Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsScopophobia, Eye Contact, and AnxietyDiagnosisTreatmentSymptomsBuilding Social Skills
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Scopophobia, Eye Contact, and Anxiety
Diagnosis
Treatment
Symptoms
Building Social Skills
Scopophobia,orscoptophobia,is the fear of being stared at or looked at. It makes people anxious and more likely to avoid crowds, but it’s different from social anxiety because people withsocial anxietycan experience a variety of social phobias. Symptoms of scopophobia may be debilitating but there are ways to cope and treat associated feelings of anxiety.
This article will explore the link between scopophobia and anxiety, the treatment options for scopophobia, and where to locate resources for coping.
miniseries / Getty Images
Link Between Scopophobia, Eye Contact, and Anxiety
It’s not unusual for someone to experience uncomfortable feelings when being stared at. Scopophobia is more severe than this, however. It is overwhelming and anxiety-inducing. It can be a symptom of social anxiety or social anxiety disorder (SAD).
If you live with a social anxiety disorder, you may feel like someone looking at you means they are judging or criticizing you. This may cause you to avoid social situations and making eye contact with others.
What Is Severe Anxiety?
Causes
Like other phobias, the exact causes of scopophobia are not clear. While scopophobia is often associated with anxiety disorders, several factors may contribute to this phobia.
Traumatic Experiences
Traumatic experiences in feared situations like social settings serve as a direct learning experience. It can trigger chronic fear as a way of trying to protect you from the same or similar experiences in the future.Bullying is one example.
Genetics or a Family History
Older research has suggested if a family member has a phobia, you have an increased risk of developing a phobia as well.
A more recent study, from 2017, published in the journal ofPsychiatry Genetics, provides further evidence that a specific gene—the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4—is involved in the development of anxiety-related traits.
Bullying: Types, Examples, and How to Deal with a Bully
Risk Factors
Social anxiety or social anxiety disorder is a risk factor for experiencing scopophobia, but it’s not the only associated condition.
Medical conditions where a person fears being stared at because it could trigger an episode or where a person fears having an episode in public because it could attract unwanted staring are also considered risk factors.
Examples of disorders or conditions that may increase risk of scopophobia include:
Having low self-esteem or a high level of self-consciousness about certain physical features like a disfigurement or a noticeable impairment may also heighten the risk of developing scopophobia.
Mild Autism in Adults and Children
Is Scopophobia an Official Diagnosis?
Scopophobia is not an official diagnosis in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision(DSM-5-TR). Someone with symptoms of scopophobia lasting six months or longer and causing significant distress would be diagnosed with a specific phobia.
If you’re wondering if your symptoms fit the criteria for specific phobia, you can use thefree screening tool from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. It’s not a diagnostic tool, but offers information that can help you start the conversation with a healthcare provider.
What Is the DSM-5 and What Does It Diagnose?
Initiating Scopophobia Treatment
Specific phobias like scopophobia respond well to a variety of treatments including self-help, psychotherapy (talk therapy) and prescription medication. Further support symptoms and resources are also helpful.
On Your Own
Coping is possible. Here are some expert tips adapted from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
10 Ways to Stop a Panic Attack
With the Help of a Provider
Sometimes people need additional support to cope with phobias. Options include:
Therapy
Support Systems and Resources
The 8 Best Online Therapy Services for Anxiety
Symptoms: How Does Scopophobia Feel?
Symptoms of scopophobia are both psychological (emotional) and physical. They include:
Heart Palpitations From Anxiety: How Do You Stop Them?
Easing Into Crowds and Building Social Skills
People with scopophobia don’t necessarily lack social skills, but they may experience such overwhelming fear that it interferes with social interactions.
Easing into crowds and building stronger social skills may help you feel less stress and more confident. Social skills training is an option for learning how to navigate and better manage social situations, including making eye contact and being looked at, even if experiencing fear.
Summary
Scopophobia is a phobia where someone experiences extreme fear of being looked at or stared at. It’s linked to social anxiety and other conditions. Symptoms resemble those of other anxiety disorders and can interfere with someone’s ability to be in crowds or engage in social settings.
Coping with scopophobia can include a combination of self-care, therapy, medication, and skills building or strengthening.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Services.Social anxiety (social phobia).Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Villafuerte, S., Burmeister, M.Untangling genetic networks of panic, phobia, fear and anxiety.Genome Biol.2003;4:224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224Forstner AJ, Rambau S, Friedrich N, Ludwig KU, Böhmer AC, Mangold E, Maaser A, Hess T, Kleiman A, Bittner A, Nöthen MM, Becker J, Geiser F, Schumacher J, Conrad R.Further evidence for genetic variation at the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 contributing toward anxiety.Psychiatr Genet. 2017;27(3):96-102. doi:10.1097/YPG.0000000000000171Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkinNational Health Service.Treatment - phobias.World Health Organization.Anxiety disorders.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Social skills training (SST): A tool for social anxiety disorder: In conversation with 2023 ADAA Annual Conference presenters.Beidel DC, Alfano CA, Kofler MJ, Rao PA, Scharfstein L, Wong Sarver N.The impact of social skills training for social anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;28(8):908-18. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.09.016
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Health Services.Social anxiety (social phobia).Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Villafuerte, S., Burmeister, M.Untangling genetic networks of panic, phobia, fear and anxiety.Genome Biol.2003;4:224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224Forstner AJ, Rambau S, Friedrich N, Ludwig KU, Böhmer AC, Mangold E, Maaser A, Hess T, Kleiman A, Bittner A, Nöthen MM, Becker J, Geiser F, Schumacher J, Conrad R.Further evidence for genetic variation at the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 contributing toward anxiety.Psychiatr Genet. 2017;27(3):96-102. doi:10.1097/YPG.0000000000000171Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkinNational Health Service.Treatment - phobias.World Health Organization.Anxiety disorders.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Social skills training (SST): A tool for social anxiety disorder: In conversation with 2023 ADAA Annual Conference presenters.Beidel DC, Alfano CA, Kofler MJ, Rao PA, Scharfstein L, Wong Sarver N.The impact of social skills training for social anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;28(8):908-18. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.09.016
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Health Services.Social anxiety (social phobia).Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.Villafuerte, S., Burmeister, M.Untangling genetic networks of panic, phobia, fear and anxiety.Genome Biol.2003;4:224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224Forstner AJ, Rambau S, Friedrich N, Ludwig KU, Böhmer AC, Mangold E, Maaser A, Hess T, Kleiman A, Bittner A, Nöthen MM, Becker J, Geiser F, Schumacher J, Conrad R.Further evidence for genetic variation at the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 contributing toward anxiety.Psychiatr Genet. 2017;27(3):96-102. doi:10.1097/YPG.0000000000000171Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkinNational Health Service.Treatment - phobias.World Health Organization.Anxiety disorders.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Social skills training (SST): A tool for social anxiety disorder: In conversation with 2023 ADAA Annual Conference presenters.Beidel DC, Alfano CA, Kofler MJ, Rao PA, Scharfstein L, Wong Sarver N.The impact of social skills training for social anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;28(8):908-18. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.09.016
National Health Services.Social anxiety (social phobia).
Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania.Specific phobias.
Villafuerte, S., Burmeister, M.Untangling genetic networks of panic, phobia, fear and anxiety.Genome Biol.2003;4:224. doi:10.1186/gb-2003-4-8-224
Forstner AJ, Rambau S, Friedrich N, Ludwig KU, Böhmer AC, Mangold E, Maaser A, Hess T, Kleiman A, Bittner A, Nöthen MM, Becker J, Geiser F, Schumacher J, Conrad R.Further evidence for genetic variation at the serotonin transporter gene SLC6A4 contributing toward anxiety.Psychiatr Genet. 2017;27(3):96-102. doi:10.1097/YPG.0000000000000171
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Other concerns and conditions of Tourette syndrome.
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision. Washington, D.C.; 2022.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips and strategies to manage anxiety and stress.
Kaczkurkin AN, Foa EB.Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders: an update on the empirical evidence.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2015;17(3):337-346. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2015.17.3/akaczkurkin
National Health Service.Treatment - phobias.
World Health Organization.Anxiety disorders.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Social skills training (SST): A tool for social anxiety disorder: In conversation with 2023 ADAA Annual Conference presenters.
Beidel DC, Alfano CA, Kofler MJ, Rao PA, Scharfstein L, Wong Sarver N.The impact of social skills training for social anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial.J Anxiety Disord. 2015;28(8):908-18. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.09.016
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
