Gamophobia Explained: How to Recognize and Conquer the Fear of Marriage

Marriage is a lovely way to live. It allows two people to connect and share their personalities, which enhances the beauty of life. However, did you know that many of them are afraid of getting married or committing to someone for life? Why do they feel afraid? Let’s investigate!!

Gamophobia is a dread of commitment and marriage. Excessive and ongoing fear of being in a relationship, committing or getting married are its defining characteristics. It can hinder a person’s capacity to carry out daily tasks and make it challenging to build relationships with others. Gamophobia is characterised by dread that is excessive in relation to the real threat or danger, just like other forms of phobias. These are chronic symptoms that last for many years.  

What is gamophobia?

Gamophobia is a fear of marriage and commitment. It is characterised by an excessive and persistent fear of being in a relationship, making a commitment or getting married to a person. This fear is so intense that they often find it impossible to have long-term relationships. Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. They result from having extreme thoughts or fears about things that are not truly harmful. People with gamophobia are unable to form lasting intimate relationships, and they experience extreme anxiety when they see happily committed couples. They also push people away or end relationships abruptly.  

How is gamophobia caused?

Gamophobias are caused due to the influence of factors like:

• Parental discord
• Previous heartbreaks
• Fear of missing out
• Cultural or religious pressures
• Fear of changing lifestyle
• Difficulty in adapting to new lifestyles and changes

What are the symptoms of gamophobia?

The symptoms of gamophobia include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Excessive sweating
• Heart palpitations
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling or shaking
• Dyspepsia

What are the complications of gamophobia?

Gamophobia is difficult to diagnose. Many do not know that they have this condition. Hence, it will be challenging to get proper treatment. When it is left untreated and becomes unnoticeable, it leads to many complications like:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidal thoughts
• Panic disorder
• Additions to certain substances like drugs, alcohol and smoking
• Loneliness
• Fear  

How is gamophobia diagnosed?

A mental health assessment is used by medical professionals to diagnose gamophobia. A precise test to detect gamophobia does not exist. Inquiries regarding the symptoms, mental health history and existence of other phobias will be made by the healthcare practitioners. They might suggest that you see a mental health specialist who focuses on anxiety disorders and phobias.  

What are the treatments for gamophobia?

Let’s look into the treatment methods for gamophobia:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy: It is a psychotherapy that aims to help people to overcome the fear of commitment. They help you to change the negative perceptions of marriage and commitment into positive ones.  
• Exposure therapy: It teaches how to use relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises and meditation to manage anxiety and depression. They make you feel comfortable about being in a relationship.  

Conclusion

To conclude, gamophobia is a fear of having a marriage or committing to one person. It is characterised by excessive and persistent fear of romantic relationships, commitment and marriage. It can make it more difficult to establish relationships with other people and impair one’s ability to lead a quality life. It is typified by an exaggerated sense of dread in comparison to the actual threat or situation. It can be treated by many therapies and counselling.