Anthropophobia is the ‘extreme, irrational and unwarranted’ fear of people or society. It is a disorder which is often misunderstood with other social phobias. The main difference between them is that: in Anthropophobia, the individual fears people in most or all situations, rather than, for example, only fearing people during public speaking or when eating before others, as is the case with social phobias. Thus, the difference between social phobia and the extreme fear of people is subtle and hence diagnosis is often difficult.
- In Anthropophobia, the individual might even fear close friends and relatives and perceive them as being threatening as much as a stranger.
- The person with the extreme fear of people understands that his/her fear is illogical. Despite this, they let the phobia affect their daily lives, education or occupation. They arrange these activities so that there is minimal interaction with people.
Causes of fear of people phobia
- An intense negative experience with people in the past might have triggered the phobia of people.
- The mind can sometimes wrongfully learn to fear people.
- People with general tendency of being ‘highly strung’ or overanxious might also develop Anthropophobia.
- Physical problems or adrenal insufficiency can also lead to this condition.
Symptoms of Anthropophobia
Most of us feel a little antisocial from time to time. Certain situations, mood swings etc can all lead us to not ‘feeling like associating with others’. In case of Anthropophobia however, the mere thought of socializing can trigger a plethora of physical or psychological anxiety symptoms. These include:
- Trying to avoid social events at all costs- going to great lengths to do so.
- Feeling panic at the thought of going out or experiencing terror when having to meet people. Symptoms may be present days before the actual encounter with people.
- Increased heart rate, shortness of breath, feeling like being choked, difficulty in swallowing, increased blood pressure, sweating, trembling, crying etc are a few common physical symptoms of such panic attacks.
- Thoughts of death, fear of embarrassing oneself in public are also experienced by the phobic.
It is very important to deal with these symptoms by seeking help. Families and friends should also support the individual as much as possible and encourage him/her to employ self help techniques like deep breathing, meditation etc.
Treating and overcoming Anthropophobia
Self help techniques:
- One must understand that this is paranoia that can be overcome.
- Repeating the mantra that “people do not notice what I think they notice” can help.
- Employing CBT and BT (Cognitive behavior and behavior therapies) which include modifying thoughts and behavior. This means: “people are laughing at me because I look stupid” should be changed to “people are not thinking about me at all” and so on. Writing down negative and subsequent positive thoughts can also benefit the phobic.
Professional therapies are also beneficial in helping one overcome Anthropophobia. Hypnotherapy in particular can help one get to the root of the problem, following which one can utilize systematic desensitization that involves exposing the phobic gradually to stronger fear triggers.
Another popular and highly effective therapy to help overcome the fear of people is Morita Therapy from Japan. This is based on Zen Buddhism principles that help correct phobias by first helping the individual accept them. So, instead of pushing the fear aside, one learns to accept being afraid and then find ways to deal with it positively.
Talk therapy is an important part of coping with the fear of people phobia. Loved ones and friends of people suffering from Anthropophobia can also help by being supportive and offering encouragement as far as possible.
Jack says
When reading through the comments here, I realized I am not alone. Many of us from different walks of life are struggling with this.
For me, even if one person comes around it can be quiet daunting. Sometimes I’m ok, but it still comes up, and I have to fight it.
It’s still tough to explain to people.
My mum wants to see her friend, and although I’ve known this family for a long time, I’m already feeling overwhelmed.
I think I have some of the phobias here: fear of crowds, fear of work, hardly any friends or relationships.
I have to overcome this. Someone in the comments section did say we are wired differently, and I guess we are.
Where I live in London, it’s pretty busy. Well, for me, it is.
It’s relaxing coming here; it feels like a community.
Anyway, I hope all of you who left comments here are doing well in your journey and made it through.
Isaiah Antares says
“I don’t hate people. I just seem to feel better when they’re not around.”
Eileen says
There is no peaceful or painless interaction. The only interactions I seek out are social interactions with defined rules and parameters, with beginning and ending times. I play Mahjong, Mexican Train Dominos, and Euchre in a community setting with people whose last names I will never know.
Playing organized table games is my only social contact, and it has to be enough for me, as my level of trust does not go beyond the game table.
I listen to others joke, ridicule, laugh, and yell at each other. However, I do not participate in the event outside of my turn.
I have given up on trusting anyone and have no hope of ever having a close friendship. Texting and emailing are my only contact with people I know. I have many chronic health issues and do visit my doctors for check-ups and surgeries; however, I refuse telehealth visits, as I do not know who is watching or listening. In the current world situation, I rarely see a doctor anymore.
I only stay in contact with one relative because she is the only person I trust in this entire world. Right now, she is the only person who even knows where I live. I am pretty much off the grid. I receive my mail at a UPS mailbox store so that no one knows where I live. I left my last residence without letting anyone know that I was moving, where I was going or when. I moved 1200 miles away from my last residence a few months ago and am living where I do not know one soul.
My experiences of abuse and neglect since infancy inform my expectations of people.
I am 67 years old and used to hold an executive position in a huge company. I won every award, and I graduated Magna cum Laude in every degree program I attempted. Along with my achievements came abuse from my peers and even family members who attempted to portray me as trying to be above them.
I have survived chronic and acute physical, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse from family members. In the era of Trump, it became even more acceptable for people to hurt others who did not join in their words and deeds. I just stopped responding to anyone to achieve peace.
I feel that I have to be completely alone to be at peace and live without fear of words and deeds perpetrated against myself or seeing others being hurt.
Matt says
It sounds like you have a lot to offer the world. Your strength and sensitivity to others’ feelings could be exactly what is needed in society. Charities and homeless shelters are often looking for people with your sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Your strength and humanity could save the life of someone else that has been misunderstood or hurt by society. Often when people lash out at others, they don’t actually mean what they say – it’s just because they’re hurting so much and they’ve never been shown any other way of dealing with their pain. You seem to have been able to decide your own boundaries and control who you let in. I bet you would have some useful advice for others who are struggling to respect their own boundaries and who keep letting harmful people into their lives. You seem like a nice person. Keep respecting yourself.
stella ajayi says
Hi, I’m also afraid of people. How can I get help?
Alp says
Hey how can I get help? I have the same situation and the same phobia.
S says
I have fear of people, it includes asking for help. I cannot do this. Also, any interaction with people that requires complex thinking I cannot do because my brain becomes paralyzed around people, so I am constantly getting ripped off like at the auto repair place and at the dentist, these kinds of interactions are so unpleasant that I have anxiety and panic for weeks in anticipation and procrastination. I am also afraid of phone calls and avoid them as much as possible as I cannot perform socially on the phone and have zero listening comprehension, it just fills me with incapacitating agony and fear if I know I have to make a phone call such as to my employer or to a repair person. Strangely I don’t have so much of a problem with groups (because I feel anonymous) as I do with one on one interaction where I feel in the spotlight. I am much more uncomfortable with people I know than with people I don’t know because with people I know I have run out of most of my preprogrammed social material and with people I don’t know I can still pretend and do a script that will get me by. I can only relax and be happy alone and I avoid people whenever possible. I don’t know what caused this. I have always been strange and alien to others since a small child, and through most of my school years I did not talk to or look at anyone my age, only to adults. The other kids would tease me and throw rocks and food at me for most of my years in school. Those are my strongest memories of public school although I do not remember any certain people as I never looked at the other kids or spoke. I don’t know if there are any other people like me. There must be considering the number of people on earth, but I have never met any.
A says
You are not alone, I can assure you. I am afraid to initiate any kind of help from a person as well. I wish I could meet an alien that could help me.
Jane says
You may have autism. I am autistic and was finally diagnosed as an adult. What you are describing matches what many of us on the spectrum who “pass” for neurotypical (due to being developmentally normal or even precociously developed in verbal and intellectual performance). I run an autism peer support group on twitch under the name Jane The Message. If you’d like to stop by and see if you relate, you’d be more than welcome. I strongly recommend getting assessed for autism.
TiredOldDog says
Are you me?
Seriously, a lot of the details of your experience are identical to mine, with the exception that I know what caused mine. I grew up in a highly emotionally abusive family, and my first experience with kids my own age was at a daycare where they threw stuff at me too. I begged every day to stop going and was only allowed to when I got food poisoning from the lunch they served one day. The first and most profound lesson I learned from the cradle forward was there are no safe places and no safe people, even at home.
Much of Jane’s comment below resonates too. I’ve recently begun to suspect that I may be what’s sometimes called a “high functioning autist.” Never would have guessed that because I did pass as a “normie” exactly as she described. I aced any kind of test, flunked playground and lunchroom. Being both HSP and SPD didn’t make things any easier. When I was younger, I forced myself to be more social, trying to cure myself with DIY exposure therapy. Most of the backstops I had in middle age for stability in my life are gone now as I’ve gotten older, and I’m literally only comfortable at home with my dogs. I am looking for a good Christian counselor to stop the downward spiral. I have no idea what twitch is, but I think I’ll look at that website.
I don’t know if anyone will see this goofy wall of text, but I hope that everyone who struggles with this condition finds the help they need to find some peace. This is no way to live!
Karen says
Hello Eileen,
I totally get where you are coming from. Your story has many similarities to my own. I am 64 years of age and am just starting to deal with the C-PTSD caused by my family situation. In reality I doubt it will reinstate the trust I have completely lost in humanity.
Lwethu says
Me too. This started in 2015, and I’m still living with it. I don’t know where to find help. Can anyone help me?
Charlotte Simon says
So, for a few years now I think I have been suffering with this Anthropophobia. I don’t have social anxiety, I know that for a fact. I just get scared around people I don’t know or even some of my relatives. It’s not like I feel like they’re going to judge me. It’s more the fact I think they are going to hurt me. Whenever I see strangers I immediately think they’re out to hurt me even though they’re just in the store to get milk.
Carla says
I’m scared of grown men I don’t know well.
emma says
This is an old comment, and you probably won’t see it, but that can fall under the category of androphobia.
Alexander says
No one can fix this inside me, because if you saw Demon’s like a Narcissist, Psychopath and Sociopath in your life, you know you are not safe. You always know that they hide their illness till they got you emotionally attached to them and then they reveal the true face to you. You always know if you talk to someone that they could be very ill inside.
I got traumatized with 4 of them, I really had bad luck tho. The only thing that keeps me safe is to know the red flags and for sure this isn’t paranoia that I have.
Barbara Chatelain says
I’m sorry that happened to you. In these times I am getting such a fear of people. Yes my dad was negligent in understanding my feelings and a bit narcissistic and then my mom took her own life when I was a girl. Yes I’m aware at how sick people are but I hope there are some good people out there like me, not that I’m perfect.
Cherry says
I have no friends. Sometimes i do make friends but then i get tired of them after a while and i find myself withdrawing from their company. I prefer to be alone in a quiet space and sometimes i get irritated by just hearing the sound of people talking. I feel like they invade my space. And I usually feel so low and even lack appetite. I have to take vitamin tablets so that i can eat. This worries me a lot.
iii says
I feel exactly the same, it’s terrible. I just realized that it’s been a year since i started having these kind of feelings.
P.I. Staker says
Whenever I’m talking to people online or doing a speech I start shaking uncontrollably. I don’t have this problem with outside videogames but for some reason I get what I’m pretty sure is a panic attack. Not sure tho.
raju yadav says
I am 18 years old. I think i am suffering from anthropophobia. I feel fear when strangers speak louder to me and even my close friends threaten me.
Jordan says
Wow.. I thought i was alone.. but now i see this is an actual thing not some kind of thing that my mind was having i have a lot of the symptoms from above and too think that this would be something that multiple have suffered from kinda eases me but it doesn’t help the fact that im still affected by it i live day to day dealing with this its so bad that a person that i knew i didnt know his name after a whole year just because of being frighted by people that i never seem to pay attention i suffer from so much this is just another thing to add to my list I’ve been completely broken down even when i was little at school i couldn’t even talk to the teachers and a lot of people thought i was a mute it has eased up where i could talk more but i still get frightened by people and i just never want to talk to anyone even my friends but my close friends can tell what i want to say or how i kinda think about things (though i have a completely alternating mind) But life has been hard .. my memory’s have been just bad almost since day 1 I’d like to talk to you out there about how you have been managing this.
Renni says
I don’t know if this is what it is in my case. I am socially awkward. Always come up with excuses to avoid gatherings or meeting people. Crowded areas make me hazy. I don’t text or call my school fellows. Iam very distant with my family (at least that’s what they say). Iam not much of a talking person or people person. I’ve had stage fright back in junior school. I get paranoid at smallest things. Usually angry or annoyed . I don’t eat well either, I mean when ever I do, I feel like I shouldn’t have eaten. Iam almost always locked up. I don’t seem to enjoy when everyone is enjoying, I mean my enjoyment lasts for a little while and all of a sudden Iam gloomy.
However online like on goodreads Iam not socially awkward but nervous, though I am not face to face. So basically I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
Dauntae says
This is exactly me man
Febonee Ferol says
You are not alone, dude..
Jamir Scott says
It’s all ok just let it all out and you helped me with my homework.
PasserBy says
I am still confused with my own problems here..
I do realise that I fear people who are strangers to me, but only in the occasion if I were to meet face to face with them. If I’m not exactly meeting with people (as in online chatting) I don’t have problems communicating (that is only if we were texting and not talking).
And I tend to ignore or make excuses to people when they ask me to hang out with them or something even though they are my own friends because we like haven’t seen each other for months or probably years which makes them become strangers to me.
And in the occasion that the opposite gender wants to be more intimate or closer to me, I tend to avoid them and kinda be cold to them as I think that they are being annoying and i’ve done this to quite a lot of people..
I used to rarely speak with my own family, but now i can casually talk to them especially my mom and discussed my problems with her.. alas, she could not help or even understand my situation at all because im the most tight-lipped person in my family. I don’t talk much and when I was a kid, I used to stick closely with my mom wherever we went, especially if we went to weddings and such events.
I am not much of a talking person and I think I’m not a people person either.
So the question here is, what exactly is my problem?
Renni says
Something similar here. Iam socially awkward. I don’t text or call my school fellows. Always come up with excuses to avoid gatherings or meeting people. Get angry and paranoid easily. Always lock myself up. Not much of talking type(with relatives too). I have had stage fright as well .
But online , like on goodreads , Iam not awkward ,Though nervous a little.
Serenacchi says
I’m still 15 years old right now but I feel like shit. I have depression and anxiety disorder, and my friend told me I might have anthropophobia, so here I am now. I do have those symptoms above. I’m afraid of people and sometimes if I was in a big crowd I felt like throwing up or suddenly having trouble breathing. Even though I don’t want to. I mean, I want to socialize with people. But I’m just to afraid. People whispered behind me and I just got paranoid. I don’t know what to do now, I also have suicidal thoughts sometimes…
C says
Hello, im in my forties, i’ve always felt this way, until in a way I realised looking around! Wow im quite “normal” in a crowded place really im not the only one, still doesn’t make me feel the way the loud *cool* people may behave, but maybe that’s just their way of overcoming this? As as you. Might have noticed anytime you try to talk they get louder..
Mayank singh Chauhan says
Same here
someunluckygirl says
I have anthropophobia and it’s really unfair cause when I was a kid I loved being around people and I was quite confident. But I had shitty parents who were constantly putting me down, telling me I’m disgusting, stupid, weird. They’d rather hit me than talk to me cause “why should they talk to me when all they gotta do is show me where my place is”. When I was crying because I was hurt or someone was mean to me they told me I’m annoying or I deserved it or they threatened me to stop or else they’d beat me. My father used to kick me in the back several times and end it with a slap in the back (when he was about to beat me I used to sit on the floor and hide my head in my hands I don’t even know why). They never praised me and my father didn’t remember about my birthday and when my mom was asking him for money for me he would say “are you okay? why should I give anything to that brat?” and he didn’t wish me happy birthday and it really hurt because I always remembered about his birthday and always got him something (and I didn’t have a lot of money only what I got from my grandparents on my birthday). Not long after my 18th birthday my father told me I’m not his daughter that I’m just a fuckin whore and he grabbed my throat, I was sure he would choke me but I managed to kick him so he let go and ran to my grandparents. And one time I almost drowned in the sea when I was maybe 12 or 13 years old and I went to my parents pale and shivering and they were like “at least there would be finally peace” and started laughing and I really needed to be hugged at that time. I slowly started to fear everyone. I stopped talking to strangers and because of this I couldn’t make any friends. Later my classmates started harassing me and some of them would occasionally hit me and I didn’t talk about this to anyone cause I couldn’t count on my parents and I was afraid my teacher would tell my parents and they would say I deserved it. So I was suffering alone and I started isolating myself. And today I sit all day in my room I don’t go out unless I really have to and I’m even afraid to go to the shop. I’m also supposed to look for a job soon and it will be really hard cause how am I supposed to work when there will be so many people? It’s really scary :(
Mildred says
I really understand your feelings tho I haven’t gone through it.. it must feel like hell.. for sure, you are not a mistake. Don’t feel that way. Though they make you feel that way, you have to prove to them that you weren’t born by mistake. So do not stay in your room and feel all sad, go out with the notion that “every human is the same just as I am”, so I can’t and must not be afraid of them. God made me just like he made them and I am as special as every person just that my folks haven’t noticed it yet. Then I advice you to pray to God so he can open their eyes and also comfort you.. its well.. i love you dear.. you must not feel unloved..
gladys says
Find your true happiness and acceptance and Love in Jesus who really Loves you more than of his Life :) God bless you.
Xtra! says
Your story is so sad.
I wish I could help or be a friend you can lean on.
No-one deserves what your parents did to you.
Thank God you’re still alive, you survived. I’m sure life will smile at you in days to come and worry not about your job and meeting people, I’m sure you will get used to them in no time, plus do consider that all people are not your parents (not the same).
Really do believe you’re strong because you are. Proof of it, your love was strong when your father couldn’t give you a birthday gift but you bothered to dedicate one for him! I hope you’re shining and fear is a thing you fear not!
Robi says
I was abused as a child too. You don’t owe your parents anything. I set boundaries with people that have hurt me. I feel the same, that I was a more confident, outgoing child when I was smaller, but over the years the abuse and then being bullied by other people stomped all over that. I struggled with depression by the time I was nine.
Right now it still hurts and I don’t trust anyone. However, I love myself enough to seize life and do as much with my life as I can. It’s challenging to be around other people for fear they will hurt me. I go for walks and give myself pep talks every day- I set a goal to be “relatively comfortable with others” that day or “smile even though i don’t feel like it”. I look at it this way- I’m going to be a force, regardless of what happens around me that I couldn’t and cannot control, and I’m gonna do it for myself.
Hug yourself frequently through the day. Create a safe place with things you enjoy both inside your mind and around you as much as you can. Be sharp and aware with abusive people without letting them in to do any damage. Remember, you owe them nothing.
My family is demanding. I fill my duties to them while also protecting myself on the inside.
Cherry says
Same with me, except that I never force myself to smile, neither do I fake being nice to people. Sometimes I just feel this strong hatred to people and I usually like to keep away from them.
Singh Chouhan says
I think I’m also an anthropophobic as in above text.
Rul says
It could be social phobia. I have it to a mild to moderate degree. I feel the fear the most when I am with strangers and in a group setting. It is strange that if I get to know most of them already, my fear usually disappears. I also have a fear of calling strangers/ unfamiliar people which is why I always text or email.
Not Talking says
I have anthropophobia induced by trauma. No, it’s not PSTD it happened by a serious sequence of events that made me think: ok we know that the animal will probably act like this but what about a human being? What does it take to make someone insane? what will this human do while insane? Why do people hurt others? I fear the human mind and it’s insanity and because of that I’m being led to Dementophobia which I’m constantly keeping in check so it doesn’t get worse. I almost don’t leave home but I learnt that you can’t isolate yourself from the world so I can talk if I need to but I’ll stay out of every conversation or tasks that requires more than 1 person.
fumbi says
Well my case sounds like you guys since when i was young i never had friends,i tried having friends when i was in my early teens but it ended worse because people alway laugh at me and it was then i knew i was socially impaired because i felt i have been grounded all my life in the four corner wall of my room in darkness.when people shake hands with me, i tremble but later i turned my fear into talent and i started learning many skills at my late teens to give me more confidence ,i am now a hiphop dancer ,a cartoonist,a singer and soon will be and laptop engineer but i still have some fears still me like touching peoples things or belongings and fearing what people will think if i touch them and my body temperature will rise and my hands will shake but all this fear always kept me trying to be good at everything and to create self improvement
Hteekler says
I feel like nobody can help me. This phobia is so extreme. I cant focus in school because people are there, I cant present cause I would be shared and I cant even make eye contact with anybody without feeling scared or start worrying, I cant talk to my friends normally, I cant sit and feel comfortable around my brother and dad and due to this phobia I start saying bad things about people because they probably think I like them, but in reality I’m deeply scared. I want this to change. I want to reach out for help but if i get a therapist I’m not even sure I can look or speak to them or even move my hands or feel comfortable. I need help.
A says
I feel similarly as I feel that just another persons presence makes it hard for me to be myself. I’ve always been uncomfortable to even fall asleep in the same room with family members, especially when they are still awake. It’s as if another active mind promotes this overwhelming fear response in me and I don’t understand how I can help myself with this without devalidating myself. If it’s always been there since I can remember, how could I help myself without similarly hurting myself with devalidation? I am just so lost.
Izumi says
I have a serious fear of people myself. I’m actually getting reading for my final year in high school and I’m scared to leave home. I have no friends, I’m too scared to join any clubs or get a part-time job, and just the thought of meeting people and talking to them makes me panic. I am incredibly shy. I’m always thinking what others say or think about me. Group activities are one of the things I dread the most especially picking your own partners… I really just can’t handle it. I’m always thinking I will fail or I won’t do the best I can. I’m always saying, “Okay talk now…. Say something to him/her…” But the words never come out. And when people come to visit my family, even people within my family but not my immediate family, I never want them to see my face and l’m always forced to out of my hiding place. I don’t want to be alone or feel lonely, but I really like being alone. It’s really frustrating.
Nobody says
I feel the same way as you. I’m afraid of joining a sport or clubs. I’m afraid people and my parents will judge me because of the way I am and how I will never make it in life. People like to discourage me all the time and take advantage of me and step all over me and I’m just so overly shy and afraid that I let them because I can’t handle people and I have really bad Anxiety, especially when it comes to a work place, I feel my body tremble in a not so good way. I’m scared to even face life and handle be it, especially in high school all the way to senior year. So your not the only one. I’m scared to do things by myself and afraid that I might be forever alone and might not want to go to places where it’s crowded. It makes me want to die but I can’t, I must keep on going even if my anxiety will kill me.
Ned S. says
I’m the same way! The only difference, is I’m 51 years of age!
Amanda says
I’m not sure if I have anthropophobia. But I feel some of the symptoms mentioned above, like making eye contact with people, avoid going to social events and putting it off even because I just have that fear. I wear a hat everyday while walking to school just because I don’t want to see people’s eyes staring at me. It scares me. But I have been in situations where I have to present in front of a lot of people, and I’ve always gripped my hands tightly together and say to myself that, “I’ll be fine, I can do this.” I don’t know if this can be just nervousness but when I was little, I couldn’t order food because I was scared of the person behind the counter. I think I’m much better now since I can buy my own food, I can travel on my own. But it scares me that if I were to graduate and go out to work, I don’t think I’ll be able to stand out like everyone else and be daring enough to voice out. So I know it’s a long shot, but is this a type of phobia?
LanceMaster says
I struggle with anthropophobia , but I hide it quite well. Most people don’t even realize that I don’t have any friends, or that I can never sincerely interact with people. I am constantly thinking how to immobilize people I consider a threat (aka everyone in the room). The more I get to know someone, the more scared of them I become. I have serious trust issues and suffer from hypertension. I cover it with a smile and some witty comments, but I am truly terrified of interacting with people. I realize though, that I am blessed to have this much control over my actions, even if my fear is no less. This control comes from my goal. I am constantly searching for someone I can trust, and hope that I meet The One someday. This allows me to deal with my fear.
caroline says
Hi LanceMaster, I have just read your comment and it is exactly me, it was just as if i had written it myself.
I have always had a fear of people from as far back as i can remember, i too learnt to hide it as i considered it a massive failure to be like this, i always thought i was the only one and never considered that other people may feel this way, i knew some people were shy but i did not know anyone would feel the extreme fear that i did.
I have been through some traumatic life changing events recently and these have made my feelings even worse.
I have never really confronted my feelings or told anyone about them, it is only now after these events that i want to try and change the way i feel. I am sick and tired of being false and coming across as confident and entertaining to people, it is very draining, and all i long to do is run from them and lock myself in my house.
I only found this website when i decided to google ‘fear of people’ and see what came up, and i must say i was shocked when i found that there were many people with the same feelings.
It would be my dream at this point in my life to meet with similar people and share experiences and ways of coping.
If you or anyone reading this can leave a contact address or number it would be absolutely great.
Thankyou.
Sean says
I would definitely love to speak to others that have this fear because I haven’t been coping very well lately
mandy says
Hi im Mandy from South Africa. I thought I was the only one who suffer from this, now I see it’s a psychological disease.. I’ve always seen myself as a weak person.. I can’t say more cause I’m very emotional and I don’t wanna bring back pain cause I’m in a battle right now trying to get rid of this sickness, I may call it that way.. but anyone who wanna get in touch with me 0737328325. You can also whatsapp me. Let us be there for one another. Being alone won’t help, it’s better to talk with someone who has the same pain with you. I believe ppl like us needs care, respect, friends and love.. Thanks.
David says
Hi my name is David, I have anthropophobia too, I fear of going out of the house because I wouldn’t know how to say hi to my neighbors whom I don’t really know. Now I know I have a mental problem. I can’t organize my thoughts, often times I just reply yeah or ok when people talk to me, my conversation is dead. I hope my brain can get better in the future.
Alice says
At first, I wasn’t afraid of people at all. But due to my really intense nightmares, I became more and more afraid.. I felt comfortable with people after a week or two but once the nightmares came back, I was afraid of people again..
tammellaam says
My daughter recently about a year ago tried to commit suicide, she was always crying uncontrollably, and thinking she was being followed, and that she was under some sort of investigation with the feds. Till this day i dont know whats wrong with her she has dis associated herself from alot of her friends, she recently went out of town to her aunts for a month 1/2 i think it did her some good. I believe she fears her boyfriend, it was just crazy, need feed back. Thank you.
Doc says
Sounds like psychosis
Natalie Hugh says
If your daughter believes she is being followed this can be considered a delusion which is a symptom of schizophrenia. Other symptoms can include mania (extreme highs) or depression (extreme lows), the uncontrollable crying could be linked to depression and I believe you should take her to see a doctor especially if she starts having hallucinations such as hearing voices as she can be a danger to herself if she tries suicide or self harm again.
Jess says
I am scared to be around people. When people laugh anywhere close to me, I think it’s about me. I have been trying to convince myself that it’s not about me but I always fail. Between the age of 14 and 19 all my friends were online. I had a group of friends generated from church and school but they always went out together, I didn’t due to being scared and paranoid, wondering what people might say about me or think. At age 23 now, I am a singer but I have not been able to plan my concerts, delaying everyone else due to being very scared of people. I don’t go out and my ex boyfriend said he loved me but being closed in 4 walls with me for 3 years was enough. I honestly keep thinking I will change tomorrow but, just to get me out to any party I cry, get upset and do everything I can to cancel.
rivanah says
Same here
henry says
I’ve experienced what you said in that blog, all of it I actually did that. I was always trying to avoid being in front of a lot of people at all cost. Seriously I’ve done that a lot of times and one day there was someone selling stuff when I tried to buy when there was a lot of people then I felt like I heard one man talk to me saying “who are you”? That instantly made me go back to my house and sleep. Help me please.
William says
I have this and I can actually say that it is at times made much worse by me learning more, and by reading literature that I need for school work; so school work and reading aren’t always positive things, at least when you have this fear. I also have paranoia and I was diagnosed as a possible bi-polar person not too long ago. But even though my fears are irrational, Freud knew about them well so that means that enough people have these fears to the point where they are far reaching in society; most people channel such fears into their unconsciousness but we who are conscious of our fears remain deeply troubled. I wish that I had good encouraging things to say but perhaps it is the people who read a lot less and who have blind faith who are really okay. The rest of us who know too much seem to remain hung out to dry.
Nyesh Brio says
I’ve always been shy but I never knew this kind of fear exists. I’ve never ever spoken to anybody at school and I’m already in 8th grade. I’ve never had friends. I always get bullied. The symptoms are exactly what I feel and I also can’t have Eye contact with anybody. Please, what can I do to change or overcome this fear?
rivanah says
Even I am of your age but I have many friends.. don’t worry try some therapy or when you go to some other place you may overcome this fear.
Mintz says
Wow i struggle with eye contact so much and constantly have this fear. I miss being care free. Im currently travelling to battle my fears. I’ve been gone for 4 months and there has been slight improvement but im still not relaxed. I’ve had my fear for almost 5 years. I do wonder if i will ever be normal again. :(
William says
You are normal. We are all normal people, our brains are just wired differently. I have been like this for years, and it got worse after moving, despite not moving out of my school district. We are still normal. We look like the people we are scared of. Social media has helped me, because you do not need to see the people you are talking to. I hope we can all get over this, eventually.
princess says
I am really scared of people. I don’t like being touched by them, whenever someone tries to touch me, I move away slowly because I am afraid they want to hit me. I also hardly look people in the eye when talking to them. I can’t even stand up for myself. I just let people attack me even people way younger than I am. I don’t know if that is anthropophobia
Jack says
Hi, I know your comment was from a way back, but did you manage to overcome your fear or find things improved?
That sounds like it’s been hard for you. I have a similar one but not exactly the same. Though I’m doing better now, it still has its challenges.
Anyway, hope all worked out for you 🙂
Snehal Karnik says
My son is 31 years old. He is afraid that people are always behind him. He thinks that some particular cast/people follows him. He does not have a job and always asks for doing business. He does not understand the value of money and does not listen to anybody.
He is a failure in love too. I ask him to marry any good girl but he is not listening to me. What to do?
Mary says
First of all, NEVER call your child a failure. As a parent, this is one of the worst things you can do. Don’t say it to his face and certainly don’t talk about him that way with others. It is extremely difficult for a child to disappoint their parents, no matter what age. I don’t care if he’s sixty, he will always be your child and disappointing you is the last thing he wants to do. He has an actual fear, something that he has no control over. It is very important that you try to understand that. He’s not doing it on purpose, he’s not trying to upset you. Don’t ask him to marry anyone. If he doesn’t want to marry then let him. No need to force him into anything, it will only make your relationship with him worse. I, for example, don’t plan to marry. Does that make me a failure? Absolutely not. Your son isn’t one either. Encouraging him to seek professional help is the best thing you can do in this situation. With the right therapy and medication, your son should feel a lot better and maybe even overcome his fear. Please note that this will take a lot of time and won’t happen overnight though. Patience is very important. And most importantly, be there for him, he needs to know that he has people who love and care about him. Good luck! :)
Amanda says
Mary,
That was very good advice! I think a main reason why some of us have a fear of other people is because of these huge expectations placed on us or we have been hurt in the past by friends, teachers, or parents saying we were a disappointment to them. I agree. Nothing is worse than feeling like you are a disappointment and a loser to society. I think a lot of people would be happier if they showed kindness and patience towards each other rather than being critical and controlling. Some of us respond differently to criticism. It doesn’t build us up, it tears us down. Some people lead simpler lives and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. Offering support is the best thing you can do. The end. I hope we can find our peace.