treatment.
Consciousness-based therapy, or “talk therapy,” is likely to be an important part of the treatment package. The components of this type of therapy include:
- Systematic desensitization. Start by making a list of your fears and learning to relax when your brain focuses on those fears. Start with the most minor fears and gradually move on to the biggest ones.
- Challenge old behaviors and learn new ones. Use homework to change old behaviors and introduce new ones.
- Support groups. Getting involved in support groups can help you overcome problems and provide moral support.
- Stress management. Consider meditation and exercise as ways to alleviate symptoms and reduce stress.
Anthropophobia can start with a simple bad experience with someone, gradually develop into social anxiety, and eventually become a strong fear of all people. If you are dealing with this serious condition, early detection and seeking professional help can make the recovery process much easier. You can start with a hotline specializing in anxiety issues. Because anthropophobia is a fear of people, it can be difficult to seek help from another professional. However, it is a necessary step to begin your recovery.
For more information on managing anxiety and related conditions, visit our website.