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Fear is a natural emotion in people characterized by a strong unpleasant sensation and the perception of a danger that can be real but can also be assumed. Similarly, that fear can be present, future or past. And the phobias they are precisely fears, for that matter, irrational and persistent, so they are not fears in the face of real danger, but supposed. There are very recognizable phobias such as claustrophobia and others, such as the ergophobia in question, less popular.
The term ergophobia is formed by the combination of two Greek words: ‘ergon’, which means work and ‘phobos’, which means fear. Therefore, it is a irrational fear of the workplace. It is not that uncomfortable feeling of going back to work after returning from vacation, but something more profound and limiting that can make life very difficult for those who suffer from it.
The origin of ergophobia is usually not easy to determine. Sometimes the subject can detect a specific fact that triggers it, however, most people who have it do not know exactly why it has started. They are filled with a feeling of anguish that they have to fight against in order to continue with their normal life and go to work every morning, but hiding or denying it can increase the burden of anxiety.
Ergofobia can result from a stressful work environment or by negative events but also by feeling incapable of performing the functions of a certain job or by fear of rejection from colleagues. Some obvious consequences of this phobia are a decrease in productivity and the quality of work, uncontrollable feelings of irritability, worry or shame, and the formation of a negative self-concept. This can lead to panic and anxiety attacks and the need for medical follow-up.
symptom
Transmission
One of the therapies that have been used in recent years is Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ATC). Both based on the recognition of the situation, acceptance and contact with the present moment. The general objective is to prevent stress and the other negative effects of the work environment so as not to reach the critical moments that can trigger some type of phobia. In any case, the main thing is to obtain a good diagnosis made by a professional and undergo the appropriate treatment such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of phobias.