Do you dread the thought of your partner leaving
you? Or are you getting too anxious knowing that you have to live alone when
your kids go to college? Being lonely is unpleasant, but it turns into autophobia
when thoughts of being alone become a persistent fear and affect your emotional
and mental health.
The definition of autophobia is the fear of
being alone; even just the idea of being alone causes stress and severe
anxiety. The thought of being alone at home causes you sleepless nights and
heart palpitations even if you’re actually not alone at the moment. This is a
real phobia that affects a person’s well-being that needs to be
addressed.
Persons with autophobia may live in fear
of:
§ Burglars or intruders at home
§ The feeling of being unwanted or unloved
§ The fear of being abandoned by loved ones
§ Strangers coming into the house
§ Unexplained or unexpected strange noises at
home
§ Having an emergency at home while being alone
(a medical issue or in cases of natural disasters)
What Causes Autophobia?
The reason behind the fear of being alone is
not always apparent. However, it may be influenced by a traumatic experience in
the past, childhood trauma, or relationship issues. Here are some possible
causes a person can develop morbid fear of solitude.
1. Negative Childhood Experiences
Like other phobias, autophobia could be caused
by traumatic childhood experiences that cause this fear. It may be rooted in
abandonment issues like a parent leaving, a loved one who passed away suddenly,
or distressing relationships during childhood. For instance, there was a story
of a child left by his mother on the streets, and he lived to fear being alone
growing up.
2. Traumatic Experiences
A traumatic experience may cause autophobia.
An example may be a burglar breaking in when you were home alone. Maybe you witnessed
a loved one suffer or die from a medical issue alone. If not appropriately
addressed, this may be a concern in a person’s life in the long run. These
traumatic experiences can cause autophobia, as well as anxiety disorders
or post-traumatic disorder (PTSD).
3. Other Conditions
Other individuals who have present mental
health conditions like PTSD, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders have the
possibility of developing a panic attack with the thought of being alone.
Symptoms of Autophobia: Do I have a fear of Being Alone?
The phobia of being alone can sometimes be overlooked
because others are unaware of its presence or don’t want to talk about it. So
how do you know if you have autophobia? Here are some of its symptoms:
§ Experiencing physical symptoms with the
thought of being alone like sweating, chest pain, shaking, dizziness,
hyperventilation, increased heart rate, or nausea
§ Changes in eating or sleeping patterns because
of the obsessive worrying about being alone
§ A persistent sense of loneliness even when
surrounded by other people
§ Having panic attacks or feeling anxious when
left alone at home or in a social situation
§ A very strong desire to flee when alone at
home or even in a public place.
§ Feeling disconnected or detached from oneself
when alone
§ Stress or anxiety is starting to affect one’s
life at home, school, and work or interfere with relationships
Social Impacts of Autophobia
When a person has a phobia of being alone, it
may greatly affect professional, social, and intimate relationships. Here are
the social impacts of autophobia:
§ Unhealthy intimate relationships, like
constantly thinking that your partner is having an affair even when it’s not
true or there’s no reason to suspect it. This also includes checking up on your
partner all the time.
§ Parents who fear being lonely do not like
their kids to form intimate relationships with friends or a partner because
they are afraid their kids might leave them.
§ Attending social gatherings even when not
invited
§ Stalking an ex-spouse and being unable to move
on from the relationship
How Is Autophobia Diagnosed?
At a certain point in life, a person may be
scared of being alone when there are significant life changes like the children
moving out or the spouse passing away. However, when the person feels scared
but has healthy emotional and mental coping, the fear of being alone is
overcome.
A person is diagnosed as autophobic if they experience
one or more symptoms mentioned above for at least six months. If these symptoms
start to affect the person’s everyday life (at work, home, relationships,
functioning every day), the doctor may advise them to seek mental help.
How to Overcome Fear of Being Alone
Can you overcome the fear of being alone? Yes,
you can. Others have done it, and so can you. Here are some strategies you can
follow to overcome the fear of being alone:
1. Meditate or Practice Mindfulness Exercises
Meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing
exercises, aromatherapy, and practicing relaxation techniques help overcome the
fear of being alone. Even listening to a guided meditation or using a
meditation app can help you self-regulate and lower anxiety levels. However,
these relaxation
techniques are more of a
short-term solution to take control of your anxiety or panic attacks.
2. Stick to a Routine
Sticking to a steady routine can help keep
your mind off from the worries of being alone. You can keep yourself busy also
so you won’t get overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness. You can also go out
and meet new friends, join a club, or enroll in the gym.
Treatment: Can Autophobia Be Cured?
Just like other phobias, the fear of being
alone can be cured. Seeing a mental health
professional can help you manage
symptoms and overcome the phobia. During therapy, your counselor may use exposure
therapy, where you are faced with your fear in a safe and controlled
setting.
There is also individual therapy or cognitive behavioral
therapy that can help
you change the way you think and feel. Therapy is beneficial to overcome fears
or whatever struggle you experience in life. During therapy, you can also
connect with support groups where you’ll find inspiration to be strong while
gaining new friends.
If you need someone to talk to about a fear, be
it autophobia or agoraphobia, schedule an appointment with Kentucky
Counseling Center now.
Our counselors will help you overcome fears that keep you from living your best
life.
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