Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Mike Robinson
A pathological fear of numbers, math, or arithmetic is known as arithmophobia. This condition, also called “numerophobia,” is a form of anxiety in which a person experiences abnormally persistent, unreasonable, and unwarranted fear of any stimulus connected to mathematical calculation. The disorders referred to as “specific phobias” include arithmophobia. As a result, this alteration has a lot in common with other pathological phobias like those of spiders, heights, or blood.
These days, it is well known that this “phobia” can significantly impact various areas of someone’s life. The greatest impact can be seen at school or at work. However, for someone with arithmophobia, simple tasks like figuring out the cost of expenses or managing the family budget can be extremely challenging.
Arithmophobia
There is currently a lot of credible research on arithmophobia. Psychological treatments have also been proposed as a way for pathology to intervene with highly effective outcomes.
The characteristics of this disorder, potential causes, and recommended treatments are all described in more detail below.
Characteristics of arithmophobia
Arithmophobia is an anxiety disorder that falls under the diagnostic label of “specific phobias.” Excessive and irrational fear of a particular stimulus characterizes these changes, which are well documented. Calculus, numbers, arithmetic, or mathematics are the stimuli that those with this phobia fear most.
Consequently, the person experiences extremely high levels of anxiety whenever they are exposed to anything related to numbers or mathematics. Arithmophobia, for instance, causes sufferers to become extremely anxious when confronted with simple mathematical problems.
In addition, arithmophobic people will go to great lengths to avoid any setting were dealing with math may occur. This avoidance behavior may result in problems in other areas of their lives.
Thus, arithmophobia is defined as a severe and intense fear of any mathematically related stimulus. Those with mild anxiety when performing mathematical operations do not suffer from arithmophobia.
In contrast to other phobias, this one can be extremely incapacitating because mathematics comes up on a daily basis.
Examples of routine situations requiring math:
- Calculate the cost of something after a discount.
- routine math in your studies or career;
- Weekly household budgets
Most people deal with all of these things daily, but someone who suffers from arithmophobia will be absolutely unable to deal with them and completely avoid them.
The fear of numbers
It is well known that not all forms of fear can be categorized as phobias. In fact, experiencing a specific kind of fear is necessary in order to discuss phobias.
This also applies to arithmophobia, so it’s unnecessary to have the disorder just because you fear doing math calculations. A high level of aversion to stimuli associated with numbers, mathematics, and arithmetic is required to discuss arithmophobia. But it also needs to adhere to a number of conditions.
The task is disproportionate to the fear.
For arithmophobia to exist, the fear of numbers and mathematics must be disproportionate to the importance of the situation. Let’s say an innocent situation arises where you must figure out how many chairs and tables you need to rent for a party. This simple task should not cause any fear. Yet people with arithmaphobia will get anxious and stressed just thinking about the task at hand.
However, mathematical operations can often be related to more demanding situations. an important and difficult math exam, a complex labor operation, or a delicate management of the family finances.
The presence of restlessness and fear in these circumstances does not define the presence of arithmophobia. To associate fear with a disorder, it must appear in any situation and always be very high.
The reason for the fear is irrational.
The fear of numbers is irrational because, in principle, mathematics does not have to be a frightening element. However, in arithmophobia, the fear of numbers is irrational, even for the individual who suffers from it.
He will not be able to justify the reason for his fear or explain why elements of mathematics cause him fear. He will simply experience the sensations of anxiety whenever he is exposed to these stimuli without being able to explain the reason.
The fear is uncontrollable.
The fear of arithmophobia is irrational but also uncontrollable. For this reason, people who suffer from it can not stop experiencing it despite knowing they have no reason to do so.
This factor highlights the complexity of the disorder and the fact that arithmophobia can be a serious psychological alteration. The individual who suffers from it can not control it, so it will require specialized treatment.
Your fear leads to avoidance.
Arithmophobics experience their fear intensely and with great suffering. When they are exposed to numbers, they feel a great deal of anxiety, which is extremely uncomfortable. People with arithmophobia completely avoid any situation involving mathematics due to the severity of their fear.
Given its ability to alter a person’s behavior and impact their daily life, this disorder component is the most disabling. Therefore, arithmophobia sufferers will need psychological care in order to get their fears under control.
The symptoms persist over time.
The phobia of numbers is longstanding because arithmophobia is a chronic condition. Arithmophobia is not present in those who fear mathematics only occasionally or during very specific periods of their lives.
People who develop numerophobia, however, exhibit these fears on a regular basis. In fact, if they are not addressed, fears of numbers won’t ever go away.
Unable to adapt.
Non-pathological fears have a distinct adaptive component that makes it easier for the person to adjust to circumstances that call for an anxious reaction. This is obviously not the case with arithmophobia, as a fear of mathematics does not help a person adapt. Instead, your fears will seriously impede you in many aspects of your life.
It is not specific to a certain age.
During childhood or adolescence, different types of fears can flourish more easily. However, arithmophobia is not specific to a certain age.
Individuals who fear numbers from a young age will always fear them if they develop this specific phobia.
Symptoms of arithmophobia
Numerous manifestations are brought on by excessive, irrational, uncontrollable, persistent, and maladaptive fears of numbers and mathematics. Arithmophobia affects a person in three different categories.
Both the physical, mental and behavioral components are affected by the disorder. The condition is revealed by the anxiety response that the individual makes when exposed to math.
Physical symptoms
When a person with arithmophobia is exposed to situations related to mathematics, he experiences an intense anxiety response.
Like all anxiety responses, the person will experience noticeable physical changes. Specifically, the individual will notice symptoms of increased activity of the central nervous system.
The symptomatology can be variable in each case, but usually, there are some of the following manifestations:
- increased heart rate
- heavy breathing.
- Increased perspiring
- Pupillary dilation
- muscle tension
- Headaches
- Nausea.
Psychological symptoms
A series of related thoughts and feelings always accompany physical symptoms. These elements are fed by the physiological manifestations and increase the intensity of the anxiety.
Thoughts about the feared tasks responsible for the event can vary. However, they always contain the negative attributes of fear and disabling anxiety.
The person may reflect on how painful the mathematical operation is, the risk it presents to him, or his own vulnerability.
Behavioral symptoms
The physical and psychological anxiety that arithmophobia causes greatly affects the individual’s behavior. The most common behavior is usually avoidance, so the individual tries not to participate in any situation in which arithmetic is present.
Likewise, agitation, impulsivity, or extreme nervousness can appear when the individual can not avoid his feared element and must face it.
Diagnosis
A mental health professional must make the diagnosis of this anxiety disorder. The following criteria are used to determine its presence:
- the presence of fear or severe anxiety for a particular thing or circumstance connected to math or arithmetic
- The phobic object or circumstance often incites fear or a rush of anxiety.
- The phobic individual actively avoids or resists the feared object or circumstance.
- The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the given situation or object.
- Fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent and typically lasts six or more months.
- Clinically significant discomfort or decline in social, occupational, or other key areas of functioning are brought on by fear, anxiety, or avoidance.
- Another mental disorder does not better explain the symptoms of the disturbance.
Causes of arithmophobia
There is currently a contention that multiple factors can interact to contribute to the development of arithmophobia rather than a single cause.
The majority of studies highlight the unique significance of environmental factors. while the genetic components appear to be secondary.
In this sense, the experience of traumatic experiences (or living them as traumatic) with respect to numbers could result in the appearance of phobia. Likewise, acquiring verbal or visual information about negative components of mathematics could also influence.
Finally, some argue that avoiding the feared elements is the main factor that strengthens the phobia and assists in its ability to persist.
Treatment
Arithmophobia can significantly negatively impact a person’s life and severely restrict their ability to function.
This makes it all the more crucial to deal with this kind of phobia since not doing so could have unfavorable effects.
The treatment that has proven most effective in treating it is psychotherapy. Except in cases where the state of anxiety is extremely high, treatment with drugs as the first option is discouraged.
Regarding psychological interventions, cognitive behavioral treatment is the one that has shown the greatest efficacy, presenting very high recovery rates.
Also read: “Long Words Phobia” (Hipopotomonstrosesquipedaliofobia).
In this treatment, an intervention is performed on the behavioral component. This is done by exposing the subject to their feared situations, both the physiological one through relaxation techniques and the psychological one through cognitive therapy.
