Cherophobia!😨😵

The entire world prefers being happy but amidst those, few people are avoidant to happiness. Does it seem to be surprising?

Have you ever felt afraid of being happy so that soon after you enjoy that moment, all of a sudden something puts you worried simultaneously that you might face a trouble or suffer for something else in one go? 

Cherophobia 

Irrational aversion on being happy or suffer from something intangible is called "Cherophobia". Its a Greek word 'Chairo', which means 'I rejoice'. It is not that they are afraid of being happy but it make them fear about the consequences of being joyful.

The people affected by cherophobia are not avoidant to pleasurable or pleasant feelings that the happiness provides, but they are concerned about the negative effects that bring along with the happiness. As they cover themselves as unlucky and consider it as they don't deserve happiness.

So, worrying about being happy blocks the healthy way of life. It's because they assume it as, happiness is not stable and always it follows with bad thing and so they don't consider on the little amount of happiness and well-being as a priority.

Cultural influence on fear of happiness

The culture plays an essential role in the aspects of happiness. As the happiness of each individual differs as their level of happiness, meaning, language of happiness differs so culture is not an exceptional in that case. 

Cultural perspective in other countries is that the wealth and income is focused as the key for happiness and considered as it serves happiness in an individual.

Whereas the poor people are happier even if they don't have income, wealth, materialist possession as they consider their personal relationship as the source of happiness. Happiness seems to decrease as the country starts to be a developing country in wealth.

 

We celebrate weddings as a occasion and we enjoy to the fullest and we don't celebrate funeral as well. But in Chinese culture they celebrate funerals by purchasing dresses, jewelry, deciding food to be served etc.,

So, it is clear that the happiness exist in all cultures but the meaning and experience of happiness has an enormous variation culture to culture.

Belief influence on fear of happiness

Usually, the brain is hardwired with the events that follow the happy event with sadness, so it creates a belief that a little happiness too will follow with some bitterness and so the brain has wired to the negative outcome and has got used to become avoidant to the positive outcome. It stands strong in the memory and so when ever an event happens to cherophobia people, they are not able to focus on the positive outcome which is followed with the disappointments.

Happy chemicals

Each chemical has a special job to do and it turns off when the job is done. So we are always looking for ways to turn on our happy chemicals. Usually, when we find something that works we start repeating it. The brain establishes 'happy-chemical habit'. The happy chemicals are dopamine (secrete when your needs are met & succeeded), serotonin (secrete when you make yourself important), endorphin (secrete when feeling of trust is created) and oxytocin (secrete when euphoria masks physical pain). 

Serotonin and dopamine are the core happiness hormones and so if there is no enough secretion, then it might end up in depression.

So if you have the aversion to happiness then its time to start questioning yourself, 

What is the happiness for me? What makes me happy? How do I find happiness? Who helps me to be happy? Where do i find my happiness?

These are interesting questions which needs your attention to rebuild yourself with happiness and kick out the fear of happiness or cherophobia. Enjoy life, as every individual deserves happiness.

For any suggestions or/and help do drop a mail📧 to rk.psychologist2020@gmail.com