Philophobia — a fear of love — can negatively affect your ability to have meaningful relationships. A painful breakup, divorce, abandonment or rejection during childhood or adulthood may make you afraid to fall in love. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help you overcome this specific phobic disorder.
There can be various reasons why Philophobia develops. The reasons for this phobia could be many, such as a divorce, abandonment or rejection during childhood, a traumatic breakup, the experience of cheating in relationships, and others.
Many people experience a minor fear of falling in love at some point in their lives. But in extreme cases, philophobia can make people feel isolated and unloved. Philophobia is not a condition that a doctor can diagnose because it is not in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
People with megalophobia have an intense fear of large objects such as skyscrapers, airplanes and big statues. Like other specific phobias, megalophobia is highly treatable with a psychological therapy called exposure therapy.
Management and Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you overcome philophobia. This form of psychotherapy (talk therapy) helps you recognize thoughts and behaviors that make you afraid of love. You may also benefit from a type of exposure therapy known as systemic desensitization therapy.
Signs and symptoms of philophobia include: Excessive or persistent fear regarding the thoughts of love. Afraid of becoming emotionally close to another person or considering long-term relationship commitments. Avoidance toward people—a person with philophobia may learn to fear all people and not just potential lovers.
Noun. panphobia (uncountable) The fear of everything. (by confusion) Panophobia, a condition of groundless fears. (neologism) Fear, dislike, or hatred of pansexual people and/or pansexuality.
Chinese traditional beliefs also states that working women are particularly susceptible to frigophobia, triggered by a combination of stress, menopause, pregnancy and other disorders such as anemia. During winter, these women are likely to experience coldness in extremities and back pains caused by the disorder.
People with aichmophobia have an intense and unreasonable fear of sharp objects such as scissors, knives, needles and pencils. Like other specific phobias, aichmophobia is highly treatable with a psychological therapy called exposure therapy. Appointments 866.588.2264. Request an Appointment.
Fear of Rejection
Of course, one of the strongest fears that keeps us from saying what is in our heart is the fear of our feelings not being returned. Love is like a seesaw: It's easy to begin with one person caring more for another at the start, but a balance of give-and-take is what gives the relationship momentum.
Of course, there can be many different reasons why we may find it difficult to receive love. It could be past trauma, unfamiliarity with receiving, feelings of unworthiness, and much more. Regardless, it is very common to feel resistance to receiving love in compliments, affection, accepting help, and more.
People with philophobia may need to consult a mental health professional for help. For some phobias, doctors may treat people with gradual exposure to the object, place, situation, animal, or feeling that is causing their fear. They call this type of therapy desensitization or self-exposure therapy.
People who are aromantic, also known as “aro,” don't develop romantic attractions for other people.
Low self-esteem can cause feelings of repulsion toward love or relationships. If you do not feel attractive, valuable, or loveable, you may subconsciously feel that others will not see you in this way. Low self-esteem can be improved through self-care and practices that increase self-compassion, like meditation.
a strong dislike or fear of meat.
Glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population.
megalohydrothalassophobia (fear of large underwater creatures or objects)
How is phobophobia diagnosed? Your healthcare provider may diagnose you with phobophobia if you: Avoid any situation where you might get scared. Find it difficult to function in your daily life due to your fear.
Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is one of the longest words in the dictionary — and, in an ironic twist, is the name for a fear of long words. Sesquipedalophobia is another term for the phobia.
Many people who find it difficult to say “I love you” believe that expressing these words signifies vulnerability. They assume that expressing what they feel out loud makes them fragile. They're also often insecure and think that to say what they feel would be rather hasty.
"Doubt in relationships, particularly after being with your partner for a long period of time, is a common feeling we all may undergo at some point. It's normal to have fear or uncertainty about the person you are with." It's part of the human condition.
Feeling 'in emotional pain' isn't just you being dramatic. Researchers have discovered that your brain processes emotional upset with the same brain circuitry that processes physical injury. Social psychologist Naomi Eisenberger calls this 'the physical-social pain overlap'.
Fear of intimacy can also be due to childhood trauma, such as the loss of a parent or abuse. This causes the person to have difficulty trusting others. It could also be because of a personality disorder, such as avoidant personality disorder or schizoid personality disorder.