Philophobia: Understand the irrational fear of falling in love with someone

For some people, love is synonymous with happiness and one of the most beautiful things in life. But for others, just thinking about it is reason to be terrified. It's called philophobia, the fear of love or of connecting emotionally with someone.

The problem can? and should? to be treated. Otherwise, it can significantly affect life as it causes constant apprehension and fear, interfering even in simple moments of everyday life.

Main symptoms

The symptoms of philophobia vary for each person. They can be emotional or physical reactions. Among the most common are rapid heartbeat, feelings of intense fear or panic, excessive sweating, difficulty breathing, and even nausea.

Many people confuse philophobia with social anxiety disorder. They are different things, although they may exist together. The disorder causes extreme fear in social situations, but it encompasses many contexts, while philophobia is more linked to falling in love.

According to scholars, is it more common to happen to people who have been through trauma before? whether in relationships or even childhood abandonment. This creates the fear that situations will recur. It may also be genetically related or even develop due to changes in brain function. But the more one avoids, the more this fear increases.

Read also: 6 Essential Tips for Finding Your Soulmate

Diagnosis and Treatment

Hardly a doctor will give an official diagnosis of philophobia. But if fear is paralyzing or hurting you, it is important to seek psychological help. Symptoms will be evaluated as well as personal and social history.

Treatment options are: therapy (to identify and change negative thoughts, beliefs and reactions to the source of phobia), medication (antidepressants or anxiolytics in combination with therapy), lifestyle changes (exercise, relaxation techniques, and so on) , or a combination of all that.

If left untreated, philophobia can increase the risk of complications including social isolation, depression and anxiety disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and, in more serious cases, even lead to suicide. Therefore, seeking help as soon as possible is critical.

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