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Enochlophobia refers to the fear of crowds.
Not everyone who feels uncomfortable in a crowd lives with enochlophobia.
Fortunately, effective treatments can help you manage your fear of crowds.
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How Is the Fear of Crowds Diagnosed?
What Causes a Fear of Crowds?
However, there are certain factors that are more likely to be causal when it comes to this phobia.
These are listed below.
Specific Phobia
Enochlophobia might be diagnosed as aspecific phobiaif it meets the criteria in the DSM-5.
In addition, even thinking about an upcoming situation where you might face your phobia causes anxiety.
Specific phobias generally develop in childhood or adolescence and last a lifetime if not treated.
These disorders are more common in women, and many people have more than one phobia.
Ochlophobia & Demophobia
Ochlophobia is the fear of mobs.
It is not a specific diagnosable illness but rather a term used to describe this fear.
Similarly, demophobia is a fear of masses of people.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorderrefers to the fear of being embarrassed or judged by people.
It can be generalized and applied to all situations or specific to performance situations only.
Let’s consider each of these below.
It can also involve desensitization to work on your physical reactions to crowds.
Medication
Anti-anxiety medicationmight also be prescribed if your anxiety is severe and impacting your life.
You might be prescribed either a short-term or long-term medication depending on your symptoms and particular needs.
Coping With the Fear of Crowds
What can you do on your own to cope with enochlophobia?
If it feels helpful to you, bring someone along whom you trust.
Choose someone who will be understanding and not judge you if you better leave.
American Psychiatric Association (APA).Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
5th ed, text revision.
Washington, D.C.; 2022.
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
2014;44(11):23752384. doi:10.1017/S0033291713003012
National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.
