What is Philophobia?
Have you ever felt that your heart was too full, or that it ached? Perhaps you’ve had to put effort into not feeling something. It’s possible that what you’re experiencing is a form of phobia called Philophobia.
This blog post will explore the symptoms and signs of this condition, as well as offer treatment options for those who suffer from it.
What is Philophobia?
Although people all over the world want to be loved, some people may fear it. We call this fear of love (Philophobia). The threat is typically when a person is faced with some emotional turmoil linked to love, but it may also be a persistent phobia.
This affects the quality of life and takes a person away from dedication. A negative side of this fear of being in love and falling in love is that it leaves a person lonely. It may also evolve from theological and cultural values that preclude passion. It reflects a certain sense of remorse and dissatisfaction with the response coming from inside. In this article, we will inform you about the causes, symptoms, and treatment methods of philophobia.
The origin of this word is ”filo” which means ”love” in Greek.
Everyone thought Queen Elizabeth had fear of love because she witnessed her mother’s murder by her husband King 8th Henry. She died because of her love for her husband. So that’s why divorce can cause a similar problem.
This fear is not an emotional barrier. However, they may have physical symptoms and cause them to escape meaningful relationships throughout their lives.
What are the Causes of Philophobia?
Just like other phobias, there are different reasons. Negative experiences like religious or cultural beliefs forbid homosexual relationships or any type of emotional connection. That’s why love becomes a taboo for those people. So they have intense fear towards love and they can even find love disturbing.
Rejection is also one of the reasons. Feeling ashamed, or not being allowed to make a bond with someone else is just enough to have a fear for love. Also, if the person has experienced anxiety or depression they may experience low self-esteem.
It is closely related to a previous traumatic experience involving love and relationships. If a person has a past relationship failure, such as divorce, it can cause philophobia. Moreover, witnessing the failure and problems of another’s relationship can cause one to have the same.
In most cultures and religions, a relationship( even though it’s full of love) before marriage is a sin.
What are the Symptoms of Philophobia?
It may shape differently from person to person. Some people may avoid close relationships, having a heart-to-heart talk. However, some people can be quite social but they may become overprotective or jealous because of the fear of losing someone. Most people can live normal lives while people with this phobia feel stuck in this circle. Their situation may keep them away from other people.
Some Symptoms of Philophobia
- Feeling extreme anxiety in relationships .
- Feeling under pressure.
- Avoiding places where other couples might be.
- Avoiding weddings.
- Isolation from social life.
- Shortness of breath, sweating, numbness, restlessness, chest pain.
If you’re avoiding something in an extreme way, you may have a phobia. Although some people can live a normal life some don’t. If this phobia affects your daily life negatively, it is time for you to see a doctor.
Treatment Options
Exposure Therapy
The therapist prepares a similar scene like a romantic date in front of the person and examines the way a person reacts to it. Eventually, the person can feel less anxious about their fear.
Drug Treatment
In severe cases, medications may be useful to control distress in a person. Commonly used drugs can control a person’s sad and hopeless feelings. Also, we would like to remind you that drug therapy is performed only by professionals.
Last Updated on December 10, 2022 by Lucas Berg
