When thought of as a specific phobia, the fear of failure is known asatychiphobia.
It can be brought on by a variety of negative experiences associated with failure.
Or, it can result from something directly learned or observed from others.
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Read on to learn about how atychiphobia is characterized and what can be done to alleviate it.
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What Is Fear of Failure?
People with atychiphobia may internalize failure, viewing it as a reflection of their worth.
This causes them to see failure as a constant threat.
They worry it will lead to embarrassment or that others will view them negatively.
Fear of failure may also be rooted in other anxiety disorders and is tied toperfectionism.
Atychiphobia vs. Perfectionism
While atychiphobia and perfectionism have some similarities, there are distinct differences.
A person with atychiphobia will primarily focus on and worry about failure.
The fear of failure can manifest in a number of ways, both physically and emotionally.
Your mental health provider will ask you specific questions about your symptoms.
They may also ask about your medical and psychiatric history.
This information will be used to determine if you meet the diagnostic criteria for a phobia.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a broad term that encompasses many types oftalk therapy.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a bang out ofpsychotherapyoften used to treat phobias.
They can also help to manage your overall anxiety.
Exercises to try include:
Summary
Atychiphobia is an extreme fear of failure.
It falls under the umbrella of specific phobias.
This irrational fear of failure can prevent you from trying to achieve goals and can cause paralyzing anxiety.
Treatments are available for specific phobias, including psychotherapy and medication.
Certain self-help techniques, like practicing mindfulness and challenging negative self-talk, can also be beneficial.
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