Are you afraid of being too happy?

What is Cherophobia?

It is a phobia where a person has an irrational aversion to being happy. Someone suffering from the symptoms of Cherophobia are often afraid to participate in activities that many would characterise as fun, or of being happy.

What are the symptoms of Cherophobia?

Some medical experts classify it as a form of anxiety disorder. Anxiety is an irrational or heightened sense of fear related to the perceived threat. People suffering from Cherophobia have heightened levels of anxiety associated with taking part in activities that would be thought to make you happy.

Not everyone suffering from Cherophobia is a sad person, they just choose to avoid getting involved in activities that could lead to happiness. For example:

  • experiencing anxiety at the thought of going to a social event, such as a party or concert
  • turning down opportunities that could lead to positive life changes as they are worried that something bad will follow
  • refusal to join in any activities that the many other people would consider to be fun and enjoyable.

People who experience Cherophobia may feel the following:

  • Being happy will mean something bad will happen to them
  • Being happy means you a bad or worse person
  • Trying to be happy is a waste of time and effort.

What are the causes of Cherophobia?

Sometimes Cherophobia can be formed from the belief that if something very good happens to a person, or if their life is going well, that a bad event is destined to happen. As a result, they may fear activities related to happiness because they believe they can prevent something bad from happening. This is often the case when someone has experienced a past physical or emotional traumatic event.

An introvert may be more likely to experience Cherophobia. An introvert is a person who typically prefers to do activities alone or with one to two people at a time. They’re often seen as reflective and reserved. They may feel intimidated or uncomfortable in group settings, loud places, and places with a lot of people.

Perfectionists are another personality type that may be associated with Cherophobia.  They may feel that happiness is a trait only of lazy or unproductive people. As a result, they may avoid activities that could bring happiness to them because these activities are seen as unproductive.

How can Hypnotherapy help people with Cherophobia?

Cherophobia often develops when people try to protect themselves, this may stem from a past conflict, tragedy, or trauma. If Cherophobia is affecting your quality of life, seeking treatment can often help you develop a more positive outlook on life.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help this process by helping a person to recognise their previous negative patterns of behaviour. Through the use of hypnosis a person can identify and create new and more positive patterns of behaviour enabling your life to move forward without this fear holding you back.

If you would like to discuss this further please contact me on 07800 907163 or via my website at www.oaktreehypnotherapy.com.