Fear of work

A scientifically recognized phobia in which a person experiences an irrational, uncontrollable fear or dread of work is called ergophobia or ergasiophobia.

This is one of the psychopathic disorders in which increased anxiety is caused by situations or circumstances that do not pose a real danger to a person at the time of their occurrence. [ 1 ]

Causes job anxiety

Why do human phobias arise, in particular, panic fear of getting a job or fear of going to work? Psychiatrists associate the causes of this social phobia with the presence of negative experiences of failures in professional activities and the development of neurotic depression, as well as experienced persecution or intimidation from superiors and/or colleagues; fear of psychological/physical trauma or conflict situations related to the performance of work, or anxious expectation of censure/disapproval for insufficient quality of work. [ 2 ]

There may also be increased concern about competition – comparing one’s successes with those of others, especially against the background of low self-esteem or derealization syndrome and chronic depersonalization.

Many foreign experts consider ergophobia to be a derivative of emotional exhaustion or burnout syndrome at work, which occurs due to a constant feeling of pressure or excessive expectations in the workplace.

Fear of losing a job often arises after severe stress and prolonged depression caused by being fired and unsuccessfully looking for a job (with numerous interviews and rejections).

Moreover, ergophobia as a social phobia can be part of an anxiety disorder (including generalized) or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Risk factors

Experts cannot name the exact risk factors for the development of panic fear of work, but they emphasize the important role of genetics and upbringing, primarily the personality's characteristic neuroticism, psychasthenia and emotional instability with a tendency to sudden mood swings, lack of self-confidence, increased vulnerability and adaptation disorders, problems with communication and the formation of interpersonal relationships.

External factors most often include psychosocial stress and the above-mentioned constantly experienced personal negative experience (traumatizing the psyche), although the assessment of the events that gave impetus to the development of ergophobia is characterized by a significant degree of subjectivity.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenesis of phobias is discussed in the material - Phobic disorders

In addition, emotional and behavioral disorders in phobias are directly related to both the imbalance of emotion-regulating neurotransmitters and problems with the functioning of the limbic system of the brain, in particular, the amygdala of the temporal lobes.

Symptoms job anxiety

Fear of work, as a reaction of phobic anxiety that arises when thinking about the workplace or approaching it, causes symptoms of panic - a panic attack, which can manifest itself in increased heart rate and dizziness, dry mouth and increased sweating, general weakness, involuntary trembling, discomfort in the abdominal area, a feeling of unreality of what is happening around. [ 3 ]

Progression of this condition may lead to the development of symptoms of depressive disorder.

Diagnostics job anxiety

In American psychiatry, phobias are diagnosed in accordance with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). However, the fear of work and everything related to it is not defined as a phobia in the DSM-5. And psychotherapists use the Burnout Inventory, developed by Christina Maslach, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. The questionnaire allows you to assess the degree of emotional stress and exhaustion from work, the level of competence at work, the severity of self-esteem, etc. Thanks to this work, in 2019, the WHO decided to include professional burnout in ICD-11 as a condition affecting health.

Domestic psychiatrists study the patient's medical history and conduct a survey in order to study the neuropsychiatric sphere.

Differential diagnosis

When making a diagnosis, it is necessary to differentiate not only phobias and fears, but also a number of other psychopathic personality disorders, for example, schizotypal or borderline.

Treatment job anxiety

Treatment of anxiety disorders, including fear of work, is a long and rather complicated process. It is carried out using methods such as:

• cognitive behavioral therapy;
• exposure psychotherapy;
• individual or group dialectical behavior therapy;
• meditation.

Often, anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) are prescribed, for more details see - Anti-Fear Pills

In some cases, it becomes necessary to use antidepressants (Paxil, Zoloft, etc.).

For patients who lead a sedentary lifestyle, psychotherapists and psychiatrists advise regular exercise, cycling, swimming, tennis or running. [ 4 ]

Prevention

There is no specific prevention for phobias.

Forecast

In cases of fear of work, the individual prognosis depends on the patient’s personal qualities, the degree to which he or she is aware of the problem and his or her readiness for treatment.