Kerophobia is the irrational fear of being happy. The term comes from the Greek word “chero”, which means “to rejoice.”
When a person experiences kerophobia, they are often afraid to participate in activities that many would describe as fun or that give a feeling of happiness. The truth is that it has not yet been investigated or clearly defined, as this disorder is not yet included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to diagnose mental health conditions.
What are the symptoms of kerophobia?
Some experts classify kerophobia as a form of anxiety disorder . In this case, anxiety is related to participation in activities that make us happy.
Is a person with kerophobia always sad? No way. Only avoid activities that can lead to happiness or joy, for example a party, a concert or a meal with friends. The person with kerophobia rejects all those opportunities that could lead to positive changes in life due to the fear that something bad will happen. If any sounds like fun, they will walk away from it.
Some of the key thoughts a person with kephobia may have include:
– Being happy will mean that something bad will happen to me (something good is followed by something bad)
– Happiness makes you a bad person or a worse person.
– Showing that you are happy is bad for you or for your friends and family.
– Trying to be happy is a waste of time and effort.
What are the causes of kerophobia?
Sometimes kerophobia can be due to the belief that if something very good happens to a person, or if their life is going well, it is also destined for something negative / bad to happen next. As a result, they may fear activities related to happiness because they believe that this can prevent something bad from happening. This is often the case when someone has experienced a physical or emotional traumatic event in the past.
An introvert may also be more likely to experience this phobia, preferring activities alone or with at most two people at the same time. They may feel intimidated or uncomfortable in group settings, noisy places, and crowded spaces.
Perfectionists may also be associated with querofobia. Those who are perfectionists may feel that happiness is a trait only of lazy or unproductive people. As a result, they avoid all activity associated with happiness.
What are the treatments for kerophobia?
Because kerophobia has not been extensively detailed or studied as a separate disorder, there are no FDA-approved drugs or other definitive treatments to treat the condition. However, some suggested treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation strategies such as deep breathing, journaling or exercise, or exposure to events that bring about happiness as a means of helping a person identify that happiness is not why have adverse effects on our life.
