Have you ever experienced that overwhelming feeling of happiness followed by a sinking sensation in your stomach? Perhaps when your phone lights up with a text from someone you’re newly dating. This sensation may be familiar to those with cherophobia, a fear of happiness that causes them to associate positive emotions with negative outcomes. It can feel like happiness is risky and untouchable, leading to stress rather than joy.
Cherophobia manifests as an irrational fear of being happy, leading to beliefs that something bad will happen as a result. People with this phobia avoid positive emotions, ruminate on negative thoughts, and may even dissociate from situations. Childhood trauma, especially among women, is often linked to cherophobia, creating negative associations with happiness.
While cherophobia is not officially recognized as a mental illness, it can be considered part of a larger anxiety disorder rooted in past trauma. This fear of happiness is a maladaptive response to adverse conditioning, where joy becomes associated with danger. Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, can help individuals overcome cherophobia.
To break the cycle of fear associated with happiness, it’s essential to practice self-care and seek professional help. Talking about your feelings with trusted loved ones and practicing gratitude can help shift the focus from negative thoughts to positive experiences. Don’t isolate yourself and remember that it’s okay to seek help to work through your fears and embrace happiness once again.
