Demophobia is an anxiety disorder that causes an irrational fear of crowds, which can lead to avoidance and severe anxiety symptoms. The causes vary, but identifying them is key to overcoming the fear. Exposure to small crowds and seeking professional help can aid in the process.
Demophobia is an anxiety disorder that manifests itself as a fear of crowds. This fear is often exaggerated or unfounded, although sufferers can be paralyzed at the mere thought of being in a crowd. Also known as ochlophobia or enochlophobia, demophobia is often experienced by shy or introverted people, although it can occur in anyone for a variety of reasons. People with demophobia may avoid crowds altogether, and if they happen to be in a crowd, they may flee the situation, become incapacitated, cry, sweat, tremble, or show other symptoms of severe anxiety.
The causes of demophobia vary from person to person, and discovering the cause is key to helping sufferers overcome their fear of crowds. A sufferer may have had a bad experience in a crowd at some point in their life – most often such experiences occur in childhood – such as getting lost in a crowd, being part of a mob that turns violent, being trampled on by a crowd, or be injured in a crowd. Many people who have an irrational fear of crowds may try to rationalize the fear by taking note of potential incidents in a crowd, such as being attacked, catching an illness, or getting lost. Regardless of the cause, demophobia can prevent the sufferer from functioning normally in even the smallest crowds, such as those found in movie theater lobbies.
To overcome demophobia, a sufferer must first identify the cause of the fear, then begin to understand more about crowds and how to function when a part of them. The process of overcoming the fear will be slow and sometimes stressful, but the more exposure to crowds a sufferer gets, the faster the process will become. A sufferer might start by observing a crowd from a distance and seeing how people in the crowd react to each other. Understanding that a crowd is made up of individuals can help alleviate irrational fears; a sufferer may realize that if something bad happens in a crowd, most people are willing to help.
A sufferer may therefore choose to expose themselves to small crowds, perhaps a small gathering of friends. Progressively building towards larger and larger crowds can help the sufferer adapt to crowds. In some cases, however, this method can be too difficult; sufferers should then seek out a mental health professional who can help design a strategy for coping with demophobia and ultimately overcoming it.
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