Chronophobiais a persistent, intense fear of time or of time passing.
Sometimes its known simply as time anxiety.
They often feel distressed when thinking about the future or are preoccupied with watching the clock or calendar.
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Its not a specific diagnosis in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders”(DSM-5).
Instead, chronophobia may be classified as aspecific phobiaunder the larger umbrella of anxiety disorders.
They may have trouble meeting deadlines at school or work because they avoid checking times or dates.
If their fear of time becomes especially extreme, they might even isolate themselves from others completely.
A person with an intense fear of time might also experiencederealization.
How Common Are Specific Phobias?
PTSD is when someone is having a difficult time recovering after experiencing a deeply terrifying event.
Your therapist might also evaluate you based on the diagnostic criteria for mental health conditions such as PTSD.
Chronophobia and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Many medical professionals believe that time anxiety and PTSD are closely linked.
Treatment
Treatment for chronophobia usually involves psychotherapy from a qualified mental health provider.
This fear is a bang out of anxiety disorder known as a specific phobia.
People with chronophobia experience symptoms of panic and anxiety when faced with reminders of the passage of time.
This sometimes leads them to develop avoidance behaviors, such as excluding themselves from social gatherings or milestone events.
Effective treatments include psychotherapy and medication in some cases.
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