Scopophobia is characterized by fear, anxiety, and insecurity about the gaze of others. This syndrome is rarely a separate condition but is often associated with other psychological or psychiatric disorders.
The fear of the eyes of others is a fairly common anxiety disorder
What is fear of being seen by others?
The fear of being looked at by others (Scopophobia, Ophthalmophobia, Scoptophobia) is a form of anxiety disorder characterized by the fear and anxiety of being stared at by others. This syndrome is different from feeling uncomfortable and uncomfortable when others look at us maliciously or look at us with scrutiny. Anxiety, fear when others stare will lead to stress, anxiety and sometimes develop into panic attacks.
Like other anxiety disorders, the fear of being seen by others is often disproportionate to the nature of the situation/event. This fear dominates, making it difficult for patients to maintain their productivity at work, study, live a closed life and tend to isolate themselves from society.
Phobias rarely occur alone, but are often a symptom of social anxiety disorder or other disorders. Eye contact is an integral part of social interaction. Therefore, this syndrome needs to be treated as soon as possible to avoid long-term consequences.
Manifestations of fear of being seen by others
Most people don’t like being stared at or looked at with disapproving eyes. However, eye contact is a common form of nonverbal communication in everyday life. Through our eyes, we can understand the other person without words.
The fear of being seen by others causes excessive fear and anxiety in the eyes of others. Even, many people find themselves with excessive fear but do not know how to control and control it.
People with fear of being looked at by others think that the people around them are always staring at them
Unlike the usual discomfort of being stared at by others, agoraphobia causes the following symptoms:
Feeling extremely uncomfortable, stressed, anxious, and even scared when making eye contact or being stared at by others.
It always feels like the people around you are watching or staring at you even though it’s not.
Some people appear paranoid about being stared at, watched, and monitored by others.
There is always a feeling of anxiety when chatting, especially with people who are not really close.
Stay focused when someone is staring at you or making eye contact.
Anxiety about being seen by others causes patients to avoid many social situations and tend to live in isolation, isolated from others.
When faced with situations of being stared at by others (presentations, performances, …) the patient will appear physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, throat tightness, blushing, sweating, etc. In some cases, they even become panicky and out of control because the fear is too great.
The fear of being seen by others will last for at least 6 months and cause profound effects on health and quality of life. This is different from the usual feeling of discomfort and stress.
Disorders related to the fear of being seen by others
As mentioned, agoraphobia rarely occurs alone, but is often a group of symptoms of mental disorders. Among them, the most common is social anxiety disorder. In addition, this syndrome can be a symptom of many other mental disorders.
Fear of being seen by others is common in people with social anxiety disorder
Disorders associated with agoraphobia include:
- Social Anxiety Disorder: Social anxiety disorder is a common type of anxiety disorder. People with this disorder have irrational and persistent fears about social situations such as socializing, talking on the phone, meeting people, and looking at other people. Statistics show that most people with phobias of other people have other manifestations of social anxiety disorder.
- Autism: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that begins early in life. People with this condition have difficulty receptive to social cues, so they are often unable to make eye contact. Therefore, when they see others observing or staring at them, they may feel scared and stressed because they think they are threatened.
- Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is also a common type of anxiety disorder. People with this condition can have panic attacks in public places with no known triggers or symptoms. During panic attacks, patients often have fear of memory loss, fear of death, and fear of the stares of those around them.
- Epilepsy: Many studies show that epilepsy patients often avoid society because of the fear of having a seizure in the middle of a crowd. Gradually, the patient has a fear of being stared at by others and becomes more sensitive to the gazes of those around him.
- Mood Disorders: Phobias can also occur in mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder. People with this condition often have low self-esteem, pessimism, negativity, and low self-esteem. Therefore, some patients will become fearful and avoid social situations for fear of being judged by others.
- Eating disorders: People with eating disorders often have excessive concerns about their weight, body shape, and physique and fear that people will laugh at their flaws. As a result, patients are often not confident in social situations. In the long run, the person will be scared to see other people watching and staring at themselves.
- Personality Disorders: The fear of being seen by others can also appear in some personality disorders such as avoidant personality disorder. People with this disorder always avoid interactions, social situations and of course they are also afraid of stares from others.
- Body Disorders: People with body disorders believe that they are deformed and have physical defects. This false belief causes patients to have low self-esteem and avoid social situations. They tend to be scared and nervous when others look at them because they think that the people around them have discovered their own shortcomings and will laugh at them.
- Other disorders: Fear of being seen by others is also present in other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder, and depressive hyperactivity disorder. attention (ADHD),…
Causes of fear of being seen by others
Experts say that the fear of being seen by others stems from an underlying fear and insecurity. This can stem from misconceptions or negative past experiences. Like other anxiety disorders, experts have not been able to figure out what causes claustrophobia.
However, experts find this syndrome is related to the following factors:
- Inherited from family
- Personal history of mental disorders
- Have experienced negative events related to social interactions, especially eye contact or intimidation
- People who live in unsafe environments and are constantly on guard will gradually develop fear when others stare at them.
Effects of fear of being seen by others
The fear of being looked at by others causes many problems in life, not just the discomfort and stress of being stared at by people around. Excessive anxiety and fear cause patients to avoid many social situations, live a closed life, and rarely communicate. People with this syndrome often choose non-communicative jobs or jobs that can be done from home.
Many studies have shown that people with phobias of being looked at by others always think that they have inferior looks and abilities compared to other people. Because of their lack of confidence, they always feel afraid when others observe and stare at them. To allay their fears, the patient avoids all social situations to the best of her ability.
People with fear of being seen by others have a lot of difficulty in integrating with the people around them
People with phobias of others will face problems such as low career opportunities, difficulty in promotion, unstable income, few friends and sometimes only maintaining relationships with relatives. in the family. Persistent anxiety and fear about being seen by others also increases physical health problems such as insomnia, headaches, fatigue, vestibular disorders, etc.
How to overcome the fear of being seen by others
When you find yourself showing signs of phobia of others, you should visit an early doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Doctors will rely on clinical symptoms and order tests to rule out other possibilities. Depending on the health status of each case, the doctor will prescribe the following treatment methods:
1. Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is the optimal solution for patients with fear of being seen by others. This therapy is done in the form of conversation to help patients change their wrong thoughts, thereby reducing fear and becoming more comfortable with eye contact.
The psychotherapy process will take a long time because the specialist must build a close relationship with the patient. Otherwise, the patient himself may be afraid of the therapist’s gaze. Experts will thoroughly evaluate the status of each case to have the most appropriate approach.
Psychotherapy is the most effective solution to the fear of being seen by others
Currently, cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are considered to be highly effective for patients with claustrophobia.
- Exposure therapy: Exposure therapy is often applied to patients with anxiety disorders in general and people with phobias of others in particular. This syndrome helps patients approach fear slowly under the supervision of a psychologist. The therapist will accompany the patient and teach the patient skills to manage fear, anxiety, and insecurity. Gradually, the patient will gradually increase his exposure to fear and learn to overcome his own fear.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to change the patient’s thoughts and misconceptions. This helps the patient reduce fear and change inappropriate behaviors (behavior to avoid social situations). Currently, cognitive-behavioral therapy is considered as a highly effective and long-term psychotherapy method. Most patients with claustrophobia have a good response to this therapeutic intervention.
The duration of therapy will usually last about 12 weeks or more depending on the psychology of each patient. In general, this method is highly effective but requires cooperation from the patient. In people with comorbid psychiatric disorders, psychotherapy is also of great help in symptom control and helps patients improve their long-term quality of life.
2. Drug use
Medications are not effective in controlling fear. However, taking medication will help reduce anxiety, stress, and physical problems caused by claustrophobia (insomnia, restlessness, increased heart rate, palpitations, etc.). In addition, the use of drugs also helps to lift the mood and support the patient during psychotherapy.
Medications used for patients with claustrophobia:
- Antidepressants
- Sedatives, anxiolytics
- Beta blockers
- Oral pills, nerve tonics
In addition, the patient may have to take some other classes of drugs to treat the accompanying mental disorders. All of these drugs have potential risks and side effects during treatment. Therefore, patients need to pay attention to abnormal symptoms to promptly treat and overcome.
3. Self-improvement measures
People with phobias themselves may perceive their own fears as irrational and unnecessary but cannot be controlled. In fact, it is not easy to overcome your fear. The following helpful tips will help patients to somewhat control their fear of being seen by others:
Patients with claustrophobia should join groups to experience overcoming fear
- Learn to deal with fearful situations: Despite trying to avoid social situations, it can be difficult for patients to completely avoid the gaze of others. When faced with this situation, the patient should close his or her eyes to reduce the stimulus from the environment. Then, breathe slowly and deeply, paying attention only to your body and not minding your surroundings. When fear has been controlled, you should find a quiet space and few people to feel safest and most comfortable.
- Equip knowledge about the disease: To overcome the fear of being seen by others, patients should actively equip themselves with knowledge about the disease. Understanding this syndrome will help patients realize that treatment is needed and understand that they are not alone in facing their fears.
- Sitting meditation: Meditation has been recognized as a supportive therapy in the treatment of many psychological and psychiatric problems. This therapy helps patients manage stress, anxiety, and fear. Many studies have shown that the habit of meditating will help increase stamina and keep calm better. This helps a lot in controlling fear and anxiety in the face of stares and scrutiny from others.
- Join groups: The fear of being seen by others affects many people. Therefore, patients can participate in groups to share, understand and learn from others’ experiences. In addition, participating in groups will also help patients reduce their fear of communication and be more confident about themselves.
- Relaxation measures: People with claustrophobia often fall into a state of stress dominated by fear and anxiety. Therefore, you should equip yourself with relaxation measures such as resting, reading, watching movies, exercising, getting enough sleep, etc. These measures will help relieve stress and stabilize your mood. This helps the patient to feel more comfortable, increasing their tolerance to situations that cause fear and anxiety.
- Share with others: Because of always avoiding the eyes of others, it is difficult for patients to integrate and maintain relationships. Therefore, patients should openly share with everyone about their health status. When this is understood, people will limit their gazes on you and find a more suitable communication solution to exchange work (calling, texting, …).
Fear of being seen by others is a common anxiety disorder. This syndrome needs to be treated early to minimize the impact on health and quality of life. In general, with timely and proper treatment, patients can still integrate with others and study and work effectively.
