Androphobia

Androphobia an abnormal and persistent fear of men. Sufferers experience anxiety even though they may realize they face no real threat. “Androphobia” is derived from the Greek “andros” (man) and “phobos” (fear).

Androphobia is defined as a fear of men. The term originated inside feminist and lesbian-feminist movements to balance the opposite term “gynophobia,” which means a fear of women.

Misandry, another term that arose from the feminist and lesbian-feminist movements, is defined as a hatred of men. The opposite of misandry is misogyny, which means a hatred of women. Both men and women can be affected by androphobia.

Causes:

• past negative experiences with men, such as rape, physical assault, mental or physical abuse, neglect, or sexual harassment.
• genetics and your environment, which can include learned behavior.
• changes in your brain functioning.

Origin:
Many psychoanalysts are of the opinion that women who had been victims of sexual assault or any kind of male aggression are more prone to androphobia. An unsympathetic and rude father figure can trigger this phobia in both the sexes. Many young girls are taught by their parents or caregiver to stay away from the opposite sex this can also instil a sense of fear for men in the young mind.

Symptoms:

Androphobia is characterized by many symptoms such as:

1. Physical symptoms: One or more of the following symptoms may be present such as: rapid breathing, higher pulse rate (heart palpitations), trembling or shaking, sweating, feeling like fainting or dizziness, feeling like choking or having chest pains, gastrointestinal distress, nausea etc. These happen when one comes close to a man or even thinks of an encounter with a man.
2. Psychological symptoms: Feelings or thoughts of dread, terror, panic, extreme anxiety, thoughts of dying, fearing losing control and embarrassing self.

The phobic may be depressed owing to the fear. S/he might have trouble sleeping and eating due to the phobia. Most stutter or stammer when talking to men. Younger individuals might cry, scream or run away when faced with men.

Treatment:

The goal of androphobia treatment is to help you live your daily life without being impaired by your fears. The success of the treatment usually depends on how severe your androphobia is.

Talk therapy is often tried first. This may involve any of the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you change the thoughts that cause your fear.
• Exposure-based treatment. This involves imagining parts of the androphobia working from the least fearful to the most fearful. You may also be gradually exposed to your real-life fear to help you overcome it.
• Phobia clinics and group therapy, which help people deal with common phobias such as a fear of flying.