Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Xenophobiais a persistent, intense fear of strangers.A fear of strangers is a specific phobia, which is a type ofanxiety disorderin the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” 5th edition (DSM-5). A specific phobia is a marked, ongoing fear of a particular object, environment, activity, or situation.
Though xenophobia can sometimes refer to hostility toward people from other cultures or backgrounds, this article will only discuss thespecific phobiarelated to a fear of strangers.Learn more about xenophobia, including symptoms, causes, treatment options, and more.
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Symptoms of a Fear of Strangers
People with xenophobia experience significant, sudden anxiety and distress when they are around strangers. They often go out of their way to avoid seeing, interacting with, or even thinking about strangers. This type of avoidance can negatively affect major aspects of day-to-day life. For example, someone with xenophobia may find it hard to function normally at work or in social situations.
When people with specific phobias are exposed to the source of their fear, they experience immediate symptoms of anxiety and/or panic, including:
Xenophobia vs. Social Anxiety DisorderPeople with xenophobia have a specific phobia that involves an overwhelming fear of people they don’t know.Meanwhile, people withsocial anxiety disorder—also known as social phobia—experience anxiety, distress, and/or panic in social situations. Though the disorders share some symptoms in common, people with social anxiety disorder may feel nervous or afraid even around people they know well.
Xenophobia vs. Social Anxiety Disorder
People with xenophobia have a specific phobia that involves an overwhelming fear of people they don’t know.Meanwhile, people withsocial anxiety disorder—also known as social phobia—experience anxiety, distress, and/or panic in social situations. Though the disorders share some symptoms in common, people with social anxiety disorder may feel nervous or afraid even around people they know well.
What Is Fear of Ghosts (Phasmophobia)?
Diagnosing a Fear of Strangers
A healthcare provider can diagnose xenophobia using the criteria for a specific phobia in the DSM-5. They may ask you about your medical history, family history, personal history, and current symptoms to rule out other possible causes for your fear.
Aspecific phobiais an intense and irrational fear of something that presents no real danger.The fear is typically so strong that a person will take significant action to avoid the trigger, even if they realize the fear is disproportionate to the situation.
To diagnose a specific phobia, a mental health provider will interview you and determine if your symptoms match the criteria from the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Clinical diagnostic criteria for specific phobia include the following:
Even if the criteria for specific phobia are not met, this doesn’t mean your fear isn’t significant enough to cause impairment or distress. It’s still important to get treatment and support from a professional.
What Causes a Fear of Strangers?
Xenophobia and other specific phobias have no single known underlying cause.Instead, researchers have found that a combination of genetics, differences in brain activity, certain personality traits, and/or environmental factors play a role in the likelihood that someone will develop a specific phobia.
Other risk factors for xenophobia include:
Prevalence of Specific PhobiasSpecific phobias are extremely common anxiety disorders. About 12.5% of American adults will meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia in their lifetime. Meanwhile, research suggests that about 12.2% of women and 5.8% of men in the U.S. experienced symptoms of a specific phobia within the past year.
Prevalence of Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are extremely common anxiety disorders. About 12.5% of American adults will meet the diagnostic criteria for a specific phobia in their lifetime. Meanwhile, research suggests that about 12.2% of women and 5.8% of men in the U.S. experienced symptoms of a specific phobia within the past year.
Treating a Fear of Strangers
Specific phobias are typically treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both.
Psychotherapy
Studies suggest the most effective form of psychotherapy for specific phobias is exposure therapy.Exposure therapyintroduces the person to the sources of their fears—in this case, strangers—in a safe, controlled environment. Over time, the goal of exposure therapy is to help people get used to confronting their fears and managing (or even preventing) the anxiety symptoms that develop in response.
Other types of therapy that may be used include:
Medication
Though medication isn’t typically the first-line treatment for specific phobias like xenophobia, your healthcare provider may recommend the occasional use of sedatives if your panic attacks become overwhelming. Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or anti-anxiety medications can help to treat comorbid mental health conditions.
Certain medications, such asD-cycloserine,propranolol, and glucocorticoids, may be administered on a short-term basis to make exposure therapy more effective.
Coping With a Fear of Strangers
Medical treatment with a qualified mental health professional is the best way to deal with your fear of strangers. However, there are also some coping methods you can use to improve your symptoms, including:
Seek HelpIf you or a loved one is struggling with a specific phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Seek Help
If you or a loved one is struggling with a specific phobia, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.
Your Smartphone May Be Able to Detect Your Anxiety
Summary
Xenophobia is a persistent, marked fear of strangers. The fear of strangers is a specific phobia, which is a type of anxiety disorder. People with xenophobia experience anxiety symptoms, distress, and/orpanic attackswhen they are around strangers. They may go out of their way to avoid people they don’t know, which can lead to problems at work and in relationships.
Both genetics and environmental factors, such as a history oftrauma, play a role in the development of specific phobias, which are typically treated with exposure therapy and/or medication.
15 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.American Psychological Association.Xenophobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.MedlinePlus.Phobia - simple/specific.National Health Service.Symptoms - phobias.American Psychological Association.Social phobia.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.Specific phobias.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Adolph D, Margraf J, Schneider S.Your fear is my fear: the relationship between parental and offspring anxieties.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021;52(5):772-781. doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01060-yEaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAmerican Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1National Health Service.Self-help - phobias.Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-47. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Drissi N, Ouhbi S, Janati Idrissi MA, Ghogho M.An analysis on self-management and treatment-related functionality and characteristics of highly rated anxiety apps.Int J Med Inform. 2020;141:104243. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104243
15 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.American Psychological Association.Xenophobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.MedlinePlus.Phobia - simple/specific.National Health Service.Symptoms - phobias.American Psychological Association.Social phobia.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.Specific phobias.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Adolph D, Margraf J, Schneider S.Your fear is my fear: the relationship between parental and offspring anxieties.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021;52(5):772-781. doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01060-yEaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAmerican Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1National Health Service.Self-help - phobias.Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-47. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Drissi N, Ouhbi S, Janati Idrissi MA, Ghogho M.An analysis on self-management and treatment-related functionality and characteristics of highly rated anxiety apps.Int J Med Inform. 2020;141:104243. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104243
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.
American Psychological Association.Xenophobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.MedlinePlus.Phobia - simple/specific.National Health Service.Symptoms - phobias.American Psychological Association.Social phobia.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.Specific phobias.Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Adolph D, Margraf J, Schneider S.Your fear is my fear: the relationship between parental and offspring anxieties.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021;52(5):772-781. doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01060-yEaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XAmerican Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1National Health Service.Self-help - phobias.Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-47. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404Drissi N, Ouhbi S, Janati Idrissi MA, Ghogho M.An analysis on self-management and treatment-related functionality and characteristics of highly rated anxiety apps.Int J Med Inform. 2020;141:104243. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104243
American Psychological Association.Xenophobia.
American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.
MedlinePlus.Phobia - simple/specific.
National Health Service.Symptoms - phobias.
American Psychological Association.Social phobia.
National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.
Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety.Specific phobias.
Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116
Adolph D, Margraf J, Schneider S.Your fear is my fear: the relationship between parental and offspring anxieties.Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021;52(5):772-781. doi:10.1007/s10578-020-01060-y
Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X
American Psychological Association.What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
Thng CEW, Lim-Ashworth NSJ, Poh BZQ, Lim CG.Recent developments in the intervention of specific phobia among adults: a rapid review.F1000Res. 2020;9:F1000 Faculty Rev-195. doi:10.12688/f1000research.20082.1
National Health Service.Self-help - phobias.
Richards G, Smith A.Caffeine consumption and self-assessed stress, anxiety, and depression in secondary school children.J Psychopharmacol. 2015;29(12):1236-47. doi:10.1177/0269881115612404
Drissi N, Ouhbi S, Janati Idrissi MA, Ghogho M.An analysis on self-management and treatment-related functionality and characteristics of highly rated anxiety apps.Int J Med Inform. 2020;141:104243. doi:10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104243
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