Have you ever heard the term anthropophobia but don’t know what it is? Do you want to know more details and data about anthropophobia? Or maybe, have you ever been afraid or rejected by someone and do you think it could be anthropophobia? In this Psychology-Online article we explain what anthropophobia, symptoms, possible causes and how to overcome it.
What does anthropophobia mean?
The term anthropophobia It comes from the Greek roots of “anthropos” which means man and “phobos” which means “fear or fear”, therefore its translation would be “fear of people”.
Anthropophobia is classified as a social anxiety disorder; some experts classify it as the pathological variant of shyness and introversion. It is considered a phobia of mostly cognitive rather than somatic origin, this means that it is primarily a psychological condition rather than a physical one. Here you can see the .
It is important not to confuse social anxiety with anthropophobia. People who suffer from social anxiety are constantly worried about situations of social interaction, but they are able to interact with other people even if they have to face feelings of fear, tension, worry, etc., on the other hand. People who suffer from anthropophobia do not usually expose themselves to interacting with peoplewhether they are strangers or people in their immediate environment due to the fear they feel.
Symptoms of anthropophobia
People who suffer from anthropophobia feel a acute and irrational fear or fear of interaction with other human beings. This feeling of discomfort in contact with other people leads to social isolation and a lack of interpersonal relationships.
Commonly, people with anthropophobia tend to present several related disorders:
1. Neurasthenia
This term was first used in 1869 by neurologist George Millar Beard. By this term he mainly referred to weakness, tiredness, physical and sometimes mental exhaustion. It was theorized that this disease was due to chemical changes in the central nervous system. Currently the term neurasthenia is not used frequently since it could correspond to what we know today as chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.
2. Generalized anxiety
People who suffer from chronic tension and excessive worry feel, that is, even when there is nothing apparent that they have to worry about, their mind clings to anticipating possible situations that will keep them in constant suffering. These people may feel anxious simply thinking about how to get through the day. This disorder prevents the person from controlling their anxiety even if they are able to rationalize the excessive worry and realize that their thoughts are exaggerated. This prevents them from relaxing and keeps them in a constant state of alert. Commonly, the great load of psychological tension causes the person to begin to have physical conditions, such as fatigue, insomnia, muscle tension, tremors, headaches, etc.
3. Depressive states
Sometimes, anxiety disorders are accompanied by depressive states, in the same way that depression can lead us to anxiety states, they are two highly related symptoms.
These depressive states can be reflected in the mood, feelings of deep sadness, hopelessnesslack of sleep or need to sleep more than usual, difficulty concentrating, variations in appetite.
Causes of anthropophobia
The causes of anthropophobia are not well known due to the little information available about this disorder, but it is mostly believed to be the result of a traumatic experience, for example having directly suffered physical abuse or witnessing an episode of violence. The traumatic experience may have been psychological, emotional or physical, producing the same result in the person, experiencing fear of people.
People with a affected mental health due to some neurological problem or limited by some other type of disorder such as schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, etc. They may be prone to developing anthropophobia.
A limited knowledge of one’s own emotions and mental health can lead to a misinterpretation of situations or circumstances and these can cause social isolation behaviors, leading to anthropophobia.
How to overcome anthropophobia
Antorpophobia is limited in its treatment when it is highly developed since the majority of people who suffer from it refuse contact with a professional or specialist. Although this does not mean that it cannot be treated, today we have the possibility of performing online therapies with professionals who offer their service through video callsbeing able to provide the security that the person who suffers from anthropophobia needs so much.
If, on the other hand, it is detected at the beginning of the first symptoms, psychological treatment can be very effective; the intervention of a psychiatric professional may be necessary to treat the rest of the peripheral symptoms that may arise in the person. Understanding that anthropophobia is an irrational fear and that therefore it can be overcome like other phobias, will help you take control of your emotions and empower you when making the decision to overcome it.
- The most used technique for the treatment of phobias is exposure to stimulus, which can be in imagination first and then live. Always gradually, guided and accompanied by a psychology professional. Here you will find more information about the .
- During treatment you can learn other complementary techniques that help you take control over your thoughts and emotions, such as relaxation, meditation or some other technique where you feel comfortable.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Anthropophobia: meaning, symptoms, causes and treatmentwe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- André, C. (2005). Psychology of fear: Fears, anxieties and phobias. Barcelona: Kairos.
- Losilla M., Sobrino A. (2011). Tiredness and weakness. Guide to Action in Primary Care. Barcelona: SemFYC.
- Rojo, J. (2011). Understanding anxiety, phobias and stress. Madrid: Pyramid.