Fear of Failure Phobia: Signs and Symptoms

The fear of failure is when someone believes that if they cannot conquer a task then they have a fear about it. Generally speaking, a fear of failure is exactly what it is spelled out to be. Someone with this type of phobia has an irrational fear of failing at something. This fear can stem from something that occurred in their childhood, a long string of events could have led up to having this type of phobia. Research is still inconclusive as to what the precise cause of the fear of failure phobia is, but like most any phobia they believe that something in the persons past, as a rule-their childhood, sparked this persistent and abnormal phobia to occur.

The Symptoms of Having a Fear of Failure Phobia

The majority of those who suffer from the fear of failing phobia, atychiphobia, may exhibit one or more of the following symptoms. Bear in mind that each person with a phobia is unique; however, the majority of cases of the fear of failing phobia exhibit some or all of these signs and symptoms of atychiphobia.

Fear of Failure Symptom: Not Trying New Things

The person with the phobia will not try new events, tasks, projects or even relationships if they believe in their own mind that the outcome may not be perfect.

Phobia Takes Over Persons Life

Those with the fear of failure have habitually been known to quit their jobs or end romantic relationships on account of their phobia paralyzing them and they begin to just give up. Most with atychiphobia would rather do anything than to try to do something they are not sure will work out impeccably.

Fear of Failure: Sabotaging Themselves

These people may go to such links as sabotaging their careers or relationships to get out of having to face the fear of failure. An example career wise might involve the person being assigned a task that he/she has never performed before. If the person truly believes he/she cannot perform the task to perfection they may quit their job, fake an illness, or in some way make it impossible for them to take on the task at hand.

This often leads to unemployment, demotions, and stagnates the person's ability to be promoted up in the career they are in. An example for a relationship generally involves the person to be somewhat of a comittmentphobe as well as a fear of failure phobic. They may end the relationship themselves, never start a relationship in the first place, or the partner may end the relationship because he/she cannot handle the symptoms that the fear of failure person is exhibiting.

Physical Symptoms of the Fear of Failure

Some of the fear of failure symptoms are more marked when an atychiphobia person is facing having to do something they do not believe they can complete without failure.

Physical Symptoms that Affect the Body

Since the person is gripped with fear about an upcoming task or event that will require them to do something they are not sure they can complete without defeat, the person may experience muscle tension, headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Their energy is spent worrying about the future of their believed failure.

Fear of Failure Symptoms that can lead to Panic Attacks

When the task comes to date where they must face their fear of failure, it is common to see the phobic having sweating, irritability, tremors, gastrointestinal upsets, twitching and trembling, and on the verge of having an anxiety attack.

Symptoms of Atychiphobia that Affect Careers and Relationships

People with a fear of failure can oftentimes lead lives where they are able to work and maintain relationships. These two aspects of their life may be strained due to their fears, but some fear of failure phobic people are able to manage their feelings to an extent that it does not severely impact their lives; at least outwardly speaking. For others the fear of failure and its symptoms are so gripping that a person may feel hopeless and be full of dread-thus decreasing their quality of life.

If the symptoms of this phobia, fear of failing, are affecting you or someone you know to a great extent, it is important that you seek mental counseling or if you see these things happening to someone you know, you should suggest them getting mental health. There are treatment programs available to those with this type of phobia. A person does not have to be a victim of the fear of failure phobia because there are treatments available to help overcome this type of phobia.

Read more about "Fear of Failure".

Sources:
http://www.brighthub.com/mental-health/anxiety-panic/articles/84374.aspx
http://psychology.socialsciencedictionary.com/Atychiphobia
http://www.symptoms-of-anxiety-depression.com/atychiphobia-fear-of-failure.html
http://www.way2hope.org/Illnesses/atychiphobia-fear-failure.htm