People among us find it difficult to maintain eye contact for extended periods. Suppose you find it challenging to maintain eye contact to the point of being diagnosed with scopophobia, and you experience similar symptoms with all strangers. In that case, your daily life activities, like going out, can be hindered due to the discomfort caused by eye contact. The eyes are a vital part of deciphering the other person’s emotions; making conversation while maintaining eye contact is essential. Here are details of when scopophobia appears and if there are any ways to overcome it.
What is Scopophobia?
Scopophobia is a deadly fear of being stared at by other people, which is related to a mental state of fear of being the center of attention, classified as a specific phobia and social phobia.
A Type of Social Anxiety Disorder
Scopophobia includes stage fright, reading phobia, and shaking phobia, originating the fear when making eye contact with anyone other than very familiar and comfortable people. People who have scopophobia may also have an excessively high perfectionist compulsion to gain acceptance from those around them.
What Causes Scopophobia?
The exact cause of scopophobia has not been identified, but experts generally assume it to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If a family member has a history of anxiety disorders, there’s a high chance of it being passed on. When combined with trauma, it manifests as scopophobia. For example, suppose you have to give a speech at a large meeting or press conference that several audiences are watching. In that case, the person may experience nervous breakdowns, and these moments can manifest as phobias.
Typically Shows Anxiety Symptoms
Scopophobia is accompanied by anxiety and discomfort due to eye contact, which goes beyond simple discomfort. Physical symptoms such as shaking the body or voice, sweating, and reddening or stiffening of the face may appear. If someone around you shows this symptom, assure them without being startled or avoid them.
Many People Have Negative Thoughts
Most people with social phobias, including scopophobia, tend to have negative thoughts. For instance, they perceive themselves as unattractive and incompetent and negatively interpret ambiguous feedback towards themselves. They also react sensitively and respond to words that have nothing to do with them, tiring the people around them.
It Gets Worse When You’re Nervous
Scopophobia worsens when you’re nervous. For example, it becomes more evident when you have to present in front of others or during interviews, affecting your abilities since you worry a lot about how others think of you, making you can’t look straight into interviewees’ eyes.
Do You Know About Erythrophobia?
Some people with symptoms of scopophobia also have Erythrophobia. Erythro refers to the symptom of the face turning red. If the situation causes others to focus on you, your face may unknowingly heat up and turn red, causing you to tense up. You may dislike showing your reddening face to others, which can make you fear meeting other people and be engulfed by a desire to escape.
Gaining Confidence
Scopophobia and erythrophobia, the fears of being stared at and blushing, respectively, are normal reactions that many people experience. When faced with challenging situations, many individuals boost their confidence through self-hypnosis, convincing themselves they will perform well. Even when mistakes occur, they maintain a positive mindset, believing they can improve in future attempts. Rather than feeling ashamed when others point out past mistakes, using those experiences as stepping stones for personal growth is beneficial. This approach helps transform potentially paralyzing fears into opportunities for development and resilience.
Think at ease looking at people
You might feel uncomfortable looking directly at someone if you are overly humble or kind. How about gradually letting go of that feeling and practicing looking at people’s faces? At first, it may be scary and awkward, but as you practice looking comfortably, you will naturally learn how to handle eye contact.
Exposure Therapy is the Most Effective
Scopophobia, or the fear of being stared at, is effectively treated long-term through cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Like most social phobias, scopophobia often stems from past experiences of embarrassment or humiliation. These experiences can become deeply ingrained, leading individuals to project these feelings onto others. They may fear that others will ridicule or criticize them. To overcome these fears, it’s essential to correct these false perceptions. This involves creating similar situations in a controlled manner and gradually increasing the intensity of these exposures. Practicing eye contact with strangers is a crucial part of this therapy, helping individuals desensitize themselves to the fear of being looked at.
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