Phobias: Scopophobia, The Fear of Being Stared At

Scopophobia is the persistent, irrational fear of being seen or stared at. This phobia can also involve a pathological fear of being different and of drawing attention to ones self. Scopophobic individuals may avoid large crowds and public places. In its extreme form, Scopophobia can render a person so paranoid of being seen or stared at, that they absolutely refuse to leave their home.

Also known as Scoptophobia, the word derives from the Greek "skopia", meaning observation and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Scopophobia?

As with any phobia, the person suffering with Scopophobia has experienced an actual trauma at some point in their life. That experience is then associated with being stared at or seen. It's logical to conclude that the traumatic event most likely had to do with the scopophobic individual being different in some way.

Perhaps the individual coping with Scopophobia has experienced being ridiculed for that difference. Perhaps the attention drawn to the individual was unavoidable as would be the case with an obvious physical impairment. Maybe the scopophobic individual knew of someone else who endured this kind of negative attention. Perhaps the person affected by Scopophobia watched others respond in a negative or paranoid manner and simply learned to imitate that behavior.

Whatever the cause, the scopophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that is completely disruptive to daily functioning.

What Are the Symptoms of Scopophobia?

The symptoms of Scopophobia are individual and unique to the person coping with this phobia. Some people, when confronted with their fear may feel slightly uncomfortable, become nauseated or begin to perspire. At the opposite end of the spectrum, other people are so severely compromised by this phobia, that they experience anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Scopophobia may include:

*A Dry Mouth

*Breathlessness

*Trembling

*Heightened Senses

*Feeling Dizzy

*Muscle Tension

*Rapid Heartbeat

*Hyperventilation

*Feeling Out of Control

*Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

*Overwhelming Feeling of Anticipated Disaster

How Is Scopophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Scopophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual realizes that their fear of being stared at and/or seen is irrational and has compromised their daily functioning.

The scopophobic individual may then schedule an appointment with their primary physician in order to discuss their phobia. Rarely will the doctor assign a diagnosis of Scopophobia after that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, the doctor, after ruling out any physical cause for the phobia, will refer the person to a mental health professional for further assessment and evaluation.

How Is Scopophobia Treated?

When the fear of being seen and/or stared at becomes so overwhelming as to disrupt a person's ability to function, there are a number of different ways to treat Scopophobia. These can include:

*Referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

*Traditional therapy that will assist the person to learn to identify and control their phobia.

*Self-help techniques.

*Support groups with other individuals coping with this phobia.

*Exposure Therapy.

*Hypnotherapy.

*Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

*Relaxation techniques.

*In extreme cases of Scopophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Scopophobia is an intense, irrational fear of being seen and/or of being stared at. Sometimes that fear can become so intense as to completely halt a person's ability to maintain daily functioning. Unchecked, Scopophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with a person's social life, their personal life and their job responsibilities. Untreated, Scopophobia touches every aspect of a person's life.