What is Athazagoraphobia (Phobia of Being Forgotten): Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis

Athazagoraphobia involves an irrational or intense fear of being forgotten or forgetting something or someone. For example, a person may develop the fear of forgetting one’s loved ones after suffering from Alzheimer's disease or after losing one’s memory. 

One may also grow the fear of being forgotten by a loved one who is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Read on for further details on the causes, symptoms,  diagnosis and treatment options of Athazagoraphobia!

Most people desire for their loved ones to remember them. But if the thought of forgetting someone or something or of being forgotten by a person creates panic, anxiety and discomfort in a person to such an extent that it hampers daily activities and exists for a prolonged time period then it is considered to be a phobia. 

In addition, it may also develop the fear of getting replaced or ignored. It is a part of social phobia that induces stress, anxiety or panic at just the thought of being forgotten.

Anxiety is a common symptom that an individual with this phobia experiences in most prevalent cases. However, other symptoms of Athazagoraphobia may vary depending on the severity of the fear that one is suffering from. The mix of physical and emotional symptoms seen in people involves:

• Body aches.
• Dizziness.
• Panic attacks.
• Increased heart rate followed by high blood pressure.
• Depression.
• Sweating, etc.

Though it is difficult to identify an exact cause of Athazagoraphobia, mental health experts believe it is linked to genetic and environmental factors. For example:

• You have a childhood trauma of being lonely.
• There is a close relative in the family with dementia or other memory-related issues.
• You have a sensitive nature or are shy or an introvert.

Certain risk factors of Athazagoraphobia may trigger a stress response in the concerned person, also known as the 'fight or flight’ response. These include:

• Genetics: Genes passed down by biological parents play a vital role in developing phobia and other anxiety disorders.
• Direct Experience: You have a traumatic experience in the past involving the case of someone forgetting you, abandoning you, leaving you alone, or the loss of a parent or caregiver.
• Observed Experience: You can also develop this phobia if you have witnessed people around you having the same fear. 
• Experience Through Exposure: Exposing oneself to caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or dementia can also increase the risk of this phobia.

People with this disorder may fear health complications like:

• Debilitating stress.
• Anxiety.
• A full-blown panic attack.

However, one experiences such severity only when individuals with the phobia confront their fear.

Doctors test Athazagoraphobia based on the symptoms visible in a person. So, a medical practitioner may ask you about the signs you experience when exposed to situations of fear. 

Apart from this, the medical expert may also review your medical history alongside the family history and ask probing questions related to childhood trauma, family conditions and other associated factors. This is to help identify the primary causes of Athazagoraphobia in the affected individual. You must take the help of a trained mental health professional to overcome the phobia. A professional will often help you by:

• Discussing what is causing the distress.
• Helping you learn more about your phobia and how to avoid triggers.
• Pointing out if certain underlying health conditions are adding to the fear.
• Chalking out effective strategies to identify triggers and prevent the onset of fear.

There are different types of treatment for Athazagoraphobia, so doctors create individual plans keeping in mind the specific symptoms visible and unique needs in a patient. However, it generally includes a combination of the following methods:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): It is a type of talk therapy in which a mental health expert tries to rectify one's behaviour or way of thinking. As a result, people are able to identify and correct their maladaptive thinking patterns. This, in turn, changes their behaviour towards a specific phobia. 
• Mindfulness: It is a meditation-based practice involving individuals to be fully present in the moment. This imparts the skills to manage anxiety and fear better.  
• Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy is a primary treatment that experts offer to treat phobias that persist for years. The process involves exposing patients to their fear safely under expert supervision until they overcome it. Then, with continuous practice, the level of fear reduces.
• Medication: Doctors also provide different medications to control the symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental disorders. Thus, it mainly includes anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

There is a high chance of children getting affected by this phobia in their early teens or late adolescence. Moreover, after developing it, the fear remains persistent and usually lasts for a period of six months or more if left untreated.

People with this fear often feel anxious and worried. However, it is time to consult a doctor when this feeling extends over a long period of time, becomes chronic and starts hampering your daily life.

Athazagoraphobia is common and thus doesn’t require treatment if they are under control. However, in some cases, anxiety starts to place a negative impact on one’s life. In this case, a few tips and healthy practices can help one cope with the fear better. 

These include incorporating the following in one’s daily routine:

• Aromatherapy.
• Focused breathing techniques.
• Exercise or yoga.
• Balanced diet.
• Writing a diary, etc.

        Thankfully, there are effective treatment methods that doctors suggest to overcome this fear which has been discussed above. 

One can follow the same and other coping tips and techniques to deal with one’s fear in an effective way.