Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentsCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatments

Coping

Scopophobia, also known as scoptophobia, is the fear of being stared at. It varies in severity from person to person. Some people only fear when a stranger stares for a long time, while others fear even making eye contact with a friend.

It is normal to feel uncomfortable or even anxious if someone is staring at you in an unusual way. It is also normal to feel nervous in a public speaking or performance situation. Scopophobia is more serious, however. People with this phobia may feel that others are scrutinizing and examining them, which creates feelings of distress, discomfort, and fear.

Scopophobia is often, though not always, associated with othersocial phobias. Untreated, the fear may worsen over time. This article discusses the symptoms of scopophobia and how it is diagnosed. It also explores some treatments that can help people cope with this condition.

Symptoms of Scopophobia

A few common symptoms of scopophobia include:

If you have scopophobia, you might go out of your way to avoid situations that put you in the spotlight. Some people only fear large group situations, while others fear short transactions such as grocery store checkouts. Some are afraid of such incidental contact as exchanging pleasantries with someone walking down the street.

When confronting your feared situation, you might blush profusely. Ironically, many people with scopophobia also suffer fromerythrophobia, or the fear of blushing, making this symptom particularly troublesome. You might also begin to experience physical symptoms of fear such as:

You might feel a strong need to escape the situation. Some people with scopophobia begin to limit their daily activities to avoid panic reactions. You might refuse to go out alone or host people you do not know well in your home.

Over time, untreated scopophobia sometimes worsens. You might eventually become uncomfortable even in the company of trusted friends or relatives.

Diagnosis of Scopophobia

TheDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-5-TR) does not recognize scopophobia as a distinct mental disorder. Instead, a person experiencing this phobia would be diagnosed with a specific phobia.

To be diagnosed with a specific phobia, a person must:

Causes of Scopophobia

The exact causes of scopophobia are not entirely clear. Like other types of phobias, several factors may contribute to the development of this condition.

Many adolescents go through a phase of extreme self-consciousness, which may include worries about being looked at. In general, however, these feelings subside over time. However, if the fear persists or worsens, it may be diagnosed as scopophobia.

How to Be Less Self-Conscious in Social Situations

Scopophobia is a specific phobia but may be related to social anxiety disorder. Most people with this fear also have other related social anxiety symptoms, such asstage frightor the fear ofpublic speaking.

Some people with certain medical conditions develop scopophobia either because they feel that being stared at may trigger an episode or because they fear that having an episode will cause people to stare. Epilepsy, Tourette’s syndrome, and some movement disorders are among the conditions that could heighten the risk for scopophobia.People with disfiguring illnesses or injuries may also be more likely to develop this phobia.

Note that reasonable fears are never diagnosed as phobias. However, for some people, the fear is out of proportion to the risk.

If you experience the fear of being stared at due to a medical condition, it is important for a mental health professional, in tandem with your doctor, to determine whether, given your particular condition, your fear is excessive and having an unnecessarily negative impact on your life.

Treatments for Scopophobia

Like all phobias, the fear of being stared at responds well to various therapy options. Your therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses scopophobia and co-occurring disorders.

Common treatments for this condition include:

Scopophobia can be life-limiting, gradually forcing people to restrict their daily activities. With appropriate treatment and perseverance, it can be overcome. The benefits of treatment are well worth the time and energy required to overcome this phobia.

Coping With Scopophobia

There are also self-help strategies that people can use to help manage symptoms of scopophobia. Some helpful techniques include:

Find Ways to Relax

Finding ways to relax and deal with stress can help you control feelings of fear and anxiety when they arise. Some tactics you might find helpful include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, guided imagery, and meditation.

Face Your Fears

Taking steps to face your fears on your own gradually can also be helpful. The key is to do so slowly in situations where you feel safe and have support. Avoidance worsens anxiety over time, so look for opportunities to practice facing the things you fear.

Care for Yourself

It is also important to treat yourself well and take care of both your physical and mental well-being. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, staying active each day, and eating a balanced diet.

How to Face Your Fears When You Want to Tackle Them Head-On

9 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gamer M, Hecht H, Seipp N, Hiller W.Who is looking at me? The cone of gaze widens in social phobia.Cogn Emot. 2011;25(4):756-764. doi:10.1080/02699931.2010.503117Schulze L, Renneberg B, Lobmaier JS.Gaze perception in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder.Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:872. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00872Richards HJ, Benson V, Donnelly N, Hadwin JA.Exploring the function of selective attention and hypervigilance for threat in anxiety.Clin Psychol Rev. 2014;34(1):1-13. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.006American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBalon R, Starcevic V.Role of benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1191:367-388. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_20Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

9 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gamer M, Hecht H, Seipp N, Hiller W.Who is looking at me? The cone of gaze widens in social phobia.Cogn Emot. 2011;25(4):756-764. doi:10.1080/02699931.2010.503117Schulze L, Renneberg B, Lobmaier JS.Gaze perception in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder.Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:872. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00872Richards HJ, Benson V, Donnelly N, Hadwin JA.Exploring the function of selective attention and hypervigilance for threat in anxiety.Clin Psychol Rev. 2014;34(1):1-13. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.006American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBalon R, Starcevic V.Role of benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1191:367-388. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_20Additional ReadingAmerican Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Gamer M, Hecht H, Seipp N, Hiller W.Who is looking at me? The cone of gaze widens in social phobia.Cogn Emot. 2011;25(4):756-764. doi:10.1080/02699931.2010.503117Schulze L, Renneberg B, Lobmaier JS.Gaze perception in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder.Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:872. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00872Richards HJ, Benson V, Donnelly N, Hadwin JA.Exploring the function of selective attention and hypervigilance for threat in anxiety.Clin Psychol Rev. 2014;34(1):1-13. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.006American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelowBalon R, Starcevic V.Role of benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1191:367-388. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_20

Gamer M, Hecht H, Seipp N, Hiller W.Who is looking at me? The cone of gaze widens in social phobia.Cogn Emot. 2011;25(4):756-764. doi:10.1080/02699931.2010.503117

Schulze L, Renneberg B, Lobmaier JS.Gaze perception in social anxiety and social anxiety disorder.Front Hum Neurosci. 2013;7:872. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2013.00872

Richards HJ, Benson V, Donnelly N, Hadwin JA.Exploring the function of selective attention and hypervigilance for threat in anxiety.Clin Psychol Rev. 2014;34(1):1-13. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.10.006

American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.

Van Houtem CM, Laine ML, Boomsma DI, Ligthart L, van Wijk AJ, De Jongh A.A review and meta-analysis of the heritability of specific phobia subtypes and corresponding fears.J Anxiety Disord. 2013;27(4):379-88. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.04.007

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Phobias.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.

Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93-107. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2017.19.2/bbandelow

Balon R, Starcevic V.Role of benzodiazepines in anxiety disorders.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2020;1191:367-388. doi:10.1007/978-981-32-9705-0_20

American Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

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