Ochlophobia

Ochlophobia, enochlophobia and demophobia are terms for types of social phobia or social anxiety disorder whose sufferers have a fear of crowds. In severe cases it manifests itself as a paralyzing fear that results in the sufferer avoiding anxiety-raising situations (running from the situation), having tantrums, crying, excessive sweating, freezing, excessive blushing, or stammering continuously. Sufferers may offer various rationalizations of the phobia, such as the fear being trampled in a crowd, getting a deadly disease from people within the crowd, getting lost in the crowd, or feeling insignificant when surrounded by a crowd.

People who are shy and introverted are most likely to experience ochlophobia. But not all introverted people have anxiety problems. Most people with the phobia feel unsafe around a lot of strangers, are just naturally very shy individuals, are afraid of being hunted by the news media, or feel the emotions of the people around them. Ochlophobic people are usually unable to handle situations involving two or more other people, dating, parties, going to theaters, going to movie theaters, going to sports games, or going to the mall.

External Links

• Support Group Providers for Ochlophobia at Curlie