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

Fear of Failure – Atychiphobia

Share This Article
Share Post

Kicking Your Atychiphobia, or the Fear of Failure

Few cartoon characters experience failure as often or as acutely as Charlie Brown.

Every year around Thanksgiving, millions of Americans still watch him be so determined to kick that football, only for Lucy to pull it away and for Charlie Brown to fall flat on his back.

At Christmas, we once again watch Charlie Brown struggle with failure as he buys a weak and feeble Christmas tree for which the other children immediately mock him.

In one TV clip or comic strip after another, Charlie Brown is determined to pitch a baseball and strike batters out, only to fail once more.

If any character has a right to have a fear of failure, it’s Charlie Brown. We use fancy words like “sisyphean” or “quixotic” to describe characters defined by how they’re doomed to failure, and Linus describing Charlie Brown as “the Charlie Brown-iest” person he knows might just be added to that list someday.

But Charlie Brown (mostly) never lets his fear of failure stop him from trying.

And you shouldn’t either.

Atychiphobia Meaning

First and foremost, let’s define atychiphobia. Fear of failure statistics show it to be pretty common compared to other phobias. For example, a 2015 Los Angeles Times article noted it was statistically more common among respondents than a fear of spiders, being home alone, or the supernatural.

Unfortunately “fear of failure” is one of those pop psychology terms that gets appropriated by media outside the psychological community. While it’s understandable why (we all “fear” failing sometimes) cliché motivational cat posters aren’t really a proper approach to this very real phobia.

As such, for those wondering what the fear of failure is called, the proper clinical term for a psychologically defined fear of failure as atychiphobia. It is distinct from simply being “afraid” of failing at something by degree, namely, that it leaves you so terrified of failure that you feel paralyzed and unable to do the action in question, or perhaps do much at all.

Fearing failure is being nervous before applying for a university or going for a job interview.

Fear OF failure, a la atychiphobia, is being so paralyzed by fear of failing that you not only don’t apply or show up to the interview, but invent excuses, torment yourself with endlessly imagined worst possible scenarios, and hate yourself the whole time.

Causes and Symptoms of Atychiphobia or the Fear of Failure

One of the biggest causes of this phobia is a deeper underlying fear of shame or embarrassment. No one wants to experience that, but if you experience an anxiety-associated phobia, you may experience this fear even more acutely.

That said, everyone experiences shame and embarrassment differently, and indeed, different people consider different things shameful or embarrassing. There is no easy one-size-fits-all solution to what can trigger a bout of atychiphobia. At the same time, it’s safe to say that if you already experience general anxiety or other conditions connected with it, you are more susceptible to the darker sides of this fear than others.

Complicating matters even further is the fact that there are both physical as well as emotional symptoms of this fear, depending on your perspective. This is true of most conditions associated with anxiety. You don’t just feel a sense of anxiousness and the negative emotions that come with it, but may likewise feel physically ill as well.

Potential physical symptoms of anxiety-induced fear of failure include:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • Excessive sweating
  • Hot or cold flashes
  • Sudden stomach aches, diarrhea, nausea, and other signs of digestive issues
  • Excessive trembling
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

Potential emotional symptoms of atychiphobia include:

  • Panic attacks
  • Making excuses to avoid situations where you feel you may be embarrassed, ashamed, or fail
  • Feeling “outside” yourself
  • Feeling as though you’ve lost control of yourself or the situation you’re facing
  • Feeling so overwhelmed with anxiety that you fear you might faint
  • A general sense of powerlessness or hopelessness

In addition to these basic outlines, a fear of failing can lead you:

  • Worrying about losing friends
  • Doubting your intelligence or competence even if you have demonstrated it before
  • Sabotaging your own chances so as to have an “excuse” when you “fail”
  • Worrying about disappointing people
  • Procrastinating and claiming you simply “ran out of time”

This is hardly a catch-all, and each case of anxiety-induced fear of failure is different. Nevertheless, these lists demonstrate how broad and far-reaching the consequences of this phobia can be, and why it takes far more than a mere inspirational meme or mug to set things right.

Hypnosis for Phobias

Self-Treatment Options for Your Fear of Failure

While it can be hard to locate “positives” about this condition, one would be that it is more open to self-treatment than many other conditions. Since every instance of fear of failure is individually determined, so too is your path to overcoming this condition.

That said, the question of how to overcome the fear of failure thus has no singular answer, but instead many different treatment options depending on your symptoms and which are the most acute.

For example, if you really struggle with trembling, nausea, and an overwhelming sense of anxiety, meditation and mindfulness exercises can be useful ways of calming yourself. These are common techniques recommended for all manner of different anxiety-related conditions and can do wonders here. Establish a place in your home or office where you can practice deep breathing or calming meditation exercises. Refocus your mind and work to calm feelings of anxiety and failure.

If you are worried about losing friends or disappointing people, it’s worth remembering that true friends will not mind if you fail. On the contrary, they will support you all the more in your time of need. Opening up to friends can be scary and leave you feeling very vulnerable, but the support they give you can really help you overcome some of these obstacles.

If your phobia is rooted in previous failures, it’s worth remembering that ‘ past’ isn’t necessarily a ‘prologue.’ Just because you failed before doesn’t mean you’ll fail again. Failure can be a valuable, if brutal, learning experience, and a further step on the path to success, whatever that may look like for you.

Finally, if you are a perfectionist, it’s worth challenging that belief. No one is perfect, including yourself or those you idolize. Make peace with progress, and you may find it a lot more rewarding and your anxiety a lot more manageable.

Professional Treatment Options for Atychiphobia

If you still feel you need or can benefit from professional assistance, therapists can help you come to terms with some of the root causes of your phobias. They can also suggest mindfulness techniques, and in rare cases, prescribe beta blockers or sedatives to help calm your nerves. Therapists can also suggest support groups, which can be a great outlet for those needing the extra boost.

They may also employ cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help rewire the way your brain considers certain concepts that trigger your bouts of failure-related anxiety.

It may be dark and difficult at times, but successfully overcoming a fear of failure does not have to be an impossible task.

You can and should imagine a happier, more successful future.

Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Fear of Failure

My symptoms or the way I react to my fear of failure are a bit different than others. It is hard to believe but I started having panic attacks during kindergarten. I not only fear failing, but I cannot stop going forward to ensure I go the extra mile. I made the best grades in school, took on more extracurricular activities than most, and was a leader in many school clubs. It had nothing to do with trying hard, but that if I did not do my best and ensure everything was perfect grammar, i’s dotted, and t’s crossed I would begin to panic. I stressed out wanting to ensure I always did a perfect job no matter what I took on. I believed if I did not do this, I would not get that college degree or that almighty leadership position in my company and so on and so forth.
The stress would bring depression and then I would become more stressed. I would become so stressed that I would have a panic attack. To help with my stress, I decided to explain it to my boss and anyone else that is close to me. Now, they understand my panic attacks and know how to help. They are a bit better, but they are still a regular part of my daily life.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

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