Human psychology is an infinite universe of possibilities, in which there are no limits. Not in vain, it is believed that human beings use only 10% of our brain capacity. But, just as we are prepared to do great things, we also find ourselves faced with psychological illnesses and problems that arise exclusively within us. We are talking about what a phobia is, an internal fear so deep that it prevents us from living normally. Today at we have been encouraged to explore one of the most uncomfortable fears: the fear of being alone. Join us to discover what Monophobia is.
What is Monophobia?
Among the rarest phobias in the world we find such unusual issues as the fear of money or chrometophobia, the fear of cheese or turophobia, and even scopophobia or the fear of being looked at. As absurd as they may seem, they are serious matters that should be discussed with a professional. The same happens with monophobia, which is one of the most common phobias, but is often ignored due to social prejudice.
The society in which we live, so demanding and competitive, means that many people have developed a personality disorder that makes them unable to carry out daily activities on their own that do not involve major difficulty. The appearance of phobias becomes highly disabling for many people. These are irrational, excessive and out of control fears, generated by different things or situations. And many of them actually do not have enough threat power to represent real damage. This is the case of Glossophobia or fear of speaking in public, or the very common Buphonphobia or fear of toads and frogs. And among these disabling and annoying disorders is the fear of being alone. Let’s see what Monophobia is and how to combat it.
That your partner or your family leaves the house… That you stay late alone in the office… That a Sunday watching television alone becomes torture… If you identify with any of these scenarios, you may be interested in knowing a little more about what Monophobia is, also known as Autophobia.
Human beings are social by nature. We instinctively seek the company of others, the establishment of links, relationships, closeness with another and the development of a sense of belonging to a group. But Moments alone are also part of life, of everyday life, of what we understand as normal. They even become very necessary to promote autonomy, introspection and reflection on our own thoughts.
Now, What happens when you experience a fear of being alone, which becomes disabling? Well, perhaps it is a phobia that needs to be paid attention to: Monophobia. It occurs in those people who develop excessive dependence on constant social support. This dependency can manifest itself in the need to have a person in the same building, in the same house and in extreme cases in the same room. By not having the presence of another, isolation gives rise to a series of negative emotions and feelings, in which the person suffers, feels fear, anxiety and insecurity.
The fear of being alone is a disorder that belongs to the agoraphobic group. In general, those who suffer from agoraphobia will find it very difficult or impossible to carry out certain daily activities, such as going to crowded or public places, riding in elevators, public transport or simply being outside their home, their place of reference where they live. Their low self-esteem is not evident to the rest of the population. Agoraphobics often look for a companion for their outings and make this person essential, on which from that moment on they will have a great emotional dependence. There may also be additional, predominantly ‘social’ fears such as fear of blushing, shaking, speaking, eating or writing in front of people and being looked at.
The causes of fear of being alone
When we talk about what Monophobia is, we find the most extreme version of these fears. It is a real fear of ourselves, which usually goes hand in hand with low self-esteem problems. The person who suffers from Monophobia is afraid of listening to themselves, of defining themselves, of facing their own inner emptiness. The phobia of loneliness can be triggered by different events:
- The experience of traumatic events such as situations of physical or emotional abandonment in childhood. Having suffered episodes of bullying or isolation in adolescence can also trigger the fear of being alone in adulthood.
- Low self-esteem, which is linked to a constant need for external acceptance. People who suffer from fear of being alone need constant validation from someone, giving them characteristics and qualities that make them indispensable for their lives.
- The pressure for socialization also adds to the causes that explain what Monophobia is and why it occurs. There is a constant pressure to develop a sense of belonging, to be recognized, admired and accepted in a social group.. When we achieve this, we usually associate it with the idea of success. And precisely for this reason, being alone represents an idea of failure that generates automatic rejection.
Symptoms of Monophobia
When talking about what Monophobia is, we are faced with an exacerbated fear of loneliness, which pushes those who suffer from it to constantly feel insecure, anxious and even depressed if they do not have people around them. But in this sense we must make one thing clear, and that is that, beyond the fact that there are people who enjoy solitude more or less, When the fear of it becomes pathological, we are faced with the presence of a phobia that must be treated. Among the main symptoms that can alert us to the fact that we may suffer from Monophobia, the following stand out:
- Difficulty breathing or very rapid breathing in moments of loneliness.
- Physical symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, or cold sweats.
- Loneliness avoidance behaviors. Tendency to do anything to avoid facing the fear of being alone.
- Recurrent and catastrophic thoughts about all the bad things, threats or dangers to which the person feels exposed by being alone.
- Excessive emotional dependence on someone in your close circle.
- Even in its most serious manifestations, Monophobia can cause panic attacks.
Treatment of Monophobia
As with any anxiety disorder, Those who suffer from Monophobia cannot be convinced or intimidated to get out of their problem.. Anxiety is not trying to harm them, but rather it is trying to help them in the wrong way: by telling them that they are in terrible danger when they are alone.
The first step to overcoming the problem is to deeply understand what Monophobia is. Recognize it as a problem in the mental health of those who suffer from it. From there you can resort to different activities and treatments to combat the fear of being alone. Psychological therapy appears first. The most common style for these cases is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in which the therapist will guide the person, making them see new behavioral approaches, new communication skills, and specific techniques to help them deal with anxiety and depression.
Relaxation and stress relief techniques are also a great accompaniment when it comes to treating the fear of being alone. These techniques may include therapies such as specific forms of breathing, muscle relaxation training, guided mental imagery, or calming self-talk. Associating these relaxation techniques with being alone can help you cope with and overcome feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
What do you think of what we have explained to you about what Monophobia is? Did you know about this disorder suffered by those who are afraid of being alone? Did you give it a name? Also be amazed by the phobias of celebrities that affect even the big stars, without any distinction.