Apeirophobia or fear of infinity

Apeirophobia or fear of infinity is a very peculiar phobia that few people know about. However, before explaining what it consists of, we will briefly develop the concept of phobia and everything it implies to better understand what characterizes these problems.

A phobia is an intense and irrational fear of certain situations, objects, people or activities. which is classified in the DSM-5 as an anxiety disorder. One of its main characteristics is the desire to avoid or escape from what we are afraid of in order to reduce the levels of anxiety and discomfort experienced.

On the other hand, it is important to differentiate between phobia and fear. To understand the difference, we must focus on the intensity of the fear experienced and the consequences that arise from it. Thus, if a fear begins to interfere significantly in the person’s life, increasing its intensity and causing avoidant or escape behaviors, we would be talking about a phobia.

Yes ok The appearance of a phobia cannot be associated with any specific cause; it has been related to genetic, social or learning factors. It has also been related to traumatic experiences that occurred in childhood. For example, if a child watches a documentary about the absorption of stars by black holes in the Universe, he or she may have a deep fear of being absorbed himself. Although this is unlikely, the feeling of fear that invades you is immense and real.

What is apeirophobia?

Apeirophobia is the excessive and irrational fear of understanding the concept of infinity and eternity.. This fear causes great discomfort and can manifest itself at any time of the day or night. It is enough to have an intrusive thought about infinity to cause a serious anxiety problem.

Thus, the idea of ​​coming into contact with the infinite produces a great sensation of vertigo, where no point of support is achieved that generates a certain feeling of control of the situation. For this reason, the avoidance of situations in which there is a stimulus related to infinity is implemented.: the sky, the sea, endless numerical sequences and activities linked to introspection and imagination related to immensity.

Apeirophobic people often strive to live their lives as predictably as possible. in an attempt to ward off his obsessive thoughts about infinity or the universe.

Causes

Like any phobia, apeirophobia does not have a single cause. It has been related to genetic, environmental, social and learning factors, which is why multiple explanations have been coined. For example, Sigmund Freud, neurologist and father of psychoanalysis, was interested in the study of phobias and proposed that they originated in two phases:

First phase: An event occurs that generates great distress. At the same time, the person who is developing the phobia would take an object from the outside world (spider, horse, car, infinity) and relate it to the danger.Second stage: the person initiates the constitution of all means of defense to prevent contact with that danger that comes from the external environment.

Another, more biological explanation would arise from the combination of heredity, genetics and brain chemistry. Thus, when these factors merge with life experiences, the person could develop any specific phobia, such as in this case apeirophobia.

How to identify a phobic response?

The phobic response begins when a person is exposed to the object or situation that they have associated with danger. In fact, this response can lead to a panic attack. The most relevant characteristics of the phobic response are the following:

On a physiological level: tachycardia, sweating, redness, paleness, upset stomach, dry mouth, difficulty breathing.At the motor level: trembling voice, facial grimaces, strange movements of the limbs, rigidity, immediate avoidance or flight behavior.On a cognitive level: negative interpretation of the situation, doubts about one’s own abilities to cope with the situation and come out unscathed or afraid to die.

Characteristics of apeirophobia

The main characteristics of apeirophobia are the following:

Irrational and excessive fear of understanding the concept of infinity and eternity. Upon realizing that the concepts of infinity, universe and eternity are outside of one’s understanding and domination, a picture of anxiety occurs that makes concentration and daily activity difficult.Great need to keep everything under control and in perfect order. This arises as an attempt to avoid facing the concepts of infinity, eternity and immensity of the universe. It is recognized as an irrational fear but it cannot be controlled.There is an important predisposition to lead a life that is as predictable as possible.Frequent nightmares related to falling into infinity tend to occur. The appearance of Intrusive thoughts related to the fear of infinity usually occur when we are in introspective, relaxing or imaginative moments. Therefore, these situations are often avoided.

How do you know if you suffer from apeirophobia?

All phobias are conditioned by the presence of fear of something specific. However The fear you feel must have certain characteristics:

The fear of infinity that is felt cannot be explained or reasoned with.The fear of infinity is beyond voluntary control. The fear reaction involves avoiding exposure to any situation related to infinity.The fear of infinity persists over time.The fear of the concept of infinity prevents adaptation to the environment.

Treatment of apeirophobia

Like any phobic disorder, Apeirophobia should be addressed and treated by specialists, such as psychologists or psychiatrists. Only they are qualified to decide the indicated treatment for each case.

Phobic disorders are usually addressed with psychotherapy. Only in the most serious cases, where many areas of functioning are invaded that impede daily life, will pharmacological treatments be indicated in conjunction with psychotherapy. A psychiatrist must evaluate the patient previously in order to prescribe medication.

As we see, Apeirophobia can cause great discomfort in the person who suffers from it. For this reason, it is important to go to the specialist when annoying symptoms begin to appear that prevent you from leading a peaceful life. Avoidant and obsessive behaviors consume an enormous amount of vital energy, and can become exhausting and poorly adaptive.

You might be interested…