ENOCHLOPHOBIA

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THE FEAR OF CROWDS

Most of us feels hesitate and nervous when we have to face the crowds,you can say it fear of crowds and in other term enochlophobia.

The famous Albert Einstein once said, “I hate crowds and making speeches.” Einstein was a genius, if he can hate crowds and speeches then anyone can. Those people who suffer from this phobia try to avoid places with crowds like shopping malls, weddings, meeting places etc. This is a common feeling for many of us and is called enochlophobia. It can happen to anyone but according to researches the ratio is more in women than in men and it begins in early adulthood. Most people hide their feelings of fear from others and they act like a normal person but from inside they are facing the feeling of fear and loneliness. In this phobia many sufferers do manage to get out but some become completely become house bound. some people get so frightened in crowds that they feel they are having a heart attack, but in actual it’s a panic attack which they feel because they are feeling over anxious and nervous.

Now I am telling you my personal story, I was a brilliant student of my university, but when it came to give presentations in front of crowds then I felt totally blank. At that time when I moved toward the dice my heart used to beat so hard that it felt like it will come out and my mouth felt so dry and when I start speaking my voice used to be so low that hardly first two rows can hear it. then my professor asked me one day that you have some problem in giving out the presentations, and I shared all my problem with her then she gave me some tips which helped me a lot, I start thinking that I am all alone in the hall, and other tip is that I start feeling that I am the most intelligent person in the crowd and the all who are sitting in front of me, they know nothing .it helped me a lot. You can overcome your fear if only you want to. You just have to try a little harder and don’t push yourself .Just take a deep breath and tell yourself that you can do it and then you will see that everything will be fine.

Following are some common symptoms of enochlophobia:

SYMPTOMS

Its symptoms may vary from person to person and it may include

Trembling, sweating, heart palpitations, nausea, a rapid pulse or breath rate, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking ,and inability to speak or think clearly.

CAUSES

Some reasons why you may be experiencing this type of fear are:

· You may just be a shy person by nature

· Unable to desensitize yourself from all of the emotions from others around you

· You do not feel safe around so many people you do not know personally

HOW TO OVERCOME THIS PHOBIA

· There are no drugs for any kind of phobia but u can avoid it by:

· Start by going to small group functions and gradually increase the size

· Visit a metro area; make a conscious effort not to judge those that live there

· Use the affirmation I am safer in crowds

· Breathe deeply and slowly in a controlled manner

· Keep your focus by listening to calming music through headphones

· Talk with and to others more often in different situations.

· Psychotherapy and group therapy can also help.

OTHER PHOBIAS

There are hundred of phobias beside this one,  most common phobias includes:

achluophobia………………fear of darkness

acrophobia……………….fear of heights

agliophobia……………fear of pain

bathophobia……………………fear of depth

entomophobia……………..fear of insects

iatrophobia……………fear of doctors

zoophobia……………..fear of animals

if you feel that you are suffering from fear of crowds then just ask yourself these questions:
Do I feel uncomfortable in or approaching a crowd of people?
Does my fear of crowds limit my lifestyle?
Would I like freedom from my fear?

If the answer is yes then you are suffering from enochlophobia but you can overcome this phobia if you adapt those techniques which i mentioned early.

Your fear is real and it is up to you to take control of it, educate yourself by learning as much as you can about what you are feeling and what you can do to change it. Overcome your fear and live your life freely.

I did a little survey regarding this article, so here are the comments of people who are suffering from fear of crowd.

NYLE:

He is working as a software developer in some company..He said that “I have this kind of fear and I just don’t feel safe when I am in crowd, especially when I don’t know them.

IRAM:

Iram is a student and she said that “i dislike the crowds and I feel that everyone around me is rude and selfish. I feel very strange in crowds and I have a strong feeling that everyone is staring me, it makes me nervous and I just want to run away from that situation.

10 thoughts on “ENOCHLOPHOBIA”

  1. I am enochlophobic and am 13, almost 14. I love going out with my friends to dances, but I feel so uncomfortable. When I voice that I have this fear, some blow it off and only back up a little; they never remember. I feel isolated and alone sometimes. I am fine with one or two people close to me, but any more and I feel crowded. I am a bigger girl, so the spaces are even smaller for me than most. Having this fear feels like shackles upon my wrists and ankles. I am in my own personal prison, and I dont know why. I have no idea how I will overcome this, but your article helped a lot.

    1. Thanx for liking my article. Dot worry about your phobia just follow the steps with i mentioned and i hope that you will over come your fear soon. Enjoy your life:))

      1. hi, the situation for me is sometimes so bad. I once went out for my friends birthday and the size of the crowd made me almost physically pass out. I had to leave, and it took me some time to recover. I get so anxious in crowds and it is making me miserable. I am thinking of visiting my doctor, as i don’t know what else to do, i cant even stand friends and family one on one standing too close to me. I hate how this is making me feel, it’s getting to the point i don’t even like a hug from people.

  2. in you personal story you mention that you panicked once you had to give a presentation in class.

    seems like you and albert einstein might have Glossophobia (fear of public speaking) instead of Ecochlophobia?

    I get extremely uncomfortable around crowds, I do fine in movie theaters because everyone is quiet and seated. but at parts its difficult to go to sporting events, and i have to isolate myself at parties or when hanging out with a big group of people.

    Usually if i am stuck in a crowd i start to get extremely nervous and quiet, breathing starts to get difficult, i become very stiff, and sometimes i even get combative. If my friends touch me or other people touch me i tend to snap at them and once I’ve even hit a friend of mine.

    after i get out of a crowd, i feel stressed out the whole day and tend to be snappy, defensive or make sharp remarks to whoever I’m with. My friends usually don’t understand how i can act this way when we are out together having fun which causes a lot of them to get annoyed/offended at how i am acting.

  3. I am surprisingly the opposite of you in this particular phobia. If I go to the mall, my palms sweat, my eyes jerk around nervously looking at everything and my heart palpitates at an uncomfortable rate. But I am perfectly fine with public speaking. I can get up in front of a group and speak. I’m nervous, sure, but not in the least debilitated. As long as I am separated from the crowd and have my back to a wall (or someone I trust) I’m fine. It’s not until I’m in the crowd with movement all around that I have trouble. Is it possible that I have a different phobia than enochlophobia?

  4. I,m 25 years old. I was working in a school as computer Technician.
    I was suffering from hiats hernia. I feel difficul to breathe in crowded people. specially in indoor halls. like staff meeting,while praying and travelling in speed launch. I feel that i was not getting enough oxygen to breathe. If i was in out door then i have no problem, even though crowd is big arround me.

  5. I am 33 yrs old, and have been freaking out in crowds for years. I’m not sure if I’m actually enochlophobic since it isn’t fear that I feel (at least, I don’t think it is), it’s more of a disgust. I get all the symptoms associated with this plus I break out in hives. I feel like I’m surrounded by nasty slimy crawly things (maybe roaches), and I can’t get away fast enough. I feel like I’m going to throw up. If I happen to be with someone and they are speaking to me, I just keep looking around saying “What?” alot, I sweat profusely, and scratch my hives, I have no idea what they are saying. It also gets extremely difficult to breathe… But, I’m NOT scared of dying, PREFER to be ‘insignificant’, and really couldn’t care less whether I get lost or not. I also never had a bad experience in a crowd before (except for the freakouts). I’m wondering if that still classifies as enochlophobia…?

  6. i am having the same problem of crowd fear, i really feel nervous, i avoid going in parties, meetings, weddings, and if i go there i feel my self so much nervous even from the people i know. I feel that people are staring at me and they will laugh at me seeing me nervous, and it makes me more nervous. The symptoms are palpitation, dry throat, and a bit weakness or shivering. I am really tired of this feeling and try so hard to overcome but i often fail in trying to do so. Please if there are some medicines beside the psychological treatment.???

  7. i believe that i am a sufferer from this phobia as well. i had just recently attended a large dance recital in a huge auditorum. i was placed in the middle of the aud in the middle of a row. the whole first half of the show i was so distracted i couldnt even remember it. i was sweating uncontrollably I was fighting back throwing up while i was fighting off tears. I was also overcome with anger for no reason and when intermission came i stepped outside and decided not to go back in. i ended up crying and dry heaving ouside the performing arts center, not a good time. not i will avoid these situations.

  8. I unfortunatly do also suffer from enochlophobia. The worst part is that I am only thirteen years old. Its not that I’m shy because I would become friends with ANYONE and I have no limits. I am energetic and happy and SOOO outgoing. This all runs out however when I walk up to a podium. Before the speech I feel sick. I get to the podium and I feel KIND OF lightheaded, I get shaky, and breathless. I start my speech and all you hear is “In (BREATH) THISS (BIGGER BREATH) Essay (runs out of breath). My worst fear is that I will pass out someday. I feel as if I’ve been underwater for 30 minutes when I talk in front of crowds. I cant breathe and its terrifying. I hope one day I can overcome this. But as for right now, I’m just that girl who can’t talk in front of crowds.

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