Athazagoraphobia - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Athazagoraphobia is an intense fear of being forgotten or forgetting something. This condition may be highly disruptive to the lives of the affected individuals since they often feel overly pressured and anxious that they may disappear or be abandoned by people they cherish. Learn more about what athazagoraphobia is in the following article.

 

What Is Athazagoraphobia?

 

As previously mentioned, athazagoraphobia is a type of specific phobia that induces a morbid fear of forgetting or being forgotten in the affected individual. In addition, this phobia also includes the fear of being ignored or replaced by other people.

 

In some cases, athazagoraphobia may be considered a part of social phobia. Social phobia is an irrational anxiety and fear of being judged or rejected in certain social conditions. Moreover, athazagoraphobia may be connected with one’s worry about losing memories, such as when an individual experiences Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

 

Causes of Athazagoraphobia

 

Currently, the exact causes of specific phobias, including athazagoraphobia, have yet to be known. Nevertheless, experts suspect that this condition may happen due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. For more details, here are some factors that can heighten the risk of athazagoraphobia:

 

• A family history of phobia and other anxiety disorders.

• A history of traumatic events related to being forgotten, being abandoned, or losing the closest people.

• A family history of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

• Prolonged stress.

 

Symptoms of Athazagoraphobia

 

Athazagoraphobia may cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the severity. When an individual is faced with conditions that may trigger their phobias, they may experience a combination of physical and emotional symptoms. Several athazagoraphobia symptoms include:

 

• Muscle tension.

• Rapid heart rate.

• Elevated blood pressure.

• Dizziness.

• Restlessness and nervousness.

• Excessive sweating.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Decreased focus and concentration.

• Tendency to avoid social situations.

• Difficulty sleeping.

• Chest pain.

• Abdominal pain.

• Shortness of breath.

• Fainting.

 

Diagnosing Athazagoraphobia

 

In confirming the diagnosis of athazagoraphobia, doctors will begin with a medical interview or anamnesis to evaluate the patient’s overall mental condition. Subsequently, doctors will match the results according to the diagnostic criteria for specific phobia in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). These criteria include:

 

• Persistent fear that lasts for 6 months or more.

• Fear and anxiety that have affected the patient’s daily life.

• Fear and anxiety that are triggered by specific situations or objects.

• Overwhelming fear and anxiety disproportionate to the actual danger of the triggers.

• Fear that manifests immediately after the patient faces the triggers.

• Fear and anxiety that are unrelated to other mental health disorders.

 

How to Overcome Athazagoraphobia

 

There are several common methods that can be used for athazagoraphobia treatment. Several examples of such methods include psychotherapy, medication use, and lifestyle changes. These are the complete explanations.

 

1. Psychotherapy

 

Psychotherapy is the type of therapy conducted to help the patient with certain mental health conditions. There are several types of psychotherapy that are used to treat mental health conditions. Nevertheless, the following are the most common methods of psychotherapy to manage athazagoraphobia:

 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy: This method aims to change the patient’s way of thinking and negative behavior toward a more positive direction when they are facing a problem.

• Exposure therapy: This therapy aims to gradually expose the patient to objects or things that incite fear in them. This will help the patient to become familiar with their phobia triggers.

 

2. Medications

 

In some cases, doctors may prescribe certain medications to help manage the symptoms experienced by people with athazagoraphobia. Generally, these are the types of medications prescribed to manage the symptoms of athazagoraphobia:

 

• Anti-anxiety medications.

• Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

• Beta-blockers.

 

3. Lifestyle Changes

 

In order to help control the symptoms of athazagoraphobia, doctors may direct the patient to change their lifestyle and manage their stress level.  You can attempt this method by adhering to the tips below:

 

• Encouraging the patient to be more open in sharing their stories with their closest ones.

• Joining a community or group of patients with similar phobias to acquire support.

• Consuming well-balanced foods.

• Writing a journal.

• Practicing relaxation techniques regularly, such as breathing techniques, yoga, meditation, and many others.

 

Athazagoraphobia is a condition that requires proper treatment to prevent it from interfering with the patient's quality of life quality. This condition must not be undermined and ignored. Hence, it is advisable to start a counseling session with Psychiatrists from Siloam Hospitals if you experience symptoms related to athazagoraphobia.

Are you looking to do a convenient counseling session from the comfort of your own home? You may now use the Teleconsultation available on the MySiloam app. This service will enable doctors to prescribe certain medications tailored to the patient’s condition. However, certain medications, such as antipsychotics and antidepressants, may require patients to pick them up in person (self-pickup).