The phobia disorder of being alone is called autophobia. Autophobia can stem from a variety of sources, including past traumatic experiences, fear of abandonment, or low self-esteem. It can also be a symptom of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders or depression.

I think at one point, I had the phobia of being alone. Nowadays, I prefer to be alone. I don’t like being around other people because they make me anxious. If I don’t have control of the situation, then count me out, I want no part of it. Basically, you can’t predict what people are going to do.

Anxiety Level

Anxiety level refers to the degree of intensity of anxiety experienced by an individual suffering from the phobia of being alone. The anxiety can range from mild to severe, and the level of anxiety can vary depending on the situation, context, and individual factors.

   Mild Anxiety

Mild anxiety refers to a low level of anxiety that is characterizing the feeling of uneasiness, restlessness, or tension. It is often a normal response to perceived stressors or challenging situations and can even be motivating in some cases. I go in the opposite direction, it has a negative affect on me. If I even feel remotely anxious, it manifests into the next stage because I’m trying to avoid it.

   Moderate Anxiety

Moderate anxiety is a more intense level of anxiety that may be accompanied by physical symptoms such as racing heart, sweating, and trembling. These symptoms can interfere with daily activities and reduce a person’s ability to cope with stressors. At this point, I’m beyond trying to cope with it. I just don’t want it to go any further. Being that, I’m starting to get into the “I don’t think I can handle this” stage.

   Severe Anxiety (manic anxiety)

Severe anxiety is the highest level of anxiety, which is often accompanied by significant physical symptoms and a feeling of overwhelming fear or panic. People with severe anxiety may become immobilized, unable to carry out normal activities, and may even require emergency medical attention. Yep, I’m right where I was trying to avoid. At this stage, I can’t function. You might as well take me to the ER. This isn’t going to be pretty.

Simple Phobia

A simple phobia is a specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a particular situation, object, activity or living being. In simple phobia, the fear is disproportionate to the actual level of danger posed by the situation or object. Also, the fear persists even when the person understands that the fear is unproven. It’s funny how your brain can make something out of nothing in a matter of seconds. Even when the threat is dissipating , you still think there is a threat there.

Dehydration And Anxiety

Some of autophobia studies have found that even mild dehydration can cause mood changes such as increased feelings of anxiety and tension. The exact mechanism behind this correlation is not yet fully understood, but it may be related to changes in brain functioning and hormonal balances due to dehydration.

For example, dehydration can lead to physiological changes such as increased heart rate, reduced blood flow to the brain, and changes in electrolyte balances, all of which can contribute to a feeling of anxiety. In addition, dehydration can cause fatigue and sleep disturbances, which can exacerbate anxiety symptoms.

Anxiety Weight Loss

It is possible to lose weight while suffering from autophobia, but the relationship between anxiety and weight loss is complex and can vary from person to person. Some people may lose weight due to anxiety-related factors like loss of appetite, changes in eating habits, or an increase in metabolism. for example, some people feel nauseous or too anxious to eat when they are anxious, which can lead to a decrease in caloric intake.

However, not all anxious people will lose weight, and in some cases, anxiety can lead to weight gain. Anxiety can sometimes trigger a physiological response in the body that causes an increase in cortisol, a hormone that can stimulate the production of fat cells. Additionally, some people turn to food as a way to cope with their anxiety, which can result in overeating and weight gain.

Reddit Anxiety

Reddit is a social news aggregation and discussion website. It is one of the most popular websites on the internet, with millions of users and thousands of active communities (called “subreddits”) dedicated to specific topics, interests, and hobbies.

Registered users, known as “Redditors,” can submit text, links, images, and other content to the site, which can then be upvoted or downvoted by other users. Posts with a high number of upvotes are more likely to be seen by a larger audience and appear higher up on the site’s homepage and subreddit pages.

Reddit is a good website to go to when you have questions or just want to talk to someone about specific problems. I have used it several times when I have had some questions that I knew someone with the same problem could answer it.

Conclusion

Whether you want to call it an irrational anxiety, phobia of being left alone is very scary when being alone happens. It starts out as anxious distress and can manifest into manic anxiety. You can use your coping skills to deescalate the moment. You can use these coping skills to adapt to this phobia. Then you will be like me wanting to be alone most of the time. I’m not condoning that, it’s just how my situation is right now. Some call it “isolating,” I call it “minimal anxiety.” I still go out of the house to the store or appointments every once in a while. I haven’t forgotten how to socialize. Well, it’s time for me to go. Until next time…

Articles

-Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone)

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22578-autophobia-monophobia-fear-of-being-alone

-Do You Have A Legit Fear Of Being Alone? Experts Explain How To Overcome Autophobia

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a26228055/fear-of-being-alone-autophobia/

-The Fear of Being Alone Is Real—Here’s How to Face It

https://www.glamour.com/story/how-to-face-your-fear-of-being-alone

Have a Good One,

Cindee Murphy, One Voice – Unstoppable

“You’re not alone!”