and avoid it whenever possible. Stare that anxiety DOWN! Enochlophobia (pronounced [en-ah-cla-foh-bee-uh]) is the abnormal or irrational fear of crowds. Wow me too! American Psychiatric Association. I went where I knew there were less people and where I could sit and calm down and my son asked me if I was ok because I looked really pale and awful.. and I told him “no I’m not ok”. It’s really getting out of hands as people have started thinking I can’t speak. A lot of people think I am antisocial but I am more than open to having a one on one in somewhere less chaotic. But really, it’s just too many people everywhere! Then, rest assured and get back to living a beautiful life. I fussed and yelled at everybody. I want to be normal again. The origin of the word ochlo is Greek (meaning people) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). Focus on taking deep breaths if you do find yourself becoming overwhelmed by anxiety. I find myself getting very dizzy visually. The anxiety is made worse in social situations involving large crowds such as public speaking. Because, all phobias can to some degree limit a persons daily activities and are in some cases the root cause that make someone experience anxiety and leading up all the way to depression. This is not an aberration but a sensible way to react. There are several strategies that you can employ to try and reduce your fear of crowds: If you choose to manage your fear of crowds on your own, remember that many of the above strategies are short-term solutions. The demophobic individual is likely to go to great lengths to avoid crowds and flee from it. Take breaths as deep as the ocean can get. I also believe my phobia(s) are getting worse because I’m starting to avoid confined areas for fear of others following, and large crowds because of the prospect of getting crowded, and it takes less and less to set off a panic attack. That’s twice the entire population of the five Scandinavia countries (470,000 sq miles) put together (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland). In early times, crowds could spell disaster for an individual without back-up. Ha, I only panic when there are people packed in, and it is chaotic. For if I did say that I HAVE of anything, I would claim that I HAVE. I was VERY irritable about every little thing. The individual feels his personal space may get violated by the crowd and he/she goes to great lengths to avoid crowds or free themselves from it. Some people fear only specific situations, such as public speaking or eating in front of people. I"m not sure. The bottlenecks, the jamming, the blocking of exits by mangled bodies… I’m sick just writing about it. But for some people the Sod’s Law of queueing can become a real phobia. Enochlophobia is a common social phobia that is known to affect many people today. When I am ill, I like to be totally alone). CROWD PHOBIA: (demophobia, enochiophobia, and fear of crowds) 1: crowd phobia: a persistent, abnormal, and unwarranted fear of crowds, despite conscious understanding by the phobic individual and reassurance by others that there is no danger.2: crowd phobia: an extreme unwarranted fear and/or physical aversion to crowds. I have Xanax that helps but I might have to triple the dosage being up in front during the entire ceremony & also giving my daughters away. I think that this is a very normal reaction as a human being and not to be classified as having a ‘phobia’. I get vertigo and have trouble leaving once I am in the middle. fear. I experience panic attacks in large crowds. Aphenphosmphobia – The fear of … Typically, shy individuals or people who are unable to desensitize themselves from the emotions of people in the crowd are more likely to suffer from Enochlophobia. I’m 21 years old, 6 feet tall and well built but even thinking about being in a crowd reduces me to the level of a scared child. Then I become anxious. Do you know why? Somebody watching means I am not speaking and smiling at that time. The treatments are generally therapy (typically CBT) and/or medication. Agoraphobia is believed to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. I am a retired minister my wife has quit attending church gatherings because she cannot cope with people. Definition of Enochlophobia. The fear of crowds or Enochlophobia is known by different names such as Ochlophobia and Demophobia. The UK is the ideal place to breed Enochlophobia. Like in lines creeps me out. The condition often runs in families, and stressful or traumatic events such as the death of a parent or being attacked may be a trigger. To even crown the whole I am a gay guy with certain feminine feautures that are considered in an arab country a bit eccentric.. I can’t even enjoy walking alone. Choose someone who will be understanding and not judge you if you need to leave. But on my daily commute home, stuck in the tunnel from one subway platform to another during rush hour, my fear responses are off the charts. I choose not to say that I have fear of open areas. Common examples include a fear of heights, flying, snakes, germs, etc. I, instead, say that I FEEL anxiety, in which, I do feel anxiety. I admire the ways you cope with your fears. What causes enochlophobia? We feel anxiety when we cross a street or railroad tracks, we feel anxiety to get things completed (in our everyday tasks), we feel anxiety when we care for children, etc. I get extremely anxious on crowded buses, but then I imagine an emergency scenario in which I might need help — I know in a crowd at least a few people would show compassion and try to help. Women tend to be affected by it more than men. Anxiety will NOT stand and deliver me….or any of us! I don’t want to talk to people when I’m shopping. Hell is other people! I thought that I had claustrophobia but I talked it over with my Mum and we found that it was just the fear of crowds, so I did some research and found that I have Enochlophobia. First, find the root of the anxiety and then once you have it…FOCUS ON IT! That we are connected and not separate. Your email address will not be published. I’m visiting New York City and I’m having intense panic attacks every time I go outside. Rather, this phobia involves irrational thoughts and behaviors that are excessive in relation to the actual danger in a situation. WE CAN AND WILL CONQUER THIS ANXIETY TOGETHER IN UNITY! The Love Parade disaster, the Hillsborough disaster, the Heysel Stadium disaster, the Iroquois Theatre fire… The force of human bodies pressing together creating thousands of pounds of pressure…. It is because the DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!! Agoraphobia is only diagnosed along with panic disorder and refers to the fear of being in a place where it will be difficult to escape if you were to have a panic attack, such as a crowd, bus, subway, bridge, elevator, theatre, etc. To keep anxiety at bay, experts also recommend focusing on one person in the gathering/party. Same here, also I was appointed as an interpreter in my church and I keep sweating all the time and my voice break. Enochlophobia might be diagnosed as a specific phobia if it meets the criteria in the DSM-V. A specific phobia is the unrealistic or extreme fear of a situation, setting, or thing. I choose not to say that I fear crowds. You might be prescribed either a short-term or long-term medication depending on your symptoms and particular needs. Not everyone who feels uncomfortable in a crowd lives with enochlophobia. While there is no specific diagnosis of enochlophobia, there are several disorders that may be considered related. Being in an enclosed area with many other people makes me start to have panic-response symptoms. Psychol Med. On a Saturday afternoon, my husband and I went to the mall (big mistake!). There could be millions of people around me and I’m fine, until they get too close. Ochlophobia is the fear of mobs. Read our, Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Crowds are generally only dangerous if they turn into a crazed group of people, which tends to happen when they are moving toward something that they want (e.g., a shopping event, entering a venue, etc.) The fear is that if you become distressed, there won't be any way to escape or get help. I recently lost a job due to my refusal to enter certain areas of the building. Demophobes (as the people suffering from Enochlophobia are known) have various internal representations for their fear. Crowds or waiting in line 3. I have a phobia of crowds and traffic jams. I’m not afraid of crowded areas. My panic attacks were so bad I could not wait to get out of there. I don’t like people standing to close. Enochlophobia refers to the fear of crowds. ", Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Similarly, demophobia is a fear of masses of people. Below are some of the common physical symptoms of enochlophobia: Below are some of the common cognitive symptoms of enochlophobia: Below are some of the common behavioral symptoms of enochlophobia: One way to get a better understanding of which symptoms you experience is to keep a logbook, diary, or journal in which you write down situations that cause you anxiety and what symptoms you notice. Alektorophobia – The fear of chickens. I felt smothered, ill, dizzy or scandalized (by unintentional touch to my privates) i often scream, cry, shout or when im really irritated i say bad words to strangers squeezing me.. the thing is, they don’t care.. casting bewildered faces to me.. making me more ill and irritated.. but now i think i can overcome my anxiety by listening to music when making my way out.. but the another thing is GADGETS ARE ALWAYS NOT ALLOWED IN THIS EVENT.. this thing makes my anxiety even higher.. Today at school there was a large group of people walking towards me and then they were everywhere around me and i started freaking out so i accidently screamed and then started crying on the floor. I went to a school event and these complete strangers were touching me and they didn’t even say anything or seem to care. I have never felt the need to seek professional help for it because I simply stay away from things that are going to have crushing crowds. If you experience this fear, the chances are that you Continue Reading Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We want to enjoy our everyday lives and live as normal as possible. By using Verywell Mind, you accept our, 6 Tips for Dealing With Anxiety in Public Places, 7 Types of Social Fears and the Best Way to Overcome Them, Signs That You May Have Social Anxiety Disorder. Little did I know, the anxiety that I felt was trailing off to enochlophobia and agoraphobia. By Jacob Olesen 54 Comments. I’m already trying to not freak out over just being in the store. I have had this since high school. Naturally the symptoms presented are different in each patient. I have a baby, 18 months old, I don’t want to die…. Confined spaces don’t bother me either. I am very, very sociable and confident which is confirmed by my family, friends and work colleagues. The most common treatment is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which targets both your worried thoughts as well as your avoidance behavior. Agoraphobia is often equated with a fear of public places, and by extension of crowds. I don’t like to feel crowded. I have a fear of crowded places and tight spaces, small spaces, enclosed spaces and also have moderate attacks following my panicky situation. They fear that something bad will happened to them that would cause humiliation, dread, or terror. If you truly want to get over and be rid of your fear of crowds, it will be beneficial to visit a mental health professional for a diagnosis and to learn about treatment options. Symptoms of Demophobia Phobias are to be taken seriously. He’s ready and excited but when he’s about to step up the stage he freezes. It is normal to feel some anxiety when it comes to traffic jams. In those moments that I get caught in a crowd, I focus on getting out and it helps keep my calm. These symptoms and signs are broadly characterized as physical, mental or emotional and may include: Many demophobic individuals are certain of being trampled or crushed by the crowds. Otherwise I am ok. I’ve been trying to do the same thing. I agree. I can sit in a theater because it is dark and loud but not as comfortable as I am outside. Nobody wants to die, we don’t have to unless our Heavenly Father says it’s time! Self help is the best form of treatment for this phobia. People living with agoraphobia often come to a realization that their fear is irrational , but they are helpless or have no control over it. I also felt the same way.. whenever i really have to squeeze myself into a large crowd in order to leave a really big event that my family used to attend every single year.. whenever i lost sight of my family in this large crowd i lost control. Agoraphobia is a social anxiety disorder that is associated with an irrational fear of being in open crowded spaces and having a panic attack. Been there done that. I have nervous tics in the left side of the mouth that’s like twitching. I can’t stand in front of an audience, either to lead, read or present something. As part of CBT, you would learn how to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and replace them with more adaptive ways of thinking. I’ve personally always called this “people-claustrophobia”; Although I don’t think I have it as bad as you do from your description, but I’ve always avoided or preferred to avoid anyone sitting next to me in places like concerts, restaurants, movies, in cars and other transportation like on buses and trains, etc. I tend to talk positively to myself when I get into traffic. I rebuke it! 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