Athazagoraphobia Explained: What is the Fear of Being Forgotten?

What is Athazagoraphobia?

Athazagoraphobia is an abnormal or unusual fear of forgetting something or someone. It may also mean you have a fear of being forgotten. If you have a severe case of this condition, you may deal with psychological or physical side effects that affect your life each day. In fact, the problem can be so disruptive that you experience extreme stress, fear, panic, or anxiety.

For example, you might have strong feelings of anxiety that a family member who has Alzheimer's disease will forget you. Additionally, you may be afraid of a loved one developing memory loss or Alzheimer's disease. If you care for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you might start to think and behave this way too.

There is so much to worry about and this fear of being forgotten (or forgetting) sometimes falls into the realm of a social phobia. And it's estimated that 15 million people in the U.S. have a social phobia.

Symptoms of Athazagoraphobia

Similar to most phobias, the fear of not being remembered has many symptoms to be aware of. You or someone close to you may experience symptoms when you have thoughts of forgetting something or someone or of being forgotten. Depending on how severe your phobia is, your symptoms may vary.

Symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, panic attacks, nervousness, body aches, increased blood pressure, not being able to concentrate or focus properly, sweating, fainting, increased heart rate, restlessness, and not socializing enough. In addition, if you or your loved one ignore your symptoms, this can create more problems for you and others.

athazagoraphobia pronunciation | athazagoraphobia test | athazagoraphobia causes — Similar to most phobias, the fear of not being remembered has many symptoms to be aware of.

For instance, you might be unable to work, be disabled, or even become suicidal. And this can make you a less productive member of society, which affects all of us. Not only is this unfair to you, but not taking care of yourself means you won't be able to make a positive impact on the rest of us in society.

Causes of Athazagoraphobia

Although experts aren't aware of the exact cause of phobias, genetic and environmental factors may be involved. Being introverted or shy, or even having a sensitive nature can make you more likely to have a phobia.

While the American Psychiatric Association (APA) doesn't identify the fear of being forgotten as a disorder or phobia, several studies have shown people to have memory loss-related fears. Consider some possible causes of your phobia:

If you've ever observed your family member experiencing this fear, you might have learned to have a similar mindset and behavior.
Spending time with someone who has memory loss issues, such as those with Alzheimer's or dementia, can cause you to develop a related problem.
Having a traumatic experience or a history of trauma can deepen this fear. For one, you may have experienced the loss of someone close to you or maybe you were abandoned or forgotten.
Your biological parents may have passed down certain genes to you that may contribute to your disorder.

How to Treat Athazagoraphobia

Having a phobia doesn't mean you have to live in fear forever. You can find a licensed mental health professional to help you create and focus on a treatment plan that improves your quality of life. A few treatment options you might want to try include:

Exposure therapy is the main treatment option that's primarily used for phobias. This means you'll be gradually and safely exposed to your phobia. You may be less likely to avoid your phobia and you won't be as fearful either.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a first-line treatment and talk therapy that involves improving a person's behaviors and thoughts. Depending on your particular phobia, you'll be better able to learn about and change your problematic behaviors and thinking patterns.
Using breathing techniques and practicing mindfulness can be helpful in controlling your fear and anxiety. For one thing, I've noticed that breathing techniques can be simple yet effective and easy to learn.
Medications, such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, are sometimes used to deal with symptoms of depression or anxiety. It is, however, important to remember that while medication can be effective for some people… others can see better results with other treatment options.

Final Thoughts on Athazagoraphobia

Living with athazagoraphobia can be quite challenging. But by gaining knowledge about the condition, you have the opportunity to face your phobia. This can make it easier to live a normal life where you don't have to worry so much, if at all, about any irrational fears.

Whenever I have a problem, I make it a goal to tough things out and improve my situation. By doing this, I feel empowered by my own courage and strength. This makes me feel as though I've risen above my fears, sort of like a superhero. I believe inspiring myself by using my imagination is smart and it can even be kind of fun.

We sincerely hope you've gained enough information to begin dealing with this phobia. While living with this condition can be difficult, we're committed to helping educate readers about their problems. Indeed, when everyone is happier, the world is a better place to be. If you enjoyed reading this post, you might like to read another one about ways to deal with social anxiety. You are not alone.