Isn’t being happy in life the goal of everyone, in their own way? Well, it seems. Some people would even be very anxious at this idea. This is the case when you have chérophobia, the phobia of being happy.
What is chérophobia?
Thus, against all odds, the fear of accessing happiness is a reality, known to psychologists.
“The phobia of happiness, or chérophobia, implies an irrational fear of being happy because of the belief that it will result in something bad”, details Alexander Alvarado, clinical psychologist in the magazine Well+good. People with chérophobia intrinsically associate happiness with negative, bad or dangerous thoughts. They do not just anticipate negative events, they associate them with the idea that they have happiness.
Chérophobia can then manifest itself in several ways:
- Positive emotions are not felt as pleasant;
- The avoidance of emotions in general, positive or not;
- Dissociation in certain situations;
- Rumination and obsessive thoughts on the association of happiness and evil or danger;
- Some depressive symptoms.
Where does this strange fear come from?
According to the Healthline site, several types of personalities could be affected by this fear of happiness.
- On the one hand, the introverts (because they do not think deserves it?) Would be more likely to experience it;
- Perfectionists can also develop chérophobia when they associate happiness with an unproductive experience;
- Finally, of course, this fear can also occur in people who try to protect themselves, following a conflict, a drama or a past trauma.
According to a study dating from 2019, people who have undergone trauma during childhood, including sexual violence, would be more concerned with this fear or the renunciation of happiness.
Finally, if this fear exists, it must be remembered: Chérophobia is not inevitable. It can in particular be treated thanks to cognitive behavioral therapy.