Monophobia
Meaning
Monophobia, also known as autophobia or isolophobia is an anxiety disorder, in which the patient is suffering from a fear of isolation, a terror of being egotistical, a dread of being alone or a fear of one’s self.
It is not solely physical loneliness a “monophobic” person may be afraid of, but also a fear of not being loved or cared about.
The condition is usually associated with or developed from other anxiety disorders, like agoraphobia, scopophobia, or self-hatred.
Search Interest
Origin of the term
The term was first published in the 1880’s, created by the Greek words mono meaning one and –phobia, which means fear.
During the last century, research about social anxiety disorders and a conditions had linked “monophobia” to several other conditions, like agoraphobia, social anxiety and even depression.
Spread of the term
Later research on autophobia and “monophobia” had determined that patients suffering from these conditions are also often experiencing an intense terror from dying or getting in an otherwise dire situation, in which there will be no one to help them.
“Monophobia” was first defined on the online slang lexicon, Urban Dictionary in 2006.
Further information/sources
- Anxiety Care UK – Fear of Being Alone
- Very Well Mind – Monophobia: The Fear of Being Alone
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