Types of phobias. Name of phobias.

In the frantic pace of modern life, ergophobia – the fear of working – often occurs. This is an anxiety-phobic disorder, the objects of which are:

• performing any professional activity;
• fear of looking for a job, the need to change it;
• fear of professional liability.

Many people have a rather biased attitude towards this disorder, because they believe that ergophobes simply suffer from laziness, justifying their idleness with diseases. Even if this opinion is partly true, it cannot be unambiguous. Because many of those who suffer from this disorder have both high professional skills and positive recommendations from their previous employers. And yet, it is their fear - ergophobia - that forces them to avoid professional activities.

Ergophobia - what is this phobia?

Ergophobia is complex in nature, since it often accompanies many other phobias and mental disorders.
For example, a patient may be afraid to perform manual labor for fear of injury. Many ergophobes are afraid of any work. In most cases, there is also a fear of communicating with people.

Ergophobia can be incredibly debilitating because people with ergophobia are always dependent on others to feed them, to give them money. These unfortunate people often have tense relationships with loved ones. Sometimes they do not even have the opportunity to turn to anyone for help due to limited finances.

Fear of a new job

Overcoming the fear of working on your own is almost impossible.

The only guarantee of a positive result is timely seeking help from a specialist - a psychotherapist.

The doctor carefully examines the patient’s general state of mind, identifies the factors that provoked ergophobia, and prescribes a specific course of therapy. In the absence of the effect of psychotherapy, there is a need to correct the psychological state with special medications.

Methods for treating ergophobia:

1. Cognitive and behavioral methods of therapy (knowledge of existing fear and search for options for eliminating it using self-analysis).
2. Meditation and relaxation (methods help to achieve mental balance and strengthen the psyche).
3. Methods of psychoanalysis (the method consists of conducting regular sessions with the participation of a psychologist or psychotherapist).
4. Auto-training (the purpose of such methods is to increase the patient’s self-esteem and develop skills to deal with one’s own fears).
5. Group classes (groups are formed from patients with identical diagnoses; the method is highly effective in treating ergophobia).
6. Hypnotherapy (the patient is immersed in a state of hypnosis, the specialist creates specific situations related to work activities and helps to find ways to combat fears).
7. Drug therapy (the use of drugs of certain categories is an auxiliary method of treating ergophobia; the list of necessary medications is selected individually).

Drug therapy in the treatment of ergophobia is used only in the presence of persistent mental disorders or a slow tendency towards recovery of the patient.

Tranquilizers, sedatives and antidepressants can be used as the main drugs.

The action of medications is aimed at eliminating the symptoms that accompany ergophobia, but they cannot cope with the psychological state of the patient.

To correct self-esteem, attitude towards the outside world and eliminate fears, the mandatory use of psychotherapy is necessary.

Fear of the unknown is one of the most common fears that adults and children periodically suffer from. Fear of the future is tantamount to losing control over your own life.

Fear of losing your job

Fear of a new job is the body’s reaction to stress caused by high expectations. In most cases, a person associates a new job with an improvement in life. Changing jobs is a big stress for an employee who was clinging to the old position for fear of not finding a new one. This is a challenge for a weak-willed person. The employee is afraid that his qualifications and skills will not be used correctly, and he, being unprotected, will find himself in a losing position.

Ergophobia arises from the mere thought of changing jobs.

A person feels attacks of suffocation, it is difficult for him to make decisions and calm down. Low self-esteem contributes to the development of this type of phobia. If a person is confident in himself, he will not be afraid of new professional difficulties. Ergophobia prevents an individual from growing as a professional, improving the quality of life and making a good profit.

Ergophobia: Causes

The fear of work “affects” both those who have already worked somewhere and those who have never worked in their lives.
There are many reasons for the development of ergophobia:

1. Schizophrenia.
   This mental disorder can lead to fear of social situations.
2. Fear of being refused a job, of being rejected.
   This person may have previously had a job, but was unexpectedly laid off. He begins to be afraid of being rejected, which gradually leads to ergophobia.
3. Certain medications, sleep disorders, stress.
   A common side effect of many medications prescribed to treat depression is mental and physical fatigue.

   The situation becomes a vicious cycle. The patient may have sought help for treatment of a phobia, but was prescribed sedatives, which indirectly aggravate his condition.

   Read also:  Types of leadership (psychoanalytic approach).
4. Traumatic situations or negative life events.
   A work-related injury, an unpleasant incident, harassment or bullying by co-workers, a robbery in the workplace, or a hostage situation can lead to PTSD.

   Activity anxiety, fear of not completing assigned tasks, fear of speaking in front of an audience are also reasons for the development of ergophobia.

5. Frequent interviews, communication with colleagues and management.
   For someone who already experiences anxiety or suffers from nervous disorders, this situation is stressful. All this leads to a constant aversion to work or phobia.
6. Clinical depression or neurological dysfunction.
   Clinically depressed people are terrified at the thought of having to look for a job. People with neurological problems, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, also often avoid and fear work.

Other reasons

These are not all the reasons why a fear of work may arise. Some people, for example, have a phobia of their workplace. One of countless examples: a person may be a foreman and be afraid that something from a construction site will fall on his head at one moment.

Boredom can also be a prerequisite. If a person began his career with tedious work, then there is a high probability of the impression that fruitful activity can never become interesting.

The so-called burnout syndrome also often provokes the appearance of ergophobia. A person simply gets bored with what he does. His work becomes routine, and every day becomes similar to the previous one. Enthusiasm and desire to work disappear. For people in creative professions, burnout manifests itself in a lack of new ideas and inspiration.

Ergophobia is also often accompanied by a fear of rejection. It usually affects people who in the past worked successfully for a long time for the benefit of an institution, but were then fired. Consequently, they have a fear of getting a job, accompanied by the fear of possible layoffs. It’s the same thing here as with the sad experience. You were fired once, so why shouldn't it happen again?

Ergophobia: Symptoms

Many people are disgusted by the fact that they have to get up every morning and rush to work, but in the case of ergophobia, everything is much more serious.
A person just has to think about work, and he is attacked by a panic attack. The symptoms are as follows:

1. Feeling dizzy, nauseous, sweating and short of breath.
2. The patient complains of “fog” in the head or detachment from reality. He cannot clearly express his thoughts, sometimes he does not hear or does not understand what is said to him. He feels as if his memory is exhausted.
3. Often, to an outside observer, a person suffering from a phobia appears normal. However, many reactions occur in his mind: the desire to run away and hide, cry, thoughts of death appear.
4. To counteract the phobia, sufferers often abuse alcohol or drugs. Ultimately, the situation gets worse.

Due to the strong impact of ergophobia, a person does not show up for work, as a result of which he is either demoted or fired altogether.
This only increases his fear of work. There are other factors that complicate the situation, for example, tense relationships, divorce, debt, neglect of one’s health and property.

Ergophobia: Treatment

How to treat ergophobia?
The best solution is to see a psychotherapist. Psychotherapy, counselling, hypnotherapy and talk therapy are some effective ways to treat this phobia. However, success depends on the timing and duration of treatment. The problem is also that often people do not have the financial means.

Employment counseling can be helpful in finding a suitable job. You can start your own business or look for work from home.

Systematic desensitization and gradual exposure therapy help to cope well with this problem. A person tries to work part-time, gradually increasing his work time to full-time.

Yabrova Ksenia · 15 Oct, 2019

Self-medication

Built on relaxation techniques, breathing control, and affirmations. They help you find a sense of calm and change negative thinking to positive ones.

Affirmations

These are positive statements, using which a person tunes in to the positive. Particularly effective before the start of the working day or during the performance of professional duties. With the help of affirmations, the patient can overcome fear, anxiety, and work-related worries.

The most popular and effective affirmations:

• I am an excellent specialist, and I will not be fired;
• I have enough knowledge and experience for a higher paying job;
• I love my job very much;
• work brings me pleasure, joy and happiness;
• my work fits my interests perfectly;
• I am always ready to take the initiative and lead even a complex project;
• my performances are good because I am confident;
• I communicate well with colleagues;
• my comrades love and appreciate me;
• my work enriches my inner world;
• I have set good work priorities;
• I work hard to become a better person;
• my boss values ​​me and considers me a unique employee, etc.

Such statements are the basis of self-hypnosis. A person imposes on himself thoughts about good work. This increases confidence and self-esteem. It is worth remembering that thoughts materialize.

Subsequently, the person focuses on the quality performance of his duties. She perceives work as a hobby, a favorite pastime, something that brings joy.

He understands that for good work he will receive a reward in the form of a salary increase, public gratitude, career advancement, etc.

Breathing techniques

Proper breathing will help prevent anxiety, fear and hysteria. Remember that rapid, intermittent, shallow breathing will not help you relax.

Rules for proper breathing:

• Take a comfortable position lying or standing (you cannot do this while sitting);
• eyes should be closed;
• imagine beautiful landscapes or other things that evoke peace;
• focus on the process of inhalation and exhalation;
• relax all muscles;
• the frequency of each exercise is 6–10 times, no less.

As you inhale, think that the body is filled with positive energy, and as you exhale, all the negativity comes out. It is important not to overexert yourself. If an exercise doesn’t work out for you, rest for 5 minutes and try another.

The simplest breathing is with your stomach. When you inhale, the stomach inflates, when you exit, it collapses. The duration of inhalation is 3–4 s, exhalation – 5 s. Hold your breath for 2-3 seconds. Maintain an interval of 3 seconds.

The same method is used to breathe using the collarbones and chest. They also use a wave-like technique. Inhalation goes from bottom to top. Passes through the abdomen, chest, collarbones. As you exhale, the order changes. The last time is performed slowly and measuredly.

Relaxation

Achieved through art therapy and aromatherapy. Just turn on your favorite music. It is desirable that it be instrumental, without vocals. It is important to take a comfortable position, sitting or lying down. Buy in advance aromatic oils with the scent of lavender, chamomile, lilac, oak root, lemon balm or mint. Add a few drops to the aroma lamp or on your hand. Inhale deeply and exhale slowly.

You can portray your fear. It doesn't matter if you have artistic skills or completely lack them. Depict the object of fear in any way: in the form of lines, strokes, pictures, figures, animals. Afterwards, the drawing can be destroyed in any way: crushed, torn, splashed with paint, trampled underfoot. The main thing is for a person to get rid of an obsessive phobia.

Favorite music is a great way to relieve stress