You snooze you lose?
Phobias can be extremely overwhelming to those who suffer from them. People may try many things to avoid their fears and may even have panic attacks.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, "a phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and lasting fear of a certain object, situation, or activity."
Someone who has ergophobia can experience a lot of fear and anxiety before they go to work or when they're at work. This stress can mean an inability to perform the required tasks for the job.
Also sometimes called ergasiophobia, work aversion, or workplace phobia, ergophobia is the irrational and excessive fear of work.
Some common symptoms include a racing heart, sweating, dry mouth, feeling suffocated, and even difficulty holding down a job. Long periods of unemployment are common for those who suffer from ergophobia.
In the following slides, some causes of ergophobia will be discussed.
Making mistakes is a natural part of life, however, for someone with ergophobia, there can be a lot of anxiety about making said mistakes. They might fear that their performance could result in punishment, embarrassment, or otherwise.
Approximately 19 million Americans have one or more phobias and they can range from mild to very severe. Phobias most often occur between 15 and 20 years of age and impact men and women the same.
A traumatic work event, like getting in major trouble for a mistake, can cause lasting fear. If your boss frequently yells at you, for example, it could condition you to have an emotional response in the workplace.
Some studies indicate that there is a strong link between family and the development of certain phobias.
Ergophobia may develop if someone is exposed to a colleague experiencing traumatic consequences at work. Though the person in question didn't personally have the negative experience, seeing it second-hand can still be enough to trigger ergophobia.
Neurobiological studies of fear and phobias suggest that people with phobias may have an increased sensitivity to fear that causes the phobia to develop.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a type of trauma therapy. Within this therapy, the person is "gradually exposed to their fear or traumatic memories, with the view to desensitize, increase tolerance, and alleviate ongoing distress."
In the following slides, you'll find some potential treatments for individuals with ergophobia.
There are behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that can help someone with ergophobia tolerate distress better and manage their fearful emotional responses more calmly.
Virtual reality therapy can be used to safely desensitize an individual to stressful and anxiety-provoking situations.
Exposure and response prevention (ERP) has been used for those with OCD and other anxiety disorders. This particular therapy aims to increase tolerance while teaching new ways to respond.
Other therapies such as family therapy can be helpful so the person with ergophobia can receive support and validation.
According to MeantalHealth.com, the following are regularly used for the treatment of anxiety disorders: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants (TCA).
Antihistamines like Hydroxyzine are FDA-approved for treating anxiety disorders.
A doctor or medical professional should first be consulted before trying any of the medications listed in the upcoming slides. Some medicine-based options could help someone with symptoms related to ergophobia.
Anxiolytics are usually not prescribed long-term due to possible addiction. However, on a short-term basis, benzodiazepines can help treat anxiety disorders.
Propranolol, a beta-blocker, is sometimes used to help alleviate the physical symptoms of acute anxiety and phobias.
Make space for your fears and it may help reduce some of the associated negative emotions. Talk with friends, family, or a professional.
Meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can help alleviate anxiety-based symptoms. They can also help avoid a panic attack or other severe responses.
People who have ergophobia may be able to manage symptoms by using some of the following self-help techniques.
General well-being is extremely important to help manage the anxiety symptoms caused by ergophobia.
Sources: (MentalHealth.com) (Johns Hopkins Medicine) (Choosing Therapy) (Merriam-Webster)
Think about attending a support group to garner support and acceptance of your phobia. It could help to speak to others in the same or a similar situation.
Curious to know if you have ergophobia? Click through now to explore further.
Ergophobia: When you truly fear working
Should you be worried about ergophobia?
HEALTH Phobias
You've likely heard of the "Sunday scaries" or the feeling of dread that overcomes many of us on Sundays before returning to work on Monday morning. But what if that fear was genuinely debilitating? Well, for some, it is. Ergophobia, or the excessive fear of work, is an actual phobia that affects some people. It can cause severe anxiety and lead to long periods of unemployment, among other issues. In this gallery, you'll find potential causes and tips for addressing this issue if you or a loved one is suffering.
Curious to know if you have ergophobia? Click through now to explore further.