Contents
Hello, dear readers of the site! Herophobia is an irrational, panicky fear of fun.
Man is terribly afraid of being happy. Amazing, isn’t it? Usually people aspire to this state, but do not fear it.
And today we will consider the main causes of its occurrence, as well as the most effective methods of treatment.
What is it like?
The term itself comes from the word «chairo» — «I rejoice.» Therefore, “cherophobia” is read from English, either as a cherophobia, or as a cherophobia, and sometimes a cherophobia.
As you prefer, all the names are correct, the only thing is that the first option is not associated with fun at all. So be careful when sharing it in public.
People with this disorder do not walk around with a permanently sad face, nor do they faint if someone laughs in their presence.
No, they are not at all depressive melancholics, although there are such people among them. Herophobes simply expect punishment for the joy they receive, pleasure.
As if the Universe seeks to balance the life of each of us, and in equal portions gives different feelings and sensations.
Therefore, they can consciously refuse a happy event, choosing calm everyday life, if only they don’t have to pay later.
Symptoms
Behavioral
If a Sherophobe is invited to a party, this does not please him, but causes a lot of anxiety and tension. Pictures with various horrors that await him and his loved ones immediately flash through his head.
Thoughts of happiness and pleasant events that have happened deprive him of peace, because the premonition that now something bad will definitely happen does not leave him for a minute. And you know, he is waiting for his own.
Not only because thoughts are material, but also because he focuses all his attention on probable failures, as if looking for confirmation of his theory.
And the fob also feels guilty for allowing himself to relax and experience joy. As if he then becomes a «bad» person who committed a crime.
Somatic
Frequent living of anxiety and horror has an extremely negative impact on the physical and mental health of a person.
This gradually leads to insomnia, nervous exhaustion, irritability and depression. He may avoid communication so as not to risk his peace of mind, if he can be called that.
In a moment of panic, his breath spirals, which becomes shallow and frequent, causing hyperventilation of the lungs.
Phobe becomes even more frightened, because he thinks that he is about to suffocate and is desperately trying to “swallow” air, only worsening his condition.
It can also hurt in the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe heart, which suggests thoughts of a heart attack. The head is spinning and very sick, up to vomiting.
Sometimes there are problems with the stomach. Herophobe, panicking, sweats profusely, he is afraid and throws him into the heat, then into the cold. No matter what the weather is outside or indoors.
Often there is a tremor of the limbs, his voice and even his chin tremble. He is not able to focus on one thing, as well as think critically, adequately perceive the surrounding reality.
Why makes the wrong decisions that threaten his health and even life. Suppose, in hysterics and panic, he rushes home, not noticing obstacles and crashing into passers-by, stumbles and falls, runs out onto the road.
Causes
Personality type, character traits
So far, experts cannot name the exact causes of cherophobia, but according to research results, the largest number of people who are afraid to be happy are among introverts.
That is, those who prefer solitude and peace, spending their free time exploring their inner world. He captures more than the surrounding people.
Introverts, being in noisy companies, get very tired, and only when they are alone are they able to restore the spent resources.
Also, especially impressionable individuals are prone to the occurrence of phobic disorders.
Sometimes it is enough for them to watch a story or a film in the news about a person who was considered lucky, and then suddenly began to pay for all the minutes of fun and joy. To be terribly afraid to repeat his fate.
Introjects
Introjects are thoughts, values, views on life that a person has adopted from others. That is, he did not come to certain conclusions himself, but included the conclusions of other people in his system.
Introjection is one of the mechanisms of psychological defense, which is aimed, respectively, at protecting the psyche from the negative effects of the environment.
But sometimes these introjects perform the opposite role — they limit and do not allow their needs to be realized. That is, a person does not try to get his own experience, he uses someone else’s.
For example, in the case of cherophobia, this is when, in childhood, parents or other significant, close adults said: “Enough laughing, otherwise you will cry later.”
And, the most interesting thing is that this usually happens later, the child flirts, his nervous system is in an overexcited state, which is why he does not notice the boundaries, that it is time to stop — and receives punishment, or is injured in outbursts of emotions.
And if, over and over again, after unbridled fun, he got into unpleasant situations, for example, breaking his mother’s vase and crying standing in the corner, he will really believe that after joy comes the hour of reckoning.
This information will be subconsciously deposited and will make itself felt before the holidays and other significant events that people usually look forward to. And the fob goes into a panic, imagining the horrors that he will now have to endure.
Treatment
Often, cerophobia is mistaken for depression and they try to cure it. Naturally, to no avail. Therefore, you should be extremely attentive to your own well-being.
Yes, and at the first sign of a phobia, go to a qualified specialist.
Since such disorders usually do not go away on their own, but only become more complicated, gradually developing into more serious forms.
A psychotherapist will help you get rid of attitudes that prevent you from realizing your needs. You also explore why there are these negative associations between punishment and happiness.
Try to figure out what prompted you to consciously limit yourself, deprive you of amenities. You will work with fears, release accumulated emotions and start trying to get your own experience, new, devoid of introjects and fantasies.
The psychiatrist will prescribe the necessary medications to speed up the healing process. For example, it can be sedatives, tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antidepressants.
Treatment is selected depending on the somatic symptoms that cause inconvenience.
Someone can not sleep because of nightmares in which he has fun, and then learns about the death of loved ones as a sign of punishment.
And someone is unable to relax even for a minute, being on alert to learn the unpleasant news. In general, an integrated approach to treatment will achieve more effective results.
Completion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! Subscribe to site updates and share in the comments, have you ever been afraid that you will have to pay with tears for every smile?
And if so, did it really happen, or did you sometimes manage to just be happy without getting punished later?
Take care of yourself and your loved ones!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina