Why do i hate crowded places

The important thing is that this phobia can have a severely limiting effect on your life, since crowds are very much a part of life today. What's more, you can't always predict when you might find yourself in a crowd, so you might notice that your fear becomes generalized to many situations. The symptoms of enochlophobia look very much like the symptoms of other anxiety disorders. They generally fall under three categories: your bodily reaction physical , your thoughts cognitive , and your avoidance or escape behaviors.

Below are some of the common physical symptoms of enochlophobia:. Below are some of the common cognitive symptoms of enochlophobia:. Below are some of the common behavioral symptoms of enochlophobia:. One way to get a better understanding of which symptoms you experience is to keep a logbook, diary, or journal in which you write down situations that cause you anxiety and what symptoms you notice. This way, you'll have a better understanding of your own symptoms if you do choose to seek out treatment.

However, it may be considered to be a type of specific phobia, and may be related to other diagnoses such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder. In order to be diagnosed as a specific phobia, your fear of crowds would need to have persisted for at least six months and not be due to another diagnosis, such as social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. What causes enochlophobia? If you have a fear of crowds and are asking yourself this question, it is true that there is no single cause.

However, there are certain factors that are more likely to be causal when it comes to this phobia. Below are some of these factors:. These are listed below. Enochlophobia might be diagnosed as a specific phobia if it meets the criteria in the DSM A specific phobia is the unrealistic or extreme fear of a situation, setting, or thing.

Common examples include a fear of heights, flying, snakes, germs, etc. With a specific phobia, you know that your fear is out of proportion to the situation but feel helpless to control your anxious reaction. In addition, even thinking about an upcoming situation where you might face your phobia causes anxiety. Specific phobias generally develop in childhood or adolescence and last a lifetime if not treated. These disorders are more common in women, and many people have more than one phobia.

Ochlophobia is the fear of mobs. Does worrying put a damper on your day? Try these techniques to free yourself. Though autism and social anxiety have similarities, the two conditions are very different.

Learn why. Check out our picks for the best anxiety products and gift ideas, from books to herbal supplements. People who have generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, worry uncontrollably about common situations.

GAD is different from normal anxiousness. What are the benefits of running for anxiety? Well, there are many. Here's how going for a jog can clear your head.

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health. How to Live with Enochlophobia, or a Fear of Crowds. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. How it affects daily life. How to manage it. When to talk with a doctor.

Agoraphobia can greatly limit your life's activities. If your agoraphobia is severe, you may not even be able to leave your home. Without treatment, some people become housebound for years. You may not be able to visit with family and friends, go to school or work, run errands, or take part in other normal daily activities. You may become dependent on others for help.

There's no sure way to prevent agoraphobia. However, anxiety tends to increase the more you avoid situations that you fear. If you start to have mild fears about going places that are safe, try to practice going to those places over and over again before your fear becomes overwhelming. If this is too hard to do on your own, ask a family member or friend to go with you, or seek professional help.

If you experience anxiety going places or have panic attacks, get treatment as soon as possible. Get help early to keep symptoms from getting worse. Anxiety, like many other mental health conditions, can be harder to treat if you wait. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. Shy people tend to be uncomfortable in crowds or in opening up to others. People dealing with social anxiety may appear somewhat shy or introverted.

They may appear quiet or withdrawn. Whereas shyness may be a personality trait, social anxiety may have been triggered by traumatic experiences. Someone who was once outgoing and gregarious might be finding that they now struggle with social situations. They begin to feel anxious and nervous about going to crowded spaces or participating in social events. The anxiety that they are experiencing may be diminishing their quality of life as they are now avoiding social obligations or everyday tasks involving people.