Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by Mike Robinson
What is Cherophobia
Cherophobia is an irrational fear of happiness that makes people afraid to do things that might bring them joy, fun, or happiness. Researchers have found that cherophobia is an anxiety disorder, even though it is not diagnosable.
The word “cherophobia” comes from the Greek word “chairo,” which means “to be happy.” It means to dislike or be afraid of happiness. Even though cherophobia isn’t a clinical disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), several studies have started to prove that it does exist.
What are Phobias?
According to the DSM-5, phobias are considered “anxiety disorders.” A phobia is a fear or anxiety about an object, place, situation, feeling, or animal. The anxiety is so intense that it makes it hard to function. A phobia is a more intense form of fear that happens when the anxiety is out of proportion to how dangerous the threat really is.
What is a Specific Phobia?
Specific phobias are an excessive and ongoing fear of a particular thing, circumstance, or activity.
Typical examples of specific phobias:
- Situational phobias, like the fear of flying
- Animal phobias, like the fear of spider
- Bodily phobias, like the fear of injections, are typical examples of specific phobias.
What are Social Phobias?
A person who suffers from a social anxiety disorder, also known as a social phobia, has a severe fear of being humiliated, looked down upon, or rejected in social situations.
Anxiety about making new friends, avoiding social situations, and eating or drinking in public are a few examples of social anxiety.
Top Reasons to Fear Happiness
Although most of us can’t imagine not wanting to be happy, people with cherophobia feel the opposite. Here are some of the reasons they have for resisting happiness.
1. Happy people have more bad luck.
Have you ever felt that something horrible was about to happen while everything was going well? Have you heard “what goes up, must come down” or “following happiness, there comes a fall”?
Happiness may bring melancholy or bad things, according to popular belief. In one research study, Japanese participants said pleasure made them inattentive, which had adverse effects in various areas of their lives.
Another line of research examines “the fear of emotion,” in which people fear losing control over their feelings or their behavioral responses to them. It is also possible that people dread losing their newly found happiness more than they appreciate seeing it.
2. Happiness corrupts.
Some Western and non-Western people think happiness makes people worse (both morally and otherwise). Ben-Shahar (2002), among others, suggests that people may dread happiness because they would feel guilty if they achieved it since they knew others were suffering.
3. Happiness harms you and others.
Several cultures believe chasing happiness may have detrimental effects. For instance, pursuing happiness may lead to selfishness and harming others.
Some people and cultures also believe that displaying happiness can harm the individual and others. Experts believe East Asian societies may envy prosperity and happiness, which may counter the positive effects of pleasure with guilt and disharmony.
Who is More Likely to Have Cherophobia?
Research shows that some people may be more likely to have cherophobia, including:
• People who are physically or emotionally hurt by something in the past. They might turn down fun things because they fear bad things will happen to them. Stay in situations they are familar with so they can be surer of what will happen to them and feel they have some control over it.
• Quiet people are also more likely to have cherophobia because they prefer to do things alone, are shyer, and may feel uncomfortable in groups of people or noisy places.
• Perfectionists believe irrationally that happiness is for lazy people and may avoid activities that seem unproductive but could make them happy.
Common Symptoms for the Fear of Happiness
Some of the signs and symptoms of cherophobia are:
• Worrying about social events makes them feel worse (parties, concerts, etc.)
• Turning down chances to make positive changes because they fear something terrible will happen afterward.
• Turning down fun things to do
• Thinking that if you’re happy, bad things will happen
• Believing that being happy is a waste of time and effort
How to Stop Being Afraid of Happiness: Options for Treatment
The DSM-5 doesn’t list cherophobia as a clinical disorder, so there aren’t any standard treatments for it. But because cherophobia, like other phobias, is a type of anxiety disorder, so there are many ways to treat it if it’s making a person’s life hard.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Talking therapies, like counseling and psychotherapy, can often help people with phobias. Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very effective way to treat anxiety disorders. CBT helps people find unhelpful ways of thinking that might affect their behavior and mood.
Exposure techniques are a CBT method for treating phobias that works very well. Through direct and repeated exposure, exposure therapy helps a person face their fears instead of running away from them. The mechanism works by making the person less sensitive to or more used to the thing or situation that causes anxiety.
As a person faces fear repeatedly, their anxiety about it will likely decrease. For example, in the case of cherophobia, slowly putting yourself in situations that make you happy may help to reduce your fear of happiness.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-based therapies can help people with anxiety. Mindfulness comes from Buddhist philosophy and is possible through meditation techniques that aim to make people more aware of the present moment all the time.
Other useful techniques
Those with cherophobia might not always find that their symptoms are clinically crippling. As a result, some simple self-care techniques may help ease their worries about the uncomfortable feelings they’re having.
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