Fear Of Being Stared At: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

The fear of being stared at, or rasp, is the fear that they experience that other people will stare at them at their every move. The severity varies from person to person. Some people are afraid only when a stranger stares for a long period of time, while others fear even passing eye contact with a friend. Scophobia is often, but not always, associated with other social phobias . Without treatment, fear can get worse over time.

Related Disorders

Scophobia is a specific phobia, but it falls within the general spectrum of social phobias. Most people with this fear also suffer from specific related social phobias such as stage fright or fear of public speaking . Some people also experience more generalized social phobia , although many do not.

Some people with certain neurological conditions develop rasp either because they feel that being watched may trigger an episode or because they fear that having an episode will cause people to stare.

The epilepsy , Tourette syndrome, the disorders of the autistic spectrum disorders and some movement are among the conditions that may increase the risk of escofobia. People with disfiguring illnesses or injuries may also be more prone to developing this phobia.

Keep in mind that reasonable fears are never diagnosed as phobias. However, for some people, the fear is out of proportion to the risk. If you suffer from the fear of being watched for a medical condition, it is important that a mental health professional, in conjunction with your physician, determine whether, given your particular condition, your fear is excessive and unnecessarily impacting your life.

You may also be interested in reading: Fear To Speak: Cause, Characteristics, Importance, Overcoming

Symptoms

If you have rash, you can do everything you can to avoid situations that put you in the spotlight. Some people fear only large group situations, while others fear short transactions, such as grocery checkouts. Some fear even incidental contact such as exchanging jokes with someone walking down the street.

When faced with your dreaded situation, you might blush profusely. Ironically, many people with rash also suffer from erythrophobia or fear of blushing, making this symptom particularly troublesome. You may also start to sweat, shake, experience heart palpitations or shallow breathing, and feel unable to collect your thoughts. You may feel a strong need to escape from the situation.

Some people with scophobia begin to limit their daily activities in a quest to avoid the panic reaction. You may refuse to go out alone or to meet people you don’t know well at home. Over time, untreated rash sometimes worsens. You may eventually feel uncomfortable even in the company of trusted friends or relatives.

Causes of fear of being stared at

Often, but not always, scoptophobia can be due to a traumatic event. Those who were bullied or made fun of may be at higher risk for this phobia. Also, people who feel shame or self-loathing are also at higher risk.

Many teens go through a phase of extreme self-awareness that can include worries about being looked at. In general, however, these feelings disappear within a few months. However, if the fear persists or worsens, it can be diagnosed as rash.

Treatments

Like all phobias, fear of being watched responds well to a variety of brief treatment options. Your therapist will work with you to develop a treatment plan that addresses rash as well as any co-occurring disorders. Depending on the severity of your fear and any underlying problems, your treatment may last as little as three sessions or up to several months.

Scophobia can be life-limiting, gradually forcing sufferers to restrict their daily activities. However, with hard work and perseverance, it can be overcome. The benefits of treatment are well worth the time and energy required to successfully combat this phobia.