Zelophobia

Zelophobia (from Greek zelo, "jealousy") is the fear of jealousy. Some people who suffer from zelophobia are so severely impacted that they repress all emotions. This can lead to the individual feeling no emotions at all which may lead to more detrimental mental health problems. Typical to most phobias, the person suffering with zelophobia has experienced some form of trauma during their life. That event is then associated with the worry of jealousy and the expression of strong emotions. For example, a zelophobe may have experienced trauma as a child that was intensely emotional and verbally aggressive. This child could have also been taught to repress emotion. There’s also the possibility that the child grew up with or saw others who were unable to express emotions and learned that way.

Whatever the particular cause, the zelophobic individual can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that is completely disruptive to day by day functioning. Zelophobia symptoms are will vary from person to person. Some people, when confronted with their fear, could feel a bit uncomfortable, turn out to be nauseated or begin to perspire. At the intense end of the spectrum, other individuals are so severely compromised by this phobia, that they expertise full blown nervousness and/or panic attacks. Other symptoms of zelophobia can include dry mouth, breathlessness, heightened senses, feeling dizzy, muscle tension, trembling, rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation, a feeling of being out of control, feeling trapped and unable to escape, and an overwhelming feeling of impending disaster.