Fear of marriage is spreading rapidly among young people

In general, phobias negatively affect daily life. Stating that there are 400 different types of phobias in the literature according to psychologists, Psychologist Rabia Bağcı pointed out that gametophobia, or the fear of marriage, has been spreading rapidly recently.

''GAMETOPHOBIA IS MORE COMMON IN WOMEN''

While a phobia is defined as a situation where the fear felt toward something negatively affects an individual's daily life, these situations are accepted as a phobia if they are experienced for 6 months or longer.

Stating that gametophobia in particular can negatively affect one's entire life, Psychologist Rabia Bağcı said, “Those with gametophobia may experience extreme anxiety while a relationship is ongoing and may have intense apprehension about it ending. Suddenly ending the relationship or distancing oneself from people may occur.”

Expressing that the general cause of the fear of marriage and commitment is thought to stem from past traumas, and that it is actually a situation where the individual creates a kind of protective shield for themselves, Psychologist Rabia Bağcı said that there can be many causes for gametophobia.

Stating that gametophobia is generally seen more in women than in men, Psychologist Rabia Bağcı continued as follows:

“If phobic individuals have a childhood history with parents who had poor communication, they may experience anxiety due to avoidance or fear; or, if their parents have a very happy marriage in terms of communication and relationships, they may experience anxiety with thoughts that they themselves will not be able to be that happy. Young people may also experience this situation as a result of traditional or religious pressures from many families for their children who want to enter or have entered the marriage process.”

Providing information that different types of phobias are also seen in individuals experiencing a fear of marriage, Psychologist Bağcı listed these phobias as: Philophobia (fear of love), Genophobia (fear of sexual intercourse/intimacy), and Pistanthrophobia (fear of trusting others or being hurt by someone you love).

TREATMENT PROCESS

Emphasizing that there is no specific test for diagnosing gametophobia and that an accurate diagnosis is necessary for treatment, Psychologist Rabia Bağcı said, “A diagnosis cannot be made easily. An interview is conducted with the individual, and other phobias, if any, are asked about. There are conditions that must be present for a diagnosis. These include: sudden anxiety reactions, having boundaries in different areas of social and personal life, and resisting or avoiding the fear felt over extreme distress. If these situations have been present for at least 6 months and they are not caused by other problems such as OCD or social anxiety disorder, a phobia diagnosis can be made. In cases where depression and anxiety accompany gametophobia, medication may be required so that the individual does not experience disruptive problems in their daily life. Gametophobia can only be treated by receiving support from an expert.”

News Source: İHA