Autophobia, or monophobia, makes you feel extremely anxious when you’re alone. This fear of being alone can affect your relationships, social life and career. You may also have a fear of abandonment that stems from a traumatic childhood experience. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) can help you overcome a fear of being alone.
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People who have autophobia have an irrational, extreme fear of being alone. A person may experience this fear when they’re alone.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Some people may have autophobia even when they’re with other people. In this case, the fear centers on worries about isolation. They may feel alone in a crowd. Or they may worry about people leaving them, or having to go home and be alone.
Other terms for fear of being alone include:
When you’re lonely, you feel unhappy or sad about the quantity or quality of social connections in your life.
When you have autophobia, you feel anxious or scared when you’re alone or when you think about being alone. You feel this way regardless of how many loved ones and friends are in your life.
Phobias are a common anxiety disorder. They cause you to become afraid of something that isn’t truly harmful. Autophobia is a specific phobic disorder. With it, you’re fearful about situations where you’re alone.
It’s hard knowing exactly how many people have a specific phobia, like autophobia. Many people may keep this fear to themselves or may not recognize they have it. We do know that about 1 in 10 American adults and 1 in 5 teenagers will deal with a specific phobia disorder at some point in their lives, though.
Risk factors for autophobia and specific phobic disorders include:
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Phobias often start in childhood. Some people can trace their fear of being alone to a negative or traumatic experience.
Potential autophobia causes include:
People who experience specific phobic disorders like autophobia are usually aware that the fear isn’t rational. Still, they’re unable to control their physical reactions when they find themselves in certain situations.
Autophobia affects everyone differently. You may feel unsafe unless you’re with other people. Being alone may bring on intense feelings of sadness, dread or anxiety.
If you have a fear of being alone, symptoms may also include:
Autophobia (monophobia) isn’t a recognized phobic disorder in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Still, a mental health professional like a psychologist can diagnose phobias based on symptoms.
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Criteria for a specific phobic disorder diagnosis include:
Exposure therapy successfully helps most people overcome specific phobic disorders. Your healthcare provider may also use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
These two methods of psychotherapy (talk therapy) focus on:
Anti-anxiety medicines or blood pressure drugs like beta-blockers may help temporarily as you work to overcome the fear of being alone. You might not need medications after you complete therapy.
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It isn’t practical to expect someone to always be with you. It can affect your self-esteem, career, relationships and social life. You may find yourself staying in an unhealthy or even abusive relationship to avoid being alone. You may demand that friends or family don’t leave, which can harm relationships. Or you may obsessively check up on a partner out of fear of being left.
In addition, autophobia increases your risk for:
You should call your healthcare provider if you experience:
You may want to ask your healthcare provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Fear of being alone (autophobia, or monophobia) can have a negative impact on your relationships and your ability to work. Phobias are treatable and not something you need to live with. Psychotherapies like exposure therapy and CBT can help you overcome this fear so you can enjoy your own company more.
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Last reviewed on 03/22/2022.
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