Autophobia, or the fear of being alone, is an anxiety disorder in which a person feels excessively anxious at the thought and experience of being alone. The fears experienced cause physical and psychological symptoms. Fear of being alone is thought to be caused by traumatic events and experiences in childhood. It can be treated with psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy techniques. If left untreated, it negatively affects the person's life.
The fear of being alone is also called monophobia. People can experience these fears even when they are with different people. They may feel lonely in a crowd or worry that people will leave them or that they will have to go home and be alone.
Why does autophobia (fear of being alone) happen?
The causes of autophobia are not known exactly. It is thought that negative traumas experienced during childhood or genetic factors are among the factors that cause this condition.
The causes of fear of being alone can be listed as follows:
- Divorce or loss of a parent during childhood
- Feeling ignored, neglected or abandoned
- Traumatic abandonment by a loved one in crowded or different open settings
- Experiencing traumatic events such as panic attacks, injury, mugging, theft
In addition, the risk factors for fear of being alone are as follows:
Family History: Growing up with a parent with a phobia or anxiety disorder can predispose an individual to the same or different anxieties.
Gender: Specific phobic disorders are more likely to affect female individuals.
Panic Disorder: People with panic attacks may be afraid of having negative experiences when they are alone.
What are the Symptoms of Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone)?
People who experience fear of loneliness usually know that these fears are not rational. However, they still cannot prevent the symptoms and signs that occur as a result of these fears and cannot control their physical reactions. Symptoms may appear differently from person to person. The symptoms of autophobia can be listed as follows:
Psychological Symptoms
- Participating in social situations that he/she would not enter in order not to be alone
- Inability to sleep at night and anxiety when alone
- Turn on music or TV to sleep
- Fainting with the thought and experience of being alone, fear of death
- Emotional states such as extreme sadness, anxiety, worry, nervousness, anger
Physical Symptoms
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Tremor
- Heart palpitations
- Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Indigestion
In order not to feel lonely, the person may want to participate in environments and activities that they would not normally engage in. Often, when they are alone at night, they may turn on television or music to sleep. These situations are caused by feelings of anxiety.
The person who is alone feels intense worry and anxiety, sweats and has a rapid heartbeat. There are also other symptoms such as hot flashes, difficulty breathing, and a lot of headaches. Many people who experience this condition may also experience a strong fear of death.
Who Suffers from Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone)?
Phobias can occur in every person. However, some negative experiences trigger phobias and lead to their development in later periods. Autophobia can be seen at any age and in any gender group. In addition, this type of phobia affects women more than men.
These traumatic events are often experienced during childhood. Some children can be affected much more than others. Such situations can trigger and develop a fear of being alone in the future.
The development of fear of being alone does not only occur in childhood. It can be seen at any age. Exposure to intense stress in one's work life, experiencing economic difficulties can also lead to the development of such situations.
What is the difference between autophobia and loneliness?
The fear of being alone is different from feeling lonely. Many individuals experience feelings of loneliness when they are unable to establish or maintain adequate social relationships. Feeling sad and lonely in these situations is different from the symptoms and feelings experienced in fear of being alone.
People with fear of being alone experience extreme worry, anxiety and fear when they are alone or when they think they are alone. The fears can become obsessive and affect the person psychologically and physically.
Diagnosis of Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone)
There is no definitive medical test for the diagnosis of autophobia . In cases where symptoms and signs of fear of being alone are observed in a person, the support of a doctor or psychologist should be sought immediately. Some medical tests may be required to determine the exact underlying causes of the disorder and to see if there is a connection with other diseases.
When the underlying causes are found to be due to psychological problems, a personalized treatment plan is made by specialized psychologists. In addition, these fears should last for at least 6 months, the person should feel excessive fear and anxiety when alone, physical and emotional symptoms should start when he/she thinks about being alone, and it should have a serious negative impact on his/her daily life.
Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone) Treatment
The treatment of autophobia differs from person to person and treatment planning is individualized. It is a psychological disorder that can be completely treated and its effects can be greatly reduced. It is usually treated with cognitive behavioral therapy methods. In addition, different therapy methods such as exposure therapy, psychotherapy and desensitization therapy can be applied depending on the individual's situation.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
In cognitive behavioral therapy, the patient's thoughts and feelings are identified. The patient is talked to, questions are asked and a different perspective is tried to be gained about these fears. The aim of the therapy is to give the patient the ability to solve the problems they experience on their own. First of all, it is important that the person is open to the treatment and transparent to the therapist.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is a treatment method used to treat some phobias. People with a fear of being alone are confronted with their fears through this therapy. However, this usually does not give results in a short period of time. How long the treatment lasts may vary depending on the person. Over time, the person learns to be alone with their fears and to face them.
Desensitization Therapy
With this treatment method, the patient is made to relive the negative experiences of the past. The goal of desensitization therapy is to gain a different perspective on the bad events of the past and to desensitize the patient to these experiences. A positive perspective is tried to be gained.
In addition, in case of recurrence of anxiety, worry and anxiety, the person is taught some meditation and breathing techniques to control these fears.