The fear of failure also comes into play to create a fear of change. Humans find it hard to move on when something known comes to an end. When we don’t know what will happen, we make up scenarios and, in turn, create worry. Our brains are designed to find peace in knowing. We fear change because it means that outcomes are unknown. But, when you’re stuck in a situation and have metathesiophobia, you cannot see so clearly. There are many different life experiences where people suffer from a fear of change rather than choosing to make the change, even when making the change is the better decision.įor example, a person may choose to stay in a toxic relationship because they are scared of the alternative of being single or having to go on dates to find a new partner.Īnother example is when people stay put in jobs that make them miserable or leave them feeling unsatisfied because they are scared to start a new job.Īs you can see, the optimal solution would be to move on and try something new.
Those who have metathesiophobia may experience: Labeled metathesiophobia, this level of fearing change causes persistent unrealistic and intense anxiety when facing new situations or experiences.
We will look at what it means to fear change, common symptoms of metathesiophobia, how to live with the fear of change, and methods to overcome such feelings. That something more is called metathesiophobia, and it’s such an intense fear of change that it can be paralyzing and very hard to live with. While it’s natural to feel that change is scary, some people may be dealing with something more serious. That’s why so many people would rather avoid change because of how uncomfortable the associated feelings can be. In fact, neuroscience has shown that uncertainty feels similar to failure in our brains. You’re not alone in these feelings surrounding change. Everyone experiences their own level of fear of change.