What Is Chronophobia (Fear of Time) – Symptoms, Diagnostic and Treatment

Chronophobia is an anxiety disorder where an individual senses an extreme fear of passage of time. It is also related to the fear of timepieces like clocks and watches, chronomentrophobia.

In this article, all the essential aspects like diagnosis, risk factors and treatment procedures of chronophobia have been mentioned to promote awareness and ideas about better coping strategies. 

In this type of disorder, individuals go through severe discomfort when they think about an event that is associated with a timeline. They experience an irrational yet persistent anxiety about the passing of time. Moreover, they also develop a fear of dying early and feel anxious about getting old.

Chronophobia is an anxiety disorder that develops different physical as well as behavioural signs among individuals. Here are the common physical symptoms of chronophobia: 

• Anxiety or panic attack
• Difficulty in sleeping or insomnia
• Feeling dehydrated
• Nausea or vomiting 
• Excessive perspiration 
• Increased heart rate
• Constant feeling of nervousness

In addition to the signs as mentioned above, there are other behavioural changes that one undergoes upon developing chronophobia. 

• Sense of disorientation or feeling that time has slowed down or is speeding up
• A feeling of hopelessness about the future
• Avoiding milestone events 
• Avoiding to plan for the future
• Difficulty in meeting deadlines
• Constantly worrying about the future
• Anxious on the fact that it’s too late to achieve anything in particular

It is noticed that a person with chronophobia constantly feels anxious about events that have a date of dealing, for example, anniversaries, graduation dates, milestone birthdays, etc.

As anyone can develop chronophobia due to influences of environmental or internal factors, the exact causes of this disorder are unknown. Here are some of the potential causes of chronophobia that doctors identify among their patients. 

• External factors like natural disasters, pandemic, etc. – People who have encountered environmental calamities like sudden disasters or pandemic have a high chance of developing chronophobia. These factors often change their sense of time and are aggravated by certain situations like isolation or hospitalisation. 
• Underlying disability or illness – Individuals with an experience of chronic terminal disease or life-threatening injuries are prone to this fear of time. If this illness leads them to stay in bed or in hospital for a very long time, it will make them develop a feeling that they are missing out on important milestones and thereby losing valuable time in their lives, leading to chronophobia. 
• Incarceration - People kept in prison or in a small room for a prolonged period, especially in loneliness, may develop chronophobia in the later stages. Due to their condition of isolation for an extended period of time, they are likely to become claustrophobic and panicked, developing other mental health issues as well. 
• Underlying Mental Health Disorder (MHD) – Other causes of chronophobia are pre-existing mental health issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety or major depressive disorder, etc. 

Though it is challenging to quote the exact risk factors that can increase the chances of chronophobia, here are the potent factors that might enhance the risks. 

• Chronophobia may develop with age. Senior citizens facing any illness over a prolonged period have high possibilities to fear the factor that they have limited lifespan. 
• People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) tend to stress about multiple situations, making them feel anxious that they may not be accomplishing certain milestones and that they are running out of time.

Many external and internal factors can contribute to triggering the fear of time among individuals. Thinking about milestones in relation to events like holidays, graduations, anniversaries, etc., creates a sense of fear. 

Here are the following factors that can trigger the symptoms of chronophobia. 

• Not being able to control time and that time is passing by
• Fear of death or mortality
• Presence of underlying phobias 
• Overwhelming feelings about passing time
• Feeling that time is moving extremely slow

Other factors may trigger chronophobia among adults, and these factors may vary across individuals.

Apart from the symptoms and repercussions of chronophobia, here are the following complications that one with this phobia can face: 

• Mood disorder
• Heart palpitation
• Substance abuse disorder

To combat these additional ailments, it becomes quintessential to seek medical help and follow guidelines as prescribed by them.

It is important to visit healthcare professionals if the symptoms of chronophobia stay long and affect regular life activities. Upon visiting, the healthcare practitioner or therapist will ask different questions to understand the causes of anxiety related to time and assess the symptoms properly. 

In addition to this, the healthcare professional may take reference from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition or commonly known as DSM-5, for assessing the underlying criterion. The guideline mostly considers the following factors. 

• Whether the symptoms persisted beyond six months 
• How the anxiety of time interferes with different aspects of daily life
• What are the objects or situations that trigger chronophobia 

Based on this assessment and evaluation of conditions, a doctor will prepare a treatment program that will offer relief to the people dealing with this fear of time. 

There are a plethora of methods available for the treatment of chronophobia; however, it is important to comprehend which one will work best for one specific individual. To assess this, doctors try to identify the underlying symptoms and causes of this anxiety disorder. 

Here are the most prevalent treatment plans available for treating chronophobia. 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, or CBT, is a preferred treatment program by the therapist, as it has shown the highest success rates in treating anxiety-based disorders, as per clinical studies. In this treatment, a patient becomes familiar with negative outcomes of one’s fears by imagining himself or herself in presence of the feared object/event/feeling. 

The main goal is to develop self-awareness on the thoughts that are brewing one’s fear of passing time. In addition, this therapy helps one understand effective coping mechanisms and to devise the best possible ways to manage responses whenever one thinks about running out of time. 

• Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is one of the most common types of therapy for treating different kinds of phobias. In this type of therapy, a therapist will guide the patient in developing life skills to maintain a relaxed state while slowly exposing the patient to the feared object. This therapy aims to help individuals with phobias to face their fears. 

This is by learning effective strategies to gain better control over their emotions. The entire process takes place under medical supervision, and the hours where a patient remains exposed to the fear are gradually increased. Sometimes, the method of visualisation is also used in exposure therapy where a patient is asked to imagine their feared stimuli, which in this case, will be a situation involving a deadline or a milestone event. 

• Group Therapy or One-On-One Session

Many licensed mental health facilities offer therapy treatments in groups where individuals with similar phobias talk about their experiences. Sharing information related to their coping strategies will help other people struggling with the issue. 

In addition to this, the facility also offers one-on-one sessions or family therapy. By applying a combination of treatment therapies, a medical counsellor will find the best treatment that suits a particular individual. 

• Treatment Through Medication 

The cascading effects of chronophobia are sometimes also treated with medications. A lot of times, therapists prescribe benzodiazepines to provide relief from anxiety. Some other commonly prescribed medicines for anxiety are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs).  

However, it is important to consider that these medications may possess harmful side effects if consumed for a long run; hence must be consumed with proper medical guidance. 

• Changes in Lifestyle 

A medical counsellor may run a routine check on the lifestyle habits and practises of a patient dealing with chronophobia. For example, the anxiety and panic attacks arising due to the fear of passing time can be better managed by changing one’s lifestyle. 

Making healthy habits like exercising regularly, getting adequate sleep, and indulging oneself in creative activities will help elevate the mood and offer relaxation. 

It is essential to consult with medical professionals and seek their guidance when an individual has been facing symptoms of chronophobia for more than six months. Moreover, if the effects of this phobia are causing hindrances to one’s daily life routines, it indicates that medical supervision is needed to cure the problem.

To impart relaxation and lead a stress-free life, there are various coping strategies available that, a lot of times, therapists suggest. Here are a few coping and managing tips that can offer relaxation to an ultimate level: 

• Setting realistic goals and planning for the future to set milestones. To do this in a better way, one can set a vision board or practise journaling for better control of work. 
• Practising mindful training like meditation to relieve the mood is also effective
• Spending time practising breathing exercises or painting is a preferable technique for relaxation acclaimed globally
• Participating in group therapies and group activities with supportive people can help overcome one’s fear of time. 

Though it is difficult to manage the uncontrollable fear of passing time, this phobia is completely treatable with proper medical guidance. Moreover, following proper guidelines as prescribed by the behavioural therapists and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will reduce the anxiety caused by chronophobia.