Gamophobia An exaggerated or irrational fear of marriage
There are many people both men and women, who have issues relating to commitment. Some find it difficult to commit to any one person. The ultimate amalgamation of a relationship is considered by many to be marriage. People who suffer from an exaggerated or irrational fear of marriage are said to be suffering from Gamophobia.
For some sufferers gamophobia is about the idea of being trapped in a “permanent” relationship. Though many marriages end up in divorce for sufferers of this phobia, they will often take the more traditional line regarding marriage as being a genuine bond for life. This fear of lifetime commitment can be a powerful causative factor in this fear. A possible root cause of this condition is the sufferer having been exposed to a bad marriage often the marriage of the parents which can sour the idea of marriage for the child. Also, the fear that they will not be able to maintain the relationship can lead to a profound fear of not being good enough, so it it easier to not get married in the first instance.
There are several therapeutic approaches which can prove helpful for this phobia. These include: exposure therapy through cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation techniques and regression with hypnosis. Visualisation and controlled breathing exercises can also assist in treating this phobia.
