Every day there are those who will move away from the city in order to find a place of solitude. They want to move away from the crowded streets to a place where perhaps they can hear birds and watch the sun set. They long for a sense of peace, Monks often leave their lives behind for a sense of that same tranquility in a monastery. People will take vacations to secluded locations for that same sense of calm. However, there are those who fear solitude. This fear is known as Isolophobia.
The fear of solitude may be an indicate of other larger fears. This could be a fear of being abandoned or neglected, the fear of the dark or other fear that would typically require someone else to be present when the fear is at its worst.
What Causes Isolophobia?
This fear is often modeled by those we trust most. A parent, grandparent or close family friend may have been obsessive about needing others to be close by. The anxiety expressed by a trusted adult often leads children to believe the adult’s concerns are more valid than logic.
It is also possible that the fear you experience may be the result of being left alone in a frightening situation. You may equate the fear you experienced while alone as an indicator that you should never be alone in the future if you want the fear to remain at bay. The problem is your original fear has morphed into the secondary fear of solitude.
The source of any fear has a history as unique as the individual who fears. Each experience can contribute to the perceptions we begin to accept as fact.
Symptoms of Isolophobia
This phobic personality will be desperate to find other people to hang out with or befriend. They will likely seek out a roommate in an effort to always have someone else around. If they have no one in their home they will likely be on the phone talking to someone or online taking to others through a forum or social media. They have a need to stay engaged with other people.
Other symptoms may also include…
- Air hunger
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Weeping
- Screaming
- Fainting
- Control loss
- Panic attacks
The fear these individuals experience has nothing to do with the presence of something they fear, but the lack of someone to help keep the fear away.
How to Overcome Isolophobia
As mentioned earlier this fear is likely associated with another fear that has little to do with solitude. The individual uses the presence of another person to cope with their fear of something else.
A therapist is a great resource for individuals to access help related to their phobia. The therapist can help you see how the fear is affecting your life and why the fear is causing such anxiety. Getting to the bottom of your fear will be key to finding success in effectively dealing with that fear now – and in the future.
The fear of solitude is also referred to as:
- Solitude fear
- Isolophobia
