The fear of being forgotten is known as Athazagoraphobia, it is an irrational fear of being forgotten or replaced by someone you love. It mostly comes out of an insecure relationship with your partner.
The fear of being forgotten not only affects couples but in some cases, it can trouble parents of busy children or vise-versa. Basically, athazagoraphobia can happen to anyone who can’t trust their partners or friends and family to be with them irrespective of what happens in their lives.
Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that sometimes uproot your life in fractions of a second and handicap you emotionally in life. Fortunately, you can save yourself from the consequences of phobias like Athazagoraphobia.
In this blog we will understand Athazagoraphobia in detail, we’ll talk about the causes, symptoms, and most importantly ways to cope with the fear of being forgotten…
Shall we begin?
What Is Athazagoraphobia?
Athazagoraphobia is the irrational yet intense fear of being forgotten, replaced or ignored by someone you love. It is mostly seen in people going through a relationship without trust and belongingness.
The fear of being forgotten starts to interfere with your life. Your relationships start to suffer, you feel lonely and broken, you feel like you will be emotionally erased from the memories of your loved ones.
Other than that, family members of people who have Alzheimer’s or Dementia can also develop the fear of being forgotten or Athazagoraphobia. Let’s learn more about Athazagoraphobia…
What Can Cause You To Develop The Fear Of Being Forgotten ( Athazagoraphobia)?
There is no particular cause of any kind of phobia. In most cases, phobia is developed because of a traumatic incident in their lives. According to experts, phobias are generally developed because of some environmental or genetic factors.
Here is a list of some factors that may have acted as a catalyst or had a direct influence on your Athazagoraphobia;
You were left alone as a child
You were raised by a distant caregiver or parent
You were disowned by your friends in school
You have a specific phobia related to memory
You have a family member with Alzheimer’s or dementia
You are directly linked with a person dealing with phobia
You are an introvert or have a shy personality
Although Athazagoraphobia has not been recognized as a specific phobia or disorder as of now, studies suggest that the worry of being forgotten by or forgetting your loved one is real.
Also read: Are You Scared Of Being Trapped? You May Have ‘Cleithrophobia’
Now that you know about the cause of fear of being forgotten, let’s quickly look at the signs and symptoms of Athazagoraphobia…
What Are The Symptoms of Athazagoraphobia (Fear Of Being Forgotten)?
The symptoms of a specific phobia usually depend on the type of irrational fear you have been suffering from. The nature of your phobia and the nature of your symptoms correlate with each other.
Here is a list of signs and symptoms associated with Athazagoraphobia…
Panic and anxiety attacks upon thoughts of being forgotten
Lack of focus and concentration
Depression
Restlessness and nervousness
Urge to avoid social situations
Other than these there are some physical symptoms as well that you might experience fear of your fear of being forgotten. Alongside feeling like you’ll be forgotten here’s what your body might feel like;
Body aches, muscle tension
Nausea
Shivering, sweating, panting
Shortness of breath
Increased heart rate
Increased blood pressure
How To Overcome The Fear Of Being Forgotten (Athazagoraphobia)?
Do you know how common phobias are? According to a survey conducted by Americans, almost 12-13% Americans have experienced a specific phobia in their lifetime. The measure you take to overcome any kind of phobia more or less remains the same across different types of phobias.
Here’s are some coping strategies for you so that you can overcome Athazagoraphobia;
Indulge in yoga or meditation or anything that brings a sense of calm in your life.
Try learning some focused breathing techniques because they come in very handy when your Athazagoraphobia decides to act up.
Many people claim aromatherapy has helped them deal with their phobia, you can give aromatherapy a try.
Invest your time in journaling your thoughts or just simply maintain a thought diary. It will help you track negative thoughts and identify triggers.
Don’t shy away from having a support system. When you have a strong support system, the fear of being forgotten might not trouble you as much
Get professional help. There are so many interventions available to treat Athazagoraphobia like cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness and breathing techniques, anti-anxiety drugs, etc.
Final Thoughts…
The fear of being forgotten by your loved ones can be really painful. We all have at least once in our life felt rejected, ignored or unwanted. Imagine the plight of people who go through such feelings all their lives.
It’s important to know about Athazagoraphobia and related phobias so that you can help people who suffer from such specific phobias.
I hope this blog helps you understand Athazagoraphobia and how to overcome the fear of being forgotten. Do share this blog with your friends and family so that they can learn about Athazagoraphobia as well.
Thanks for reading!
Take care and stay safe!
The post What Is Fear Of Being Forgotten? How To Overcome This Fear? appeared first on Calm Sage – Your Guide to Mental and Emotional Well-being.