Anthropophobia
The content of the article:
- Causes and risk factors
- Forms of the disease
- Symptoms
- Diagnostics
- Treatment
- Possible complications and consequences
- Forecast
- Prevention
Anthropophobia (human phobia, fear of people) is one of the variants of social neurosis, which is characterized by the appearance of discomfort and fear in the patient at the moment of contact with other people.
Anthropophobia must be distinguished from social phobia. With social phobia, a person is afraid of large crowds, and with anthropophobia, fear causes contact with any number of people, especially if they are unfamiliar.
Anthropophobia is often observed in conjunction with some other types of phobias, for example, with scoptophobia (panic fear of disgrace in front of others) and with low self-esteem of the individual.
Panic that occurs when meeting other people is the main symptom of anthropophobia
Causes and risk factors
Currently, the exact causes of this pathology are unknown. Most psychologists believe that certain events that happened to the patient in childhood or adolescence lead to its development. Such events may include:
- ridicule by peers;
- unfavorable family environment;
- poor social conditions;
- deception from others;
- emotional trauma;
- resentment towards parents;
- frequent intimidation;
- excessive and / or frequent punishment.
The impact of such factors leads to the fact that the child gradually loses confidence in the people around him, feels much calmer and more confident, being left alone. In other words, growing up in unfavorable conditions, he closes in on his “I”, comes to the conclusion that the only person safe for him is only himself. This moment is the starting point of the formation of anthropophobia.
Ridicule, violence, suppression of the child's personality leads to the development of anthropophobia
Anthropophobia usually develops in people prone to increased anxiety, neurosis, low self-esteem, excessively strong self-criticism. Such people consider themselves unnecessary to society, inferior or insolvent members. A person's uncertainty develops as a result of rejection by significant individuals or frequent criticism of his actions and deeds. As a result, being in the company of other people, a person habitually looks for any signs of disapproval by those around him and necessarily finds them, which gives rise to discomfort from communicating with other people, and the patient withdraws into himself. It is these thoughts and feelings that ultimately begin to transform into human phobia.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that anthropophobia should be considered as an exaggerated reaction of the psyche to possible negative influences of the surrounding social environment (violence, ridicule, suppression of the personality, aggression of others).
Anthropophobia does not always appear as a result of difficult childhood experiences. Sometimes this neurosis-like state also develops in people who grew up in favorable conditions. In this case, certain characteristics of the patient's personality become the cause.
The literature describes many cases of the appearance of anthropophobia in people who have radically changed their appearance. For example, having lost tens of kilograms of excess weight, a person suddenly begins to feel an inexplicable panic, being near people who are overweight.
In addition to the above, bipolar disorders can lead to the development of anthropophobia. It happens that anthropophobia is mistaken for autism. However, sometimes autism is disguised as anthropophobia.
Forms of the disease
Depending on what kind of people the patient has fear, anthropophobia is divided into several forms:
- Fear of strangers. Being surrounded by friends, family members, work colleagues, a person feels comfortable and safe. Manifestations of anthropophobia arise exclusively in relation to strangers.
- General fear of people. The patient develops a dislike for everyone around him, their invasion of personal space causes discomfort.
- Fear of people with a certain appearance, personality trait, or behavior. A panic attack begins upon contact with a certain type of person (drunk, tall, black-haired, etc.). The cause of the disease usually lies in the trauma inflicted on the child by a person with characteristic behavior or a similar appearance. In adulthood, a person may not remember a traumatic situation experienced in childhood, but fear remains.
- Chlophobia (fear of the crowd). Panic attack occurs only if the patient gets into a crowd of people (for example, in a large store or in transport during rush hours) Fear can appear and, if necessary, be the focus of a large crowd of people.
- Fear of people reminding the patient of past events. This is a common form of pathology that manifests itself in different ways: from minor discomfort to severe panic attack. For example, if a patient in the past has been seriously ill for a long time, then the manifestations of anthropophobia can be caused by medical workers. This fear is associated with the fear of being again in a previously experienced unpleasant state. Fears can also be associated with the patient's obsession with internal problems and complexes.
Crowd fear is a form of anthropophobia
Symptoms
Anthropophobia is characterized by the presence of certain autonomic and cognitive symptoms. Autonomic symptoms include:
- diarrhea;
- red spots on the skin of the upper body;
- severe nausea, sometimes vomiting;
- numbness;
- hyperemia of the face;
- feeling short of breath;
- heart palpitations (tachycardia);
- shaking hands;
- excessive sweating.
Cognitive impairment in anthropophobia is an irrational panic that occurs in patients at the time of meeting with other people, and in severe cases - only at the thought of the need for such a meeting.
Often, a panic attack is preceded by compulsions (compulsive motor acts). They have a ritual character for the patient. By performing such movements, the anthropophobe believes that he is protecting and protecting himself.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of anthropophobia is based on the characteristic signs of the condition and is performed only by a specialist. It must be remembered that the symptoms of anthropophobia may indicate the presence of certain mental illnesses, therefore, a patient with a similar pathology needs an in-depth psychiatric examination.
Treatment
Self-treatment of anthropophobia is ineffective. In fact, this fear is a kind of protective reaction of the nervous system to traumatic situations. Naturally, the body does not at all strive to cope with this fear.
Another problem with anthropophobia therapy is that in most cases, patients refuse medical care. Persistent attempts by relatives to convince the patient of the need to see a doctor can cause bouts of aggression.
Anthropophobia treatment begins with establishing contact between the doctor and the patient, establishing the exact cause of the fear. Then sessions of psychotherapy are conducted, dedicated to establishing contact with other people. Cognitive behavioral therapy also provides good results. An important role in achieving a positive effect is played by auto-training and the patient's independent performance of certain exercises.
For the successful treatment of anthropophobia, it is important to establish contact between the doctor and the patient.
In advanced situations, when the fear of communicating with people has taken root, it becomes necessary to conduct hypnotherapy. The most commonly used technique is Ericksonian hypnosis, based on an indirect influence on the subconscious sphere.
In cases where it turns out that anthropophobia is a symptom of a mental illness (autism, schizophrenia), the latter is treated.
Possible complications and consequences
In the absence of timely treatment, anthropophobia can lead to the formation of neurotic and mental disorders. It becomes an obstacle in learning, work and social life of a person.
Pathology is also a potential threat to life. For example, if an anthropophobe has a severe heart attack, out of fear of people, he not only does not ask them for help, but even rejects it. Realizing that he is falling out of society, the patient may attempt suicide.
Forecast
With timely initiated and systematic treatment, it is possible to stop the manifestations of anthropophobia.
Prevention
Prevention is about raising a child correctly. Parents and surrounding adults should respect the personality of the little person, not exert excessive pressure, not criticize too often. The child must be loved, taken care of and supported, protected from stress and severe shocks. This will allow his psyche to develop correctly and save him from developing phobias, including fear of other people.
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Elena Minkina Doctor anesthesiologist-resuscitator About the author
Education: graduated from the Tashkent State Medical Institute, specializing in general medicine in 1991. Repeatedly passed refresher courses.
Work experience: anesthesiologist-resuscitator of the city maternity complex, resuscitator of the hemodialysis department.
The information is generalized and provided for informational purposes only. At the first sign of illness, see your doctor. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
