Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It IsSymptomsCausesSimilar ConditionsDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Is
Symptoms
Causes
Similar Conditions
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Monophobia is the fear of being alone. When you have monophobia, you experience extreme anxiety when you are alone. The anxiety may be strong enough to impact your daily life and your relationships with others. Monophobia is also called autophobia.
Learn more about monophobia, what causes it, and how it can be treated.
What Is Monophobia?
The word monophobia describes a severe, irrational fear of being alone. It can refer to several discrete fears which may or may not share a common cause, like the fear of:
Monophobia is also known as autophobia, eremophobia, and isolophobia. Monophobia is a specific phobia, meaning it involves the fear of a certain situation. When faced with the feeling of being alone, someone with monophobia will experience extreme anxiety.
Monophobia is not the same thing as loneliness. Loneliness is when you experience sadness when you’re alone or when you wish you had more social connections and friendships. Monophobia is when you feel fear or anxiety when you are alone or anticipating being alone. You do not need to be lonely to experience monophobia.
1:34Click Play to Learn More About the Fear of Being Alone
1:34
Click Play to Learn More About the Fear of Being Alone
Symptoms of Monophobia
While most of us can identify someone in our support system who we will miss if they are away, the distress that people with monophobia experience is much more serious and disruptive. Symptoms of monophobia can vary, but may include:
Monophobia can cause significant problems and distress. If you or a loved one are struggling with monophobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Monophobia can cause significant problems and distress. If you or a loved one are struggling with monophobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
What Causes Monophobia?
It’s not clear what causes conditions like monophobia. It may have developed due to a traumatic experience you had while left alone, or you may have learned the behavior from a family member or close friend.
It’s also possible that childhood adversity could play a role in monophobia. Children may develop a fear of being alone after experiencing things like:
Feelings of loneliness and challenges withself-regulationmay also trigger monophobia. The condition may be linked to feelings of inadequacy should an emergency situation arise, a common concern for many people who fear being alone even when in their own homes.
You may also have legitimate reasons for feeling fearful, like if you live in a neighborhood with a high crime rate. Generally, these fears should not dictate the way you live your life, beyond encouraging you to take rational safety precautions.
Press Play for Advice On Dealing With LonelinessThis episode ofThe Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring singer/songwriter Grace Gaustad, shares how to deal with feelings of loneliness. Click below to listen now.
Press Play for Advice On Dealing With Loneliness
This episode ofThe Verywell Mind Podcast, featuring singer/songwriter Grace Gaustad, shares how to deal with feelings of loneliness. Click below to listen now.
Monophobia shares characteristics with several other conditions, like:
In children, attachment anxiety and separation anxiety disorder may show some of the same symptoms of monophobia.Attachment anxietycan develop when a child isn’t able to form a secure relationship with a caregiver. An adult with this attachment style may work very hard to maintain close relationships and may show controlling or clingy behavior.
Separation anxietyis a normal part of early childhood development. However, if a child is experiencing severe distress that persists into later childhood, it may be a sign of separation anxiety disorder.Adults can also experience separation anxiety disorder.
When to See a DoctorIf your fear of being alone is significantly interfering with your life or if you are experiencing panic attacks, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional. This is especially important If you also have symptoms of depression or problems with substance use.
When to See a Doctor
If your fear of being alone is significantly interfering with your life or if you are experiencing panic attacks, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional. This is especially important If you also have symptoms of depression or problems with substance use.
To diagnose monophobia, your doctor will conduct a history and physical and will make sure that another condition is not the cause of your symptoms. They will look for signs that your fear of being alone is severe enough to disrupt your everyday life. As is the case with otherphobias, feeling nervous or uncomfortable isn’t enough to warrant a diagnosis.
If you have monophobia, being alone (or, in some cases, imagining that you’re alone) will provoke immediate fear or anxiety and lead to a pattern of avoidance. For a diagnosis, symptoms of a phobia must be present for at least six months.
Specific Phobia DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria
How Is Monophobia Treated?
Like all phobias, the fear of being alone responds well to a variety oftreatment options. People with monophobia may benefit from medication and therapy. Your treatment will likely focus on:
Medication
Your doctor may prescribe medication to help control the symptoms of monophobia. This could includeanti-anxiety medications, like benzodiazepines or beta-blockers, or antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
If your doctor does prescribe medication, it will likely be used together with therapy.Medication may also be used short-term as a way to reduce the anxiety you feel while undergoing therapy.
Psychotherapy
Behavioral therapyis an essential part of the treatment process for a phobia. Your doctor may recommend:
Coping With Monophobia
Feeling unable to be alone can make it hard to travel, run errands, and experience many aspects of your life. You may have significant problems maintaining friendships and romantic relationships, as others might view your anxieties as controlling or clingy behavior.
If you have monophobia, your doctor can help you come up with at-home coping strategies you can use to help alleviate your anxiety. These techniques could include:
You might find that background noise helps to distract you in situations where you have to be alone. Carrying a stimulating toy can also give you something to focus on while in public to mitigate anxiety, as can carrying around a book or tablet—just be careful that this doesn’t become anavoidance behavior.
You might also find comfort in making sure you have minimized the legitimate risks that may be causing your fear. That could mean making sure your home is secure or ensuring that you’re not alone in a legitimately dangerous location.
You can also look to your support system for help coping with monophobia. If you’re away from a particular person, talking on the phone or online may help alleviate your immediate distress. Some families even create rituals, such as eating the same meal for dinner or sending special emails at the same time each night, to honor their relationships while they’re apart.
A Word From Verywell
If your fear of being alone is severe, or if it affects your daily life, the best solution is to seek professional treatment. Monophobia is a treatable condition, and getting the assistance of a mental health professional can help you address your phobia and improve your day-to-day experience.
7 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.
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