Fear of being alone is an anxiety state that is triggered when a person is alone. Although there is really no danger of being alone, people with this syndrome still cannot control their symptoms. This syndrome causes constant feelings of distress, anxiety, and fear and greatly affects the physical, life, and relationships of the sufferer. This syndrome is becoming more and more common and the treatment is also very difficult and time-consuming. If you have a loved one with the fear of being alone or are curious about this disease, please refer to our article.
1. About Monophobia (fear of being alone)
Fear of being alone has the scientific name Monophobia, Isolophobia, or Eremophobia. It is a specific type of phobia caused by a fear of isolation, and a fear of being alone, and the most feared fear of this type is autism. This is one of the specific types of phobias that belong to the group of anxiety disorders.
One of the most common signs that a person with agoraphobia often experiences is when he/she is alone or thinking about situations that might separate him/herself. People with this disorder also often believe that a disaster is imminent and waiting to happen whenever they are left alone. For this reason, people who fear of being alone are more likely to go to extremes in order to avoid isolation.
However, people with this condition often don’t need to be physically isolated to feel abandoned. They will often be in a crowded area or group of people but may still feel completely deserted around them.
According to statistics, people with fear of being alone often have some other conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder. separation anxiety disorder, etc. In addition, this syndrome also increases the risk of depression and many other psychological problems.
2. Symptoms of Monophobia
The person has thoughts of being alone in a disaster or event of a terrible nature. They always feel excessive and uncontrollable fear when alone. Unreasonable fear can be accompanied by feelings of nausea, fainting, and dizziness. The patient may even panic and panic.
The symptoms of fear of being alone vary from case to case. However, there are some symptoms that many people with this syndrome have. Here is a list of symptoms that have occurred when a person suffers from fear of being alone:
Psychiatric symptoms
- Fear of losing my mind
- Fear of fainting
- Unable to focus on anything other than illness
- Failure to think clearly
Emotional symptoms
- Fear of separation
- Tensions in the coming times and places where they can be alone
Physical symptoms
- Sweat
- Nausea
- Increase heart rate
- Headache
- Numbness or itching feeling
- Dry mouth
- Chills
- Disorientation
Abandoning parents causes fear of being alone
3. Causes of fear of being alone
In fact, fear of being alone is easily confused with separation anxiety disorder and dependent personality disorder. Similar to other specific forms of phobia, the exact cause of this syndrome is unknown. However, through a number of studies and epidemiological treatment, experts believe that this syndrome is related to the following factors:
Biological
A common feature of people with anxiety disorders is an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. This is what causes the body to fear and obsess over the fact that the problem or object is not really serious. In addition, the amygdala (the organ that controls fear and anxiety) in people with this syndrome is also smaller than normal.
Genetics and family factors
All psychological problems are hereditary, including fear of abandonment. At present, the way genetics is unknown but has been determined to be related to the structure of the brain, the way in which the brain functions and functions. In addition, children living with people with fear of abandonment syndrome (even though they are not related by blood) will gradually develop the same mentality.
Psychological trauma
Traumatic events related to abandonment and isolation may also be a risk factor for the disease. Common events include family neglect, parental beating, physical and emotional abuse, childhood loss of parents or abandonment. Some experts also believe that facing disasters when alone all the time is also a source of fear of abandonment.
4. How to treat the fear of being alone
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the most effective method of treating abandonment syndrome and other psychological problems. This method is a form of communication therapy through language, gestures, facial expressions, facial expressions, and more.
Through psychotherapy, the specialist will build trust in the patient, thereby understanding the psychology and helping the patient to freely share the problems they are facing. For phobias of abandonment, the specialist will seek to reassure the patient. Then consider applying the appropriate treatment methods.
Rated as the most effective method, psychotherapy also has certain limitations. For example, patients do not accept therapy and sometimes it does not work in severe cases.
Using medicine
Currently, there is no medicine that can completely treat the fear of being alone. However, taking certain medications can reduce feelings of anxiety, fear, and stress caused by this syndrome. Medicines can also be used during therapy to lift the mood and provide better therapeutic results.
Medicines used to treat abandonment syndrome such as benzodiazepines, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), beta-blockers (used to relieve physical symptoms), etc. Using medication only brings temporary effects and cannot completely cure the fear of abandonment. Therefore, the use of medicines is often done in parallel with psychotherapy to bring the best effect.
Self-remedial measures
Deep breathing: When faced with situations that trigger feelings of fear, the patient may inhale deeply through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Providing a large amount of oxygen to the body will help reduce stress, improve shortness of breath, dizziness and dizziness. In addition, patients can also apply deep breathing techniques to relax and reduce daily stress.
Meditation: Meditation has been shown to be effective in improving psychological problems such as stress, anxiety disorders, depression and even the fear of being alone. Practicing mindfulness every day helps patients manage their feelings well, alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress. In addition, this therapy also works to reduce some physical problems related to sleep, cardiovascular, respiratory and musculoskeletal.
Exercise: Getting 30 minutes of exercise a day has many benefits for patients with fear of being alone. Physical activity improves health, soothes and releases negative emotions. Therefore, patients should spend time practicing sports such as yoga, walking, swimming, cycling, … to improve health and help improve symptoms caused by this syndrome.
Proper diet: Physical health is the foundation of mental support. The reality has shown that people who are depressed both mentally and physically can hardly recover, and face many health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and other mental disorders. Therefore, patients with fear of abandonment should develop a reasonable diet to improve their health comprehensively.
BOTTOM LINE
The fear of being alone causes a lot of trouble when studying, working and limiting the experience of life. However, if detected early, patients can control their fears and improve their quality of life. Therefore, in addition to the treatment methods, the patient must also make efforts to overcome this disease.
We’ve provided you with information about Monophobia (fear of being alone), as well as its symptoms, causes, and remedies. We hope the article can help you gain more knowledge or help you take better care of someone who is sick.
Maybe you also like: