Skip to content Skip to sidebar Skip to footer
3K
3K
740
3K
Menu
Menu
static-img
Beliefs

Cherophobia – Fear of Being Cheerful or Gay

Share This Article
Share Post

Understanding Cherophobia: Overcoming the Fear of Embracing Happiness and Authenticity

Do you feel panicked when you receive an invitation for a joyous occasion such as a birthday party or a wedding? Are you afraid of activities or hobbies that evoke happiness? Do you feel paranoid after you smile or laugh?

If the answer is yes, you may be dealing with cherophobia, which is the fear of being cheerful, gay, or happy.

Cherophobia can be a baffling fear to come to terms with, and understandably so. While the entire world is running towards things that make them happy, you are running away. Explaining this fear to others and conveying how you feel can be difficult.

But don’t worry. You’re not alone in dealing with cherophobia, and there are treatments for this psychological condition. And with proper care and treatment, you can enjoy being happy, as everyone should.

 

What Is Cherophobia?

The term “cherophobia” comes from the Greek word chero meaning “to rejoice” and phobos meaning “fear.” A person suffering from cherophobia has an aversion to happiness.

There aren’t many studies on this phobia. In fact, it’s not even included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the manual that lists all the phobias. However, with an increasing number of people reporting this fear, there is a gradual recognition of cherophobia.

One suffering from cherophobia is not a sad person, but someone who actively avoids participating in activities, events, etc. that will make them feel happy.

The aversion to or fear of happiness is an uncommon fear. And although irrational, it can have major repercussions in a person’s life.

Symptoms of Cherophobia

The symptoms of cherophobia are very similar to other anxiety disorders. A person may experience these symptoms in varying degrees of severity. They can either experience one or two symptoms at a time or multiple symptoms simultaneously.

Physical Symptoms

  • Shivering
  • Hot and cold flashes
  • Headache
  • Rejecting opportunities/invitations for happy events
  • Sweating
  • Numbness
  • Ringing in ears
  • Heart palpitations
  • Increased blood pressure

Mental/Emotional Symptoms

  • Anticipating death
  • Anxiety
  • Panic attack
  • Anticipating something bad
  • Considering oneself as a bad person
  • Refusing to be a part of anything that may make them feel happy or joyous

Causes of Cherophobia

Like all other phobias, the exact cause of cherophobia is unknown. Several factors can lead to a person developing a phobia of being happy.

Personal Experience

A person could have experienced something really happy followed by something bad happening. In such an event, the person may anticipate something bad to happen after a joyous occasion and will be paranoid about feeling happy.

Learned Behavior

Cherophobia could also be a learned behavior. If someone close to you, such as a parent, sibling, or friend, has a phobia of happiness, their acute description of what happens, how they feel, etc. can significantly impact your views, too. It can lead you to follow the same thought process. This is especially true in cases where you live together or when there are repeated reminders of the phobia.

Introvert

A person’s overall social behavior may also influence how they perceive social occasions and happiness. Someone who is an introvert is more prone to developing anxiety disorders including cherophobia than an extrovert.

Perfectionism

Someone who is a perfectionist may be more prone to developing a phobia of happiness. Perfectionists tend to feel unproductive and fear getting involved in joyous events will distract them from their goals. They may try to avoid any activity that is fun. Some believe the time utilized doing joyful things is time wasted when they could instead use this time for more “productive” things.

Genetic Predisposition and Depression

Some people are genetically predisposed to mental health issues. People with depression or anxiety disorders, for example, are more prone to developing cherophobia. Those with depression, in particular, tend to experience a lack of hope and happiness, which can lay the groundwork for developing a phobia of happiness.

 

Treatment of Cherophobia

As cherophobia is not a recognized disorder, there is no defined treatment. However, as it is an anxiety disorder, treatment plans that work for other anxiety disorders or phobias can also help patients with cherophobia.

Here are the two main ways to go about treating the fear of happiness:

Self-Help

When dealing with phobias and other mental health issues, self-help can be your first line of defense. Several techniques can help you deal with the anxiety and panic that result from a phobia.

Here are some beneficial relaxation techniques you can practice:

  • Deep breathing
  • Counting numbers
  • Meditation
  • Exercising
  • Yoga

Such lifestyle changes can be helpful when one is faced with their triggers.

Journaling is another self-help tool that can help you understand your phobia better. It will give words to your thoughts and help you separate rational thoughts from irrational ones.

Talking with your loved ones is also an important step in your healing journey. If you feel uncomfortable talking to friends and family, there are also many online and in-person support groups where you can talk about your fears and connect with others who are going through something similar.

Professional Help

Medical professionals are experts in the field who know how to deal with phobias, including cherophobia. They will be able to recommend a treatment plan based on your symptoms and the severity of your fear. The most common therapies used by professionals are:

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Hypnotherapy
  • Exposure therapy
  • Mindfulness-based interventions
  • Medications

 

Learning to Cope with Cherophobia

Dealing with cherophobia can be exhausting, to say the least. Fear of experiencing happiness or joy can be alienating. It not only prevents you from participating in various celebrations and holidays for fear of triggering your phobia, but it can also make you want to avoid being around friends and family who are happy.

Talking to your loved ones about your phobia and anxiety and seeking professional help is key. You can pair professional therapy with some of the self-help methods listed above, and you’ll soon be making progress in your journey to achieve mental and physical well-being.

 

Conclusion

Cherophobia, the fear of happiness, can make a person’s life miserable. It not only deprives them of happiness but also affects their social, personal, and professional life. Fortunately, there are various treatments that can help one deal with and overcome this phobia. Reach out for help and you’ll soon find yourself experiencing joyful holiday celebrations with loved ones.

FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any 'fear of' or phobia. If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, we welcome your submission. If the story fits with our content and guidelines, we'll add it to our site.
0LikesShare Post

Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
This Pop-up Is Included in the Theme
Best Choice for Creatives
Purchase Now