Does running make you anxious? You may ask, “Is there a name for the fear of running?” This apprehension is called Tachophobia. It seems unexpected, doesn’t it? But it’s a genuine condition that significantly impacts individuals.
This article illuminates this particular phobia, explaining its roots, symptoms, and strategies for conquering it.
I’m Dr. David D. Burns, with numerous years of psychiatric expertise assisting individuals overcome their fears and anxieties at Stanford University School of Medicine. My methodology combines scientific principles with empathy to aid your path to recovery and courage.
Let’s examine this hand in hand and devise strategies to push ahead sans fear.
Definition of the Fear of Running
The fear of running has a name – Tachophobia. It means getting scared when having to move fast or seeing others do so.
Known as Tachophobia
Tachophobia is a distinct phobia. It induces intense fear in individuals when they move rapidly or envision swift motions. This apprehension can lead to significant disturbances in day-to-day living.
Individuals dealing with tachophobia might evade not just running but anything that appears excessively fast for them.
I once encountered an individual who experienced dizziness and fear upon stepping onto an escalator. Their heart would beat rapidly and sometimes, they were compelled to sit down instantly.
They couldn’t comprehend the situation until we discussed tachophobia in one of my seminars. They discovered that their panic attacks were associated with this fear of speed.
Confronting our fears requires bravery, but it’s the initial step in conquering them.
Causes of Tachophobia
The fear of running, or tachophobia, often starts from past scary events or stress in the mind. To learn more, keep reading.
Psychological triggers
Psychological triggers play a big role in the fear of running. Brains see fast movements as danger. This makes people feel scared without a real reason. It’s like how some folks are afraid of spiders even if they’ve never been bitten.
I have seen many patients with fears that seem odd but are very real to them. Through therapy, we find out that these fears often start with something small. Maybe they tripped while running as a child or heard stories that made them view speed as bad.
These experiences can make their brain link running with danger, leading to tachophobia later in life.
Traumatic past experiences
Unfortunate events, such as automobile accidents, can induce specific phobias in individuals. This enduring fear is known as tachophobia. Research indicates that these alarming incidents can alter our subsequent perceptions and feelings.
When an individual experiences significant harm or encounters an unpleasant situation, they may develop a fear of running. They associate it with the recurrence of unpleasant memories.
Their body instinctively aim to shield them, resisting rapid or sudden movements. This explains why some people develop a strong apprehension towards speedy movements following an unsettling experience.
Symptoms of Tachophobia
People with Tachophobia might feel sick thinking about running. They could also get panic attacks seeing fast movements. Read on to learn more.
Physical discomfort at the thought of running
Feeling bad just thinking about running is a real thing for some people. They might get upset stomachs or feel like their heart is racing. This can happen even before they start to run.
It’s part of having tachophobia, which means being scared of moving fast. For these folks, the idea alone causes much stress.
This fear makes them want to stay away from activities or places where they might have to run or move quickly. It’s not just about being lazy; it’s an intense worry that keeps them from doing things they might enjoy or need to do for their health.
Panic attacks when exposed to fast movements
Seeing things move quickly can make some people feel very scared. This fear can cause panic attacks. These are moments when someone feels a lot of fear all at once. The heart races, they sweat, find it hard to breathe, and cannot think clearly.
It might feel like having a heart attack. People with this problem don’t know when these scary moments will happen.
Next, we talk about how this fear affects everyday life.
Impact on Daily Life
Tachophobia can make simple tasks hard. People might avoid sports, social events, or even going to work. This fear takes over their life in big ways. If this sounds like you or someone you know, learning more could be the first step to getting better.
Avoidance of certain activities or places
People with phobias often stay away from certain places or activities. This is because these things make them feel very scared or anxious. For example, someone with agoraphobia might avoid large open spaces or crowded places.
Similarly, if someone has social anxiety disorder, they may not want to go to parties or public events.
Avoidance behaviors are a response to fear and anxiety.
In my work, I’ve seen how avoiding things can really change a person’s life. They might miss out on fun times with friends or even struggle at work. It’s important for them to get help so they can start joining in again without feeling afraid.
Challenges in professional and personal environments
Tachophobia can make work or school hard. You might skip places where running or fast movement happens. This fear disrupts your life. Up to 40% of people with this phobia don’t get fully better even after treatment.
Phobias like tachophobia last years, sometimes decades, for 10–30% of people.
Avoiding tasks at work that make you move quickly is one challenge. You might not go to team-building events if they involve sports. At home, you may avoid playing games with your family that require quick motion.
These actions strain relationships and make you feel alone.
I have seen many cases in my practice as a psychiatrist where fears change how we act at work and with loved ones. Therapy options like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy help ease these struggles.
Next, let’s talk about ways to treat Tachophobia.
Treatment Options for Tachophobia
For those facing the fear of running, known as Tachophobia, hope comes in several forms. One powerful approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy that helps people change negative thought patterns about running.
Another method is Exposure Therapy, where gradually and safely confronting fears can lessen their impact over time. These strategies offer a path forward for individuals aiming to overcome Tachophobia and improve their quality of life.
Explore these options to find relief from the grips of this phobia.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people with social phobia. It’s a talk therapy where you work with a therapist to find and change bad thought habits. You learn to see things differently and react in new ways to what scares you.
I once helped someone scared of crowds using CBT. We broke down their fears into smaller parts, tackled each one by changing how they thought about crowds, and practiced being near people in controlled steps.
This method is often the first choice for treating social phobia because it deals with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors all at once. With CBT, patients can overcome fear in a lasting way without needing medicine.
It shows great results for many facing extreme anxiety or irrational fears tied to specific situations or objects.
Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy helps people face their fears. It uses steps to make them less scared over time. There are three ways to do it: in real life, with computer games, and by thinking about the fear while calm.
I once saw this work well for a patient with tachophobia. We started slow, just talking about running. Then we moved up to watching others run, and later, trying short runs together.
This method can really help those scared of many things find peace and comfort slowly but surely.
Conclusion
The fear of running is called Tachophobia. It’s a real thing, and it affects many people. This phobia can make life hard, but there are ways to fight it. Therapy and facing your fears help.
It takes time, but you can get better and enjoy running or fast movements again without panic.
FAQs
1. What is the fear of running called?
The fear of running, like many other phobias, derives its name from Greek language. However, there’s a lot we don’t know about this specific fear and experts don’t have a particular term for it yet in 2022.
2. Are there unusual phobias that people may not be aware of?
Yes, some unusual phobias include anatidaephobia which is the fear of being watched by a duck and amaxophobia which is the fear of riding in cars. Another one is ophidiophobia which refers to extreme anxiety or fear towards snakes.
3. How can I identify if I have a specific type of phobia?
Symptoms can vary but often include shortness of breath, racing heart, and extreme cases may even lead to panic attacks when exposed to the object or situation causing the fear. If these symptoms interfere with your daily life, consult a mental health professional for diagnosis and tests.
4. What causes certain types of phobias?
While experts don’t know exactly why specific phobic disorders occur, they believe genetics play a role along with personality traits and bad experiences such as plane crash leading to crippling fears like acrophobia (fear of heights) or glossophobia (fear of public speaking).
5. Can you treat these kinds of fears?
Yes! Psychotherapy methods like exposure therapy involves gradually increasing exposure to the feared object or situation under controlled conditions while hypnotherapy uses relaxation techniques along with suggestions made during hypnotic state to ease symptoms.
6. Is it common for people to develop such fears?
According to National Institute Of Mental Health data on frequency reveals around 10 people out every 100 might deal with a specific phobia at some point in their lives suggesting that it’s more common than you might think.
