The term philophobia is defined as the fear of love. Find out what it manifests itself and what life is like for the person affected by it. Why are people panically afraid of falling in love?
What is philophobia?
Philophobia is a word derived from the Greek combination of “philos” meaning “loved” and “phobos”, meaning fear. It is the fear of falling in love and being in a relationship with another person. A persistent, unfounded and chronic fear of loving and being close to another person. Philophobia is a mental disorder from the circle of specific phobias, which negatively affects the life of the affected person.
Where does this phenomenon come from?
Why are people afraid of love? This problem is incomprehensible to outsiders and sometimes even to specialists. The causes of philophobia are still not fully known.
It is believed that philophobia may arise as a result of the fact that a person has had to deal with emotional turmoil about love in the past. It can be related to difficult and unpleasant events, such as the unhappy marital life of one’s parents, one’s own hard breakup, a devastating divorce, or the death of a beloved partner.
People who have experienced such traumatic events may be discouraged from entering another emotional relationship. When this condition persists and becomes increasingly severe, preventing normal functioning, one can speak of philophobia.
How does philophobia manifest itself?
People affected by philophobia may experience a number of unpleasant symptoms. They reflexively suppress strong feelings, want to maintain self-control and control their emotions at all costs. They avoid being in places where couples can be found, derive satisfaction from being alone and isolating themselves. In addition, at the thought of a permanent relationship, moving in together or getting married, they feel intense stress and anxiety.
In addition to psychological concerns, philophobia is also associated with physical symptoms. With this disorder, there may be excessive sweating, dizziness, darkness in front of the eyes, fainting, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, sleep problems, constant feelings of anxiety and restlessness. Above all, philophobia can condemn the person affected to a life of loneliness….
How to fight philophobia?
A person who suspects philophobia in himself, begins to fall into long-term isolation and loneliness, panicky fear of relationships and love, should seek psychiatric help. Only therapy combined with pharmacotherapy can help. The worst thing that can be done is to ignore and repress the problem.
