Anuptophobia: the irrational fear of staying single
Anuptophobia: what is it?
To a certain extent it is common to want to have a partner, since it is nice to have that person next to you with whom you can share joys and sorrows. Falling in love and being in a relationship is, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences that human beings can experience, but many love relationships do not go well and have negative consequences.
Anuptophobes are terrified of being single and are capable of clinging to a traumatic relationship irrationally.
Causes of anuptophobia
There are many factors that can influence when suffering from anuptophobia, but the most common factors are usually traumatic experiences from the past or irrational beliefs about staying single. From an early age we have been educated to understand that a full life involves getting married and having children.
Being single can be a failure for many people, especially for women. Social pressure causes single women to be labeled “spinsters.” This label can be difficult to wear, and can cause a severe anxiety disorder if your thinking about being single is not corrected.
Anuptophobes are usually jealous and very dependent people, with very low self-esteem, who are exaggeratedly influenced by the opinion that others have of them.
It is possible that the cause of anuptophobia is also in childhood, since the children of parents in unloving relationships are more likely to suffer from this phobia. The lack of social support at an early age can cause children to grow up with an enormous fear of rejection and who avoid loneliness at all costs.
There is a lot of research that warns of future negative consequences if children are not raised correctly. But not only can the lack of affection be a problem for the future development of a person, but excess of protection can also cause them to suffer from singleness panic as they get older. In this sense, it is very important that parents have the necessary tools to educate their children in emotional intelligence. The relationship with the parents will be decisive in the creation of the child’s mental world and can cause future pathologies, such as problems in their relationships.
Symptoms of anuptophobia
Like any phobia, the symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the disorder and from one person to another. Symptoms include extreme anxiety, dread, and any other symptoms related to panic: shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, excessive sweating, dry mouth, etc…
Possible treatments
When a person suffers from anuptophobia, they may well understand what is happening to them, but it is not so easy to overcome the disorder without the help of a psychologist. Family and friends are important in helping sufferers through the recovery process, as overcoming any type of disorder is a difficult task.
If you think you may suffer from anutophobia you can talk to your doctor, but it may be necessary to seek psychological help as soon as possible. Cognitive behavioral therapy can provide techniques that are efficient for the treatment of any phobia. The systematic desensitization technique is very useful to overcome any anxiety disorder, since it helps the patient to face the phobic disorder by exposing them to feared situations and reducing avoidance behaviours.
You can find a comprehensive list of English-speaking healthcare professsionals in the ESHA Spain business directory https://eshaspain.org/esha-directory/
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I would also like to add that it is important to challenge the negative stereotypes and stigma that are often associated with being single. Single people are just as happy and fulfilled as married people. They may have different challenges and opportunities in life, but that does not mean that they are any less worthy of love and respect.
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