The fear of being alone, known as mono or autophobia, can range from mild discomfort to severe anxiety. Identifying the specific nature of the fear is the first step in overcoming it, and therapeutic tools like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, or hypnosis can help reduce this phobia gradually. Self-help methods are not as effective as therapeutic support.
The fear of being alone can produce mild discomfort to severe anxiety. In its worst forms it is called mono or autophobia and is considered an anxiety disorder on par with other conditions such as agoraphobia. The definition of this fear is slightly more vague because it could mean fear of being alone at any moment, even if people are in the next room, or worry that a person has no friends or companions. Identifying the exact nature of fear is the first step in overcoming it. So if the fear runs deep, using therapeutic tools like cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, or hypnosis can help reduce this phobia gradually.
First, it’s important to point out that all people have at least a slight concern about being alone at times. It is not always necessary to overcome the fear of being alone that does not interfere with life or activities. If the fear is overwhelming and leads to a feeling that it is impossible to be alone at any moment, symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, panic attacks and hyperventilation or inhibition of daily activities, then it makes sense to overcome this fear.
A first step is to determine what the fear of being alone means to the individual. Some people can’t be alone in a room, house or building, and others are more afraid of never having significant other people in their life. A combination of the two may be present, and it is not always possible to determine all the factors creating the fear without help. What you may notice is when fear is most active and what situations seem to cause panic symptoms. This information is useful to give to therapists who can help overcome fear.
There are several ways to treat phobias. Most people work with a therapist who is experienced in behavior therapy or hypnosis. The most common are two different types of behavior therapy. These are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy.
In CBT, a person learns to identify the warming thoughts and core beliefs that reinforce the fear of being alone. Over time, that identification leads to the evolution of new core beliefs that are more accurate. Exposure therapy allows people to experience the thing they fear in various forms for very short periods of time, gradually lengthening the exposure time as the person can tolerate more.
An alternative to behavioral therapies is hypnosis, which may work on the root of the phobia and use hypnotic suggestion to overcome the fear. Therapist/client communication and some forms of talk therapy may be an element of any of these treatments. Helps direct and individualize care.
There are other recommended methods for overcoming the fear of being alone, including a variety of self-help methods. Most of these have not been shown to be as effective as therapeutic support. They work in opposition to this specific fear because the person is likely to feel alone in pursuing self-help, which can exacerbate the phobia. Having a supportive therapist, however, is probably a better option.
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