Monophobia, also known as autophobia, can be devastating. What starts as slight discomfort when alone or in an unfamiliar place can quickly turn into uncontrollable panic attacks, vomiting, physical and verbal outbursts and other severe symptoms. Catching monophobia while it is developing can make treatment much easier. However, due to the nature of the disorder, many people do not realize they have it until they are in the middle of a panic attack or experiencing unexplainable anxiousness.
Your choices for treatment are varied. While this can cause confusion on the best methods to use, this does provide a level of flexibility and affordability in improving or curing your condition. In many cases, experiences results is as simple as learning proper techniques to manage stress, anxiety and fear while making a few lifestyle changes. Diet and exercise are an important aspect of managing any anxiety disorder.
One of the key things to realize when attempting to manage an anxiety disorder on your own is that while your fear is involuntary, you do have control of your actions. Learning to notice the symptoms of an oncoming panic attack is a great place to start. For many, symptoms of an anxiety attack include nervousness, restlessness, shortness of breath, increased perspiration, variance in body temperature and mood swings. By recognizing the symptoms of your panic attacks, you can attempt to reduce their effects and prevent their escalation.
Common ways of reducing anxiety include meditation, deep breathing and creating a journal. Sometimes, just recognizing the symptoms alone can be enough to improve your response as you are prepared when the feeling strikes. As you gain control over your disorder, you can then work on exposing yourself to known triggers of anxiety and gauging your response. This is known as exposure therapy. While it is possible to do this on your own, having a friend or professional accompany and monitoring you during your progress can increase your personal safety and maximize results.
Medical methods of treating the fear of being alone also include cognitive behavioral therapy. In these sessions, a professional will help you to determine the root of your fears and create a program to help you confront these fears. While this is one of the more expensive methods for reducing the effects of monophobia, it is highly effective for many patients. However, this method can take months or even years to remove all symptoms of monophobia.