But for some, the fear of being forgotten or ignored can be thought of as aphobia.

Athazagoraphobiais an unusual or abnormal fear of not being remembered.

It can also include the fear of forgetting someone or something.

Woman staring at phone because she has athazagoraphobia

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It may also include a fear of being ignored or replaced.

In some cases, this condition can be considered part ofsocial phobia.

People with athazagoraphobia may experience debilitatinganxiety, stress, or panic at just the thought of being forgotten.

What Are the Symptoms of Athazagoraphobia?

As with most phobias, the fear of being forgotten can present with both mental and physical symptoms.

Symptoms of athazagoraphobia may include:

What Are the Causes of Athazagoraphobia?

Phobias trigger a person’s stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response.

The DSM-5 TR does not include athazagoraphobia as a mental health condition.

However, athazagoraphobia qualifies as a specific phobia.

Thus, the DSM-5 TR criteria for a specific phobia can be applied to this condition.

The manual uses the following diagnostic criteria to diagnose specific phobias:

How Is Athazagoraphobia Treated?

There are a variety of treatment options that can help patients who have phobias.

A licensed mental healthcare professional will create a treatment plan based on the symptoms you present.

There are treatment options such as mindfulness techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication.

Working with a licensed mental healthcare professional can help you manage this condition.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Social anxiety disorder.

2020;24(2):308-314. doi:10.1080/13607863.2018.1534081

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.

2021;28(6):855-870. doi:10.1080/13825585.2020.1836119

American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.5th ed.

Washington D.C.; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Samra CK, Abdijadid S.Specific phobia.

Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.