Monophobia is the fear of being alone. This catch-all term includes several discrete fears which can or might not share a standard cause, just like the fear of-
- Being other than a specific person
- Being home alone
- Being publicly by yourself
- Feeling isolated or ignored
- Experiencing danger while alone
- Living alone
- Loneliness
- Solitude
Symptoms
While most folks can identify someone in our network who we’ll miss if they’re away, the distress that folks with monophobia experience are way more serious and disruptive. Symptoms of monophobia can vary, but it may include-
- Dizziness, fainting, or nausea while alone
- Experiencing intense anxiety that’s out of proportion with their situation
- Feeling apprehensive when considering being alone
- Feeling secluded or ignored even while in a very group or crowd of individuals
- Going to great lengths to avoid being isolated
- Increased heartbeat, tightness within the chest, and trouble breathing while alone
- Panic attacks
- Problems functioning in other aspects of their lives, including their ability to take care of healthy relationships
- The belief that something catastrophic will happen if they’re left alone
Identifying Monophobia
To diagnose monophobia, your doctor will conduct a history and physical exam which can confirm that another condition isn’t the reason behind your symptoms. they’ll search for signs that your fear of being alone is severe enough to disrupt your standard of living.
If you’ve got monophobia, being alone (or, in some cases, imagining that you’re alone) will provoke immediate fear or anxiety and result in a pattern of avoidance. For a diagnosis, symptoms of a phobia must be present for a minimum of six months.
How Specific Phobias Are Diagnosed Using the DSM-5
Causes
It’s not clear what causes conditions like monophobia. it should have developed because of a traumatic experience you had while left alone, otherwise you may have learned the behaviour from a loved one or close friend.
It’s also possible that childhood adversity could play a role in monophobia. Children may develop a fear of being alone after experiencing things like:
- Abuse
- Death of a parent
- Divorce
- Domestic violence
- Economic problems within the family
- Extended separation from a parent
- Neglect
- Parental substance misuse or mental state
- Serious illness of a friend.
Comorbidities
Monophobia shares characteristics with several other conditions, like:
- Agoraphobia, or the fear of being unable to flee a dangerous or stressful situation
- Codependency, which might involve discomfort when removed from a partner
- Generalized mental disturbance (GAD), which has excessive worry over a spread of situations
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which might develop as a results of trauma
- Social mental disturbance (SAD), which is characterized by a worry of being watched or judged while publicly
In children, attachment anxiety and separation and may show a number of the identical symptoms of monophobia.
Treatment
Like all phobias, the fear of being alone responds well to a range of treatment options. People with monophobia may get pleasure from medication and therapy. Your treatment will likely focus on:
- Reducing the fear and anxiety you experience while you’re alone
- Gradually build up your ability to be by yourself
- Medication: If your doctor does prescribe medication, it’ll likely be used along with therapy. Medication may additionally be used short-term as the way to scale back the anxiety you’re feeling while undergoing therapy.
- Psychotherapy: Behavioral therapy is a vital a part of the treatment process for a phobia. Your doctor may recommend:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps you find out how to note and challenge the automated thoughts related to your phobia. this might facilitate your identify moments when your anxiety is out of proportion with the particular danger of being alone.
- Desensitization: Desensitization may be a process where you’re exposed to situations that cause anxiety while you practice techniques to stay yourself calm. this way of therapy is supposed to slowly desensitize you to the experience of being alone.
Coping
Feeling unable to be alone can make it hard to travel, run errands, and deal with aspects of your life. you’ll have significant problems maintaining friendships and romantic relationships, as others might view your anxieties as controlling or clingy behavior.
If you have got monophobia, it is vital to hunt for treatment and follow the recommendation of your doctor. they will facilitate your come up with at-home coping strategies you’ll use to assist alleviate your anxiety. These techniques could include:
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Visualization
- Yoga
You might also find comfort in ensuring you have minimized the legitimate risks that will be causing your fear. that would mean ensuring your house is secure or ensuring that you are not alone in a very dangerous location.
You can also look at web for help addressing monophobia. If you’re far from a selected person, talking on the phone or online may help alleviate your immediate distress. Some families even create rituals, like eating the identical meal for dinner or sending special emails at the identical time each night, to honour their relationships while they’re apart.
