The days, the hours, the minutes… Time passes at an overwhelming speed and, although we would like to, we cannot do anything to change this situation. There are those who do not hesitate to face life for what it is, an opportunity, face the clock and take advantage of this stay in the world by doing what really makes them happy. A way of seeing the present and the future where Covid-19 and all that it entailed for society has been decisive.
However, not everyone can handle not being in control. A frustration that can often become an obsession that has no limits and can have an impact on day-to-day life, even on the way we relate and communicate with others. It is what is known as cronofobia.
“Chronophobia is a specific phobia which consists of an irrational and excessive fear of the passage of time”says Javier Álvarez, psychologist and member of Top Doctors. Those who suffer from it tend to become obsessed with the clock, with the passage of time and with the calendar. And such is the dependency that it can lead them to isolate themselves, becoming socially isolated. “It is related to the perspective of the speed of time, whether due to age, illness or beliefs, the fear of getting old or everything related to illness and death,” he adds.
What are the causes of chronophobia?
Although there is no “agreement” on the causes, according to Álvarez himself, there are many theories that have seen the light and despite their discrepancies, they all point to “a genetic origin”, to traumatic experiences from the past or beliefs mostly irrational reasons that have given rise to this fear over time, to this phobia.
Likewise, Álvarez himself, taking his own cases as a reference, highlights the frustration as one of the great triggers. “Many people are living wanting the latest thing we see on social networks or audiovisual media, whether it’s the latest mobile phone, being thinner, another master’s degree, a better car, traveling… and the worst thing is that we want it “now”, he points out , pointing out that this renunciation of not achieving it, at least not at the moment in which we want it, can lead to high anxiety for having the feeling of not having enough time for it
the signs and symptoms more common
It is a phobia that we would associate with “the anxiety family”, as the psychologist explains, for this reason, the symptoms that are most repeated are associated with this disorder. “Anxiety has three large groups depending on how it influences each person,” he explains and points out:
- Physical symptoms: feeling dizzy, dry mouth, tachycardia, blurred vision, gastrointestinal problems, nervousness, agitation, sweating…
- Cognitive symptoms: Dissociation, recurring thoughts, not being able to stop thinking, intrusive thoughts, irrational thoughts, difficulty concentrating…
- Behavioral symptoms: Motor activation, motor slowdown, irritability, apathy…
Is it possible to treat chronophobia?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is one of the most effective treatments that exist and is the one indicated by the Top Doctors psychologist to treat a phobia such as chronophobia. “It will be focused on working on two areas, physiological symptoms and irrational beliefs”manifest.
While the first focuses on techniques focused on breathing and control, determinants of increased anxiety, the second would involve working with “intrusive thoughts, recurring thoughts and fears of each person.” In the case of reaching high levels of anxiety, this psychological therapy could be completed with pharmacological treatment.
As a recommendation, the expert points out the mindfulnesswith increasingly better results within mental health.
