No matter how self-confident a person is, the opinions of others will still excite him. The lower the self-esteem, the more likely the person will face the fear of being ridiculed. Any even harmless remark addressed to him will be perceived as a mockery. This can negatively affect his self-esteem and cause a storm of unpleasant emotions. Read more about what catagelophobia is and how to cope with the fear of being ridiculed in the material.
How catagelophobia manifests itself
Catagelophobia, like any other mental disorder, is accompanied by a number of symptoms. People who are faced with the fear of being ridiculed may experience the following unpleasant sensations at the time of an exacerbation of the disorder:
- increased sweating;
- tremor in the legs and arms;
- cardiopalmus;
- redness or blanching of the skin;
- pupil dilation;
- jumps in blood pressure.
At the same time, a neglected form of catagelophobia can lead to the fact that a person begins to feel inferior and tries to reduce the number of social contacts to a minimum. And this will lead to a halt in development and deprive the ordinary joys of life.
Why catagelophobia occurs
The fear of being ridiculed by a close environment or a stranger can appear for various reasons. Here are the main ones.
Bad experiences from the past
Fear of being ridiculed can also arise from the fact that in the past a person has experienced an unpleasant situation. Especially often this is faced by people who find it difficult to resist stress and external stimuli.
childhood trauma
Traumatic events experienced in childhood can also lead to the development of catagelophobia. At the same time, a person may not remember what happened in his life, but an unpleasant situation will be postponed in the subconscious.
Imposed fear
Since a person is influenced by society, catagelophobia can arise as a result of information received from outside. For example, from relatives, friends or from the media.
Depressed state
A person suffering from mental illness may also experience a fear of being ridiculed. At the same time, only a specialist is able to diagnose the disease. It is not worth it to attribute serious problems to yourself.
Genetic aspect
Fear is a basic reaction that is designed to protect us in a dangerous situation. But if a person has experienced catagelophobia, it may be a sign that one of their ancestors also experienced it.
How to deal with the fear of being ridiculed
Dealing with catagelophobia on your own can be tricky. But if you are determined to get rid of a phobia, first of all you need to familiarize yourself with the psychological methods that experts offer to solve the problem. Here are the main ones:
Develop a sense of humor
A good sense of humor is a skill that is needed in order to get rid of the fear of being ridiculed. To develop it, you should expand your horizons and work on negative thinking. A few more tips that will help develop a sense of humor are collected in the material.
Work on self-esteem
The more healthy self-esteem a person has, the less he cares about the words and actions of others. If you find that you don’t love yourself enough, try to correct this situation. The most effective way to do this is to seek help from a specialist.
Try a compensation method
Some people who feel they are being mocked have an urge to fight back. Reciprocal sharp phrases and actions are needed so that others understand what manner of speaking their opponent does not accept.
And despite the fact that many consider the method of compensation controversial, at first it can help to cope with the fear of being ridiculed.
So, if you feel like someone is moderately trying to make fun of you, don’t be afraid to tell the person directly that you’re unhappy about it. Your firm position will allow him to understand that for further dialogue he must change the manner of speech.
Fight with complexes
Complexes are a set of distortions that are present in a person’s perception of himself. To get rid of them, you need to learn how to give yourself the right attitudes and get rid of unnecessary reasons for worrying.
It is equally important in the fight against complexes to learn to accept your own shortcomings. Remember that every person has flaws that others pay much less attention to than himself.
Learn to laugh at yourself
Psychologists believe that the ability to laugh at yourself is a skill that every person should possess. It helps to accept yourself and gain confidence. In addition, the ability to laugh at yourself can be used as a shield in cases where you are overcome by the fear of being ridiculed.
Read related:Why there is a need for recognition and whether it should be suppressed
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