As we live, we are subjected to a wide variety of activities that test the way we react to them. Everyday life is full of stimuli that produce anxiety, fear, frustration and anger. Whether at work, a social gathering, a family lunch, or an exam, we find ourselves surrounded by the demands of others and it can be difficult to deal with them.
In many cases, human beings find ways to alleviate the emotions produced by these types of situations that can affect performance in any area of life. However, there are people who have difficulties managing emotions in social life and this can have negative consequences. Having information about this issue can allow us to deal with it and find some type of solution. In this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the fear of losing control, what it is, what are its symptoms, causes and treatment.
What is the fear of losing control
When we refer to the fear of losing control, we are talking about an anxiety disorder that consists of avoidance of situations that could cause a loss of control of a given situation. Furthermore, this fear is related to the presence of panic attacks that influence the domain of anxiety. This can cause problems for the person who suffers from this disorder, since their social life can be greatly affected.
According to the DSM-V, this anxiety disorder is called . Next, we will display the main characteristics of the fear of losing control:
- Fear or intense anxiety about different following situations: fear of activities such as using public transportation, being in open spaces, being in closed spaces, being in the middle of a large number of people or being alone outside the home
- Avoidance of these situations: It is justified in the fact that the person would not have the tools to master these possible moments, for example, falling in public. Therefore, the aforementioned situations are avoided with great intensity.
- The fear or anxiety is greater than the real danger that represent the situations.
- The anxiety lasts six months or more.
- Deterioration of interpersonal relationships: Fear, anxiety and avoidance produce a deterioration in social, work and family relationships.
Symptoms of fear of losing control
There are symptoms that appear in people who suffer from this fear of losing control that we have described, which are within the criteria implemented by the DSM-V to diagnose this clinical condition. However, there are some physical manifestations that occur in these cases. Let’s see what the symptoms of fear of losing are and what should be taken into account:
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency.
- Dizziness
- Sweating.
- Fear of death. Discover the symptoms, causes and treatment in this article about it.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Chest pain.
- Sudden chills.
- Stomach ache.
- Diarrhea.
- Nausea.
It should be noted that these symptoms manifest themselves in social situations in which there is a fear of exposure. Even so, the existence of any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that there is a fear of losing control. This Diagnosis must be made by a health professionalwho will be in charge of indicating an individualized and appropriate treatment for each patient.
Causes of fear of losing control
At a general level, understanding the causes that may give rise to the fear of losing control will allow a better approach to the problem. So, let’s name the main causes associated with this anxiety disorder:
- Panic attacks: A person who has experienced a panic attack will have felt the sensation that they were going to die in a certain situation. When this occurs in the presence of other people, this fear can persist and appear in many situations in everyday life.
- unpleasant experiences: It may happen that we have gone through situations that have caused us great fear, anxiety and/or stress. When we do not have tools to manage these emotions, they may reappear throughout life. In this article, we tell you.
- Duel: The death of a loved one or having gone through a very significant loss in life can be a triggering factor for prolonged fears.
Treatment of fear of losing control
Fortunately, the fear of losing control can be treated. Currently, there are some treatments that can help overcome the fear of losing control. We see them below.
Psychotherapy
Psychological therapy allows us to have greater tools to face our fears. On the one hand, short-term therapies emphasize problem solving through a series of exercises that the patient must perform. Among the most notable is the , which attempts gradually expose the patient to fearful situations to modify your thoughts, emotions and beliefs.
On the other hand, there are longer-term therapies that look for the origin of the patient’s conflict. This allows the patient to know the reason for their problem and adopt a different way of facing situations. The best known extensive therapy with these criteria is .
Medication
Another way to treat the fear of losing control is through the use of psychiatric medications that produce changes in the neuronal connections of the cerebral cortex. The purpose of medication is to generate a change in the processing of information from the environment to alter the emotions that arise in certain situations.
In the event that medication is appropriate, the supply of any psychotropic drug must be indicated by a health professional who controls the necessary dose for each patient.
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 Fear of losing control: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatmentwe recommend that you enter our category.
References
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. Arlington: Panamericana Medical Publishing.
Bibliography
- Bados López, A. (2005). Agoraphobia and panic. University of Barcelona, Faculty of Psychology. Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Tractaments.
- Gómez Ayala, A. (2012). Anxiety disorders. Agoraphobia and panic attacks. Professional Pharmacy Magazine, 26 (6), 32-39.