Monophobia/Fear of being alone

We often heard people talk about agoraphobia when they talk about anxiety and panic attacks. But not a lot of people talk about monophobia even though it is very common among anxiety and panic attacks sufferers.

Monophobia is a condition where people are afraid of being alone. Especially when it comes to people who have panic disorder, they are afraid that an attack will come to them with no one around to help. This is much worse when people don’t have enough information about anxiety, so they truly think that something is medically wrong with them like a heart disease or a stroke that will happen when no one is around, and no one would arrive on time for the rescue.

This was me! I was like that for a very long time. As a man in his 20s, I was like my mom’s shadow. I would go anywhere she goes. I would offer to take her to any place she wants to go to even if I had to sit and wait in the car. I just didn’t want to be home alone.

Even when I went to the restroom, I would leave the door cracked open just in case “something bad” happens to me. I would meticulously plan out my weekly calendar so that there won’t be any day or time that I would be alone.

Mind you, before I had anxiety, I always wanted to be alone. I would drive for hours by myself, go camping and shopping by myself. I loved being alone. All of that changed on the day I had my first panic attack. I became insecure and fearful of everything. I became so dependent on other people including my little nieces and nephews. Their presence made me feel safe. I even taught my nephew how to call 911 if he sees something wrong with me. If I was left alone for 5 minutes, that would be 5 minutes of hell. I became a burden for my family.

Fear, regardless of the intensity, is just a feeling.

Let me tell you this. Now that I’m fully recovered from anxiety, I always look for opportunity to be alone. I found it to be so peaceful, maybe because I’m an introvert. But the fear from monophobia is completely gone. Better yet, I had been afraid of ghost since I was a little kid. After recovered from anxiety, that fear is gone, too. I guess I just learn to accept everything and not being afraid of anything related to my feeling, including fear.

If you are suffering from monophobia because of anxiety and panic attack, don’t worry, it will get better as you work on your anxiety. You haven’t lost yourself. You won’t become dependent for the rest of your life. You will gain back your confidence and freedom. Just be patient. Learn more about anxiety either from this site or other helpful sites. Once you make peace with your anxiety, it will lose its power. Use A.C.E.R. as it cured my anxiety for good. Hope it can do the same for you.

Symptoms are like battles. You can win one here and there, but attacking your anxiety helps you win the war.