Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesWho Is at Risk?Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Who Is at Risk?
Treatment
This article presents information about the fear of the unknown and its common symptoms and causes. It discusses treatments and ways to cope with this mental health condition.
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Like many fears orphobias, symptoms may vary between people. Those with a fear of the unknown may experience intense feelings of distress and anxiety and may even havepanic attacks.
This intolerance of uncertainty has been associated with other fears, includingagoraphobia(fear of places and situations that’s enough to keep you home because something bad might happen).
Symptoms associated with this type of anxiety can occur suddenly and without warning and may include:
Fear of the unknown may prevent people from going about the activities of their daily lives and can cause anxiety or depression.They may experience difficulty in making plans or decisions because they feel a need to know the outcome.
Fear of the unknown may cause a person to have negative feelings towards situations that are uncertain in some way. They may also process information differently in the face of ambiguity.In seeking to avoid their feelings, they may reinforce their fears.
There’s some evidence to suggest that fear of the unknown is key to human survival.It led people to approach the unknown with caution, and may have informed human “fight, flight, or freeze” responses to potential threats.
The problems with fear of the unknown arise when these responses aren’t helpful or appropriate to the situation.
What Is the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis?
Environmental and Genetic Factors
Genetic Predisposition and What It Means
Who Is at Risk for Having a Fear of the Unknown?
When it comes to fear of the unknown, much remains unknown. Researchers who study the ability to tolerate uncertainty report that people who find it difficult share similar traits as those diagnosed with:
Complications
Other studies find that this fear of the unknown is a risk factor fordepression,prolonged grief disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).While these may occur in specific circumstances, like the death of a loved one, they also can occur in other contexts.
Hoarding Behaviors and the UnknownHoarding disorderwas once considered a subtype of OCD but is now its own diagnosis. People with a hoarding disorder experience distress when they can’t collect items or have to discard them, despite the hazards that collected items might present. The intolerance of uncertainty is a known factor in hoarding disorder.
Hoarding Behaviors and the Unknown
Hoarding disorderwas once considered a subtype of OCD but is now its own diagnosis. People with a hoarding disorder experience distress when they can’t collect items or have to discard them, despite the hazards that collected items might present. The intolerance of uncertainty is a known factor in hoarding disorder.
List of Common and Unusual Phobias
Those who experience a fear of the unknown or intolerance of uncertainty may benefit from treatment. Treatment options may include counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exposure therapy.
Self-Help Techniques
Trying self-help techniques may be helpful for some people with a fear of the unknown.
Some ideas to try can include:
A 2021 study found that young people were especially open to learning about the genetic and environmental factors that can contribute to psychiatric disorders, including fear of the unknown. They showed interest in healthy lifestyle choices that can offer benefits, including:
Counseling
Counseling is a form of psychological therapy in which a therapist helps you develop strategies for dealing with issues like fear and panic attacks.
During counseling sessions, you will talk about your feelings and fears without judgment. The therapist will then help you understand how you are feeling and help you develop solutions you feel comfortable with.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is a form of treatment designed to help people change how they behave or think in response to certain people or situations. It is helpful in treating people with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Your therapist can help to equip you with new techniques for navigating your challenges and the confidence to use them when you’re confronted with fears of the unknown.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapyis designed to help someone face their fears in a safe and controlled environment. It is often used to treat people with phobias and those diagnosed with PTSD.
Different types of exposure therapy can include virtual reality experiences, used to explore a traumatic experience, or imagining a scenario. In some cases, people physically experience the stressor, which may be helpful in dealing with fear of the unknown.
Exposure therapy can progress at different paces. The therapist may choose to have someone face their most difficult fears and tasks first (called flooding). Or, they may use a graded approach to build up tolerance.A systematic approach can be done in combination with relaxation techniques.
Coping
Dealing with a fear of the unknown can be difficult. Along with the above treatment options, there are steps you can take to help cope with your fear.
The American Psychological Association suggests trying the following tips to cope:
How to Overcome Any Phobia
Summary
Fear of the unknown is an intense fear of uncertain or unknown situations. It can lead to intense distress or anxiety, and interfere with daily life.
People who fear the unknown may go to great lengths to seek certainty, even though this relief may only be temporary. Treatment to help alleviate a fear of the unknown may include counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes to reduce anxiety.
19 Sources
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