While there’s a list of phobias and anxiety disorders, today The Pioneer’s Tejal Sinha bring to you another such phobia called ‘pantophobia’ or ‘panobhobia’. We speak to experts about the concept of pantophobia, its causes, and the possible treatments for the same.
Imagine having a life where everything around you makes you panic, makes your heart race, or just generally puts you on the edge. Doesn’t it feel terrible and terrifying? But did you know there are people who actually live through it every single day?
Panophobia manifests itself as a fear of being stuck in traffic, going to work, shaking hands, or even eating outside food. A pantophobia, or fear of everything, may appear unusual, but it exists.
The phobia is not actually acknowledged as a single disorder but is seen more as what we call “generalised anxiety disorder” (GAD). Similar to other phobias, pantophobia encompasses extreme worry that bleeds into and impacts everyday life, making the quality of life suffer. As stated earlier, individuals with this phobia are more commonly diagnosed today with GAD due to the large amount of overlap in symptoms.
To understand more about it, we spoke to Aliza Virani Sayani, Therapist and Founder, outPSYED, who discloses, “Generally, what we use as a common basis — of course, there are different ways to do it — but a very common base that we use in today’s world to categorise mental health disorders is through the DSM-5, which is a diagnostic and statistical manual, and right now we are using the 5th version of it.
This is given by the APA (American Psychological Association), which is a very important body of work in the psychological world that sets out major guidelines around theoretical psychology, applied psychology, et.al.”
As we understand it, pantophobia (or panophobia in modern terms) is a type of generalised anxiety disorder. Are the two the same thing with different names?
Pantophobia comes from the root word “pan,” which means everything. That pretty much sums up my fear of everything. It was a very popular term that was used in the 80s and 90s. Now, as we modernised, did more research, and published version after version of the DSM-5, we classified disorders into different pockets.
Now we have anxiety and phobia-related disorders, under which generalised anxiety disorder falls. Now, as you look at GAD, it is no different from pantophobia or panobhobia. It is basically anxiety related to everything.These are not different; they are just almost exactly the same things; however, the term was not in use for a very long time and has now come back into use, thereby causing this confusion. So, to sum up, panphobia, pantophobia, or GAD are very similar in terms of the symptoms that the person experiences. With people unaware of the history of the APA, DSM, or classification, resulting in confusion.
Now, you might wonder how one can even become scared of everything. As we understand, there are people who might have a fear of everything. A question that might arise is: What could be the causes?
Dr. Sherlin Raj, a clinical psychologist, shares that there are two main causes that are the most likely reasons for developing or having this phobia:
Family history
Genetics, like many psychological and health disorders, is a good place to start explaining why someone may or may not have something. We are fairly familiar with certain illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s, which are unfortunately common hereditary diseases. Phobias, like pantophobia, are similar in that family history can also increase the likelihood, although a parent or grandparent will not pass down a phobia but rather genes related to anxiety. While there is no single gene that causes one to develop pantophobia, an individual can have genes related to anxiety that increase the likelihood of having this phobia.
Your environment
The environments we are in, such as our homes, schools, or communities, can also influence and increase the likelihood of having pantophobia, similar to how we pick up on routines or slang because of the places we frequent. While our families are incredibly influential, the schools we go to or went to as children can also influence our perceptions or cognitions, as well as our behaviors.
For example, we may have worn a certain style or liked certain things in school or when we were in school because those around us looked or liked certain things. Similarly, being around people who are generally anxious or perhaps even paranoid about things can consciously or unconsciously influence one’s own beliefs and behaviors.
Now comes the question of whether one could overcome or treat the phobia. Other phobias generally have a single object or situation that creates immense fear, but for pantophobia, there are a lot of objects or situations that can cause distress, so treatment may vary, requiring a combination of methods and repetitive treatment for all of the different negative stimuli.
The treatments include:
1) Medication: One has to first consult a psychologist. Individuals with pantophobia or other phobias may be prescribed anti-anxiety medications to alleviate some of the panic or stress created by their debilitating fears.
2) Lifestyle changes: Making lifestyle modifications can help people keep their worries and concerns under better control.Some examples of helpful changes to make include:
.Exercising regularly
.Eating a healthful diet
.Reducing exposure to stressors
.Prioritising issues and events
.Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or yoga
.Keeping a journal can help identify anxiety triggers and coping strategies.
.Avoiding alcohol and drugs, and limiting or avoiding nicotine or caffeine
.Setting a sleep schedule to ensure 7–9 hours of sleep per night
3) Stress-reduction practices: If you are familiar with yoga or meditation, you will know that both include relaxation practices and techniques meant to quiet the mind.The stress-reducing activities can also include self-regulating or self-calming practices, which are just as practical for individuals with Pantophobia.
