What is Gamophobia (Fear of Commitment): Symptoms, Causes, More

Are you currently seeing someone but still fear commitment or marriage?

If only thinking about marriages or commitment makes you sweaty, leaves you dizzy, increases your heartbeat, then you might be having Gamophobia. Meanwhile, Gamophobia could be mentally and physically exhausting; it can disturb your romantic relationship as well. Let’s learn about Gamophobia, its symptoms, causes, and how to overcome it.

What is Gamophobia?

Fear of commitment or marriage is named Gamophobia. Gamophobia means having continuous fear of being committed in a relationship, making commitments, or getting married. When feelings of getting married or committed make you anxious, it makes it difficult to form healthy relationships with your partners or other people. After some time, it starts affecting your daily life as well.

Research shows that around 12.5% of adults in the USA experience phobia at some point. Meanwhile, I couldn’t find the exact number of Gamophobia because somewhere, it got connected with other phobias like:

• Fear of intimacy
• Fear of abandonment
• Fear of trust

Causes of Gamophobia

Research shows that Gamophobia develops in early life. It can be caused due to multiple situations. One single cause cannot determine the development of Gamophobia. Talking about situations, responses can also be learned responses after observing the unhealthy relationship between parents or other family members.

Meanwhile, Gamophobia could also develop due to experienced trauma such as the divorce of parents or abuse. When people are grown up by experiencing a toxic or unhealthy marriage or a conflicted marriage, they are likely to develop a fear of commitment or marriage.

Additionally, research also shows that it can also develop due to genetic predisposition to anxiety.

Moreover, poor attachment styles in childhood can also develop this fear. Children who are raised by caregivers form secure attachment styles and meanwhile, children whose needs are unmet form insecure attachment styles. Both attachment styles are related to difficulty in forming healthy relationships, fear of being abandoned, or rejecting the idea of being married or in a committed relationship.

Symptoms of Gamophobia

Gamophobia is not only about being hesitant or cautious about making commitments. A person who experiences this phobia faces difficulty in accepting reality as well. Signs and symptoms of Gamophobia could be:

• Avoiding commitments
• Distancing themselves from loved ones
• Breaking up
• Avoiding dating
• Life is organized around fear of commitment
• Keeps on making escape plans from relationships
• Feels depressed or anxious about relationships

Additionally, they can experience physical signs as well, like:

• Choking
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Increased heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Nausea
• Flushing

If you or your loved ones are having such feelings for more than 6 months, you can consider that you or your loved one might be having Gamophobia. Keep reading this blog to conclude fear of commitment.

Diagnosis of Gamophobia

As of now, Gamophobia is not listed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). In order to be diagnosed or get treated, make sure that the person is having such symptoms for more than 6 months.

Before concluding anything on your own, make sure you’re seeking the help of a professional because such symptoms can be related to other disorders as well such as Social anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therefore, seeking help from mental health providers is important.

If you wish to connect with a certified and experienced mental health provider from BetterHelp, click here.

Treatment for Gamophobia

Below are some available treatment options for Gamophobia:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of psychotherapy that works by replacing negative thoughts and placing them with positive thoughts.

2. Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy is a type of treatment that helps people by making them more comfortable with forming relationships and commitments by exposing them to fear. Exposure therapy teaches relaxation techniques like visualization, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation.

3. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a type of therapy wherein the therapist works on the trauma by establishing engagement with the eye movements. It is the most effective therapy for decreasing traumatic memory.

Coping Strategies for Gamophobia

After getting diagnosed and during the treatment of fear of commitment or marriage, you can also adapt the below-mentioned coping strategies.

• Accept your past and move on.
• Recognize your needs and work on them.
• Maintain a journal
• Try relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, deep breathing, and more.

I hope this blog helps you with understanding Gamophobia. Comment down your views on the same. For more such content, connect with us on all social media platforms.

Thanks for reading!