Commitment Phobia

• Commitment Phobia / Relationships Community

Commitment Phobia is one of the most common phobias that affect people in their lives. Commitment Phobia can affect almost any part of the person's life, but especially affects how a person feels about becomming involved, or staying involved, in a long term relationship.

Commitment Phobia can also impact on someone's career, and they may find it hard to progress in their chosen career, because they find it difficult to offer their employer the kind of long term commitment that the employer probably wants from them.

When someone with Commitment Phobia is asked what it feels like, they will often report that it is like a fear of being stuck, or trapped in a situation, or that they fear feeling 'out of control' in their career or relationship.

The Symptoms of Commitment Phobia

The symptoms of Commitment Phobia, which can be seen here, can often go hand in hand with some of the symptoms of Social Anxiety. Many people with Commitment Phobia will relate in some way, to some of the symptoms of Social Anxiety.

Some of the most common symptoms of Commitment Phobia, include...

• Criticism of a Partner
• Hurting Their Partner
• Scared of Getting Noticed
• Unrealistic Ideals
• The Unavailable Partner – The Affair
• The Unavailable Partner – The Long Distance Relationship
• The Commitment Phobic Partner
• Commitment Phobia and the Long Term Relationship
• The ‘Yo-Yo-ing’ effect in commitment phobia
• The Serial Commitment Phobic
• The Fear of Commitment to Anything

What Causes Commitment Phobia

Commitment Phobia, in common with many other phobias, is a mechanism put in place by the brain to protect us from something that (for some reason), it has mis-judged the threat of.

In the example of Commitment Phobia, the person may have had an experience in their past where they felt out-of-control, or trapped, and their mind is over-protecting them from similar situations, in case something similar ever happens again.

Treating a phobia can by surprisingly simple, because all that really needs to happen, is for that 'unresolved emotion', or 'conflict', to be resolved. Once the 'unresolved emotion' is resolved, there's no longer a need for the mind to protect us (or over-protect us) from it, and the phobia can disappear.

More information on the causes of Commitment Phobia can be seen here

Looking for help with Commitment Phobia?

It's important to remember, that if you suffer from commitment phobia, then help is available.

Commitment phobia (the fear of committing to things, particularly relationships) responds really well to therapies such as 'Pure' Hypnoanalysis.

Pure Hypnoanalysis is a relatively quick form of therapy, that helps people with Commitment Phobia to overcome their fear of 'being out of control', or 'trapped'. It is a form of therapy that is quite unique, in that it aims to resolve the root cause of the problem, rather than (as most therapies do), temporarily manage the symptoms.

If you are in the UK, and would like to look into Pure Hypnoanalysis as a possible therapy for you or your partner, there are therapists trained in this unique therapy all over the UK.

One of the easiest ways to find a therapist in your area who is trained in this therapy, is to use the free find-a-therapist service, by Avon Hypnotherapy.

The find-a-therapist service is very easy to use, simply tell them some basic details, including your name and location, and they will do their best to help you locate a trained therapist in your area.

• Avon Hypnotherapy's FREE Find-a-Therapist service
• Commitment Phobia / Relationships Community

Readers Comments

"I appreciate this article.  I believe that I have encountered a commitment phobic.  Last week he loved me, this week he cares nothing for me and it's over.  Yet, I don't know why.  He says it's hm and not me.  He has no friends.  He wears shades all the time. He was going to school to be a pilot after retiring but decided to just do security because it's easier.  He would never compliment me.  And he has no problem hurting my feelings.  But, I love him and want him back.  So, what do I do except leave him like he now wants me to do."
Renae in Charleston, SC - 8th July 2009

"You're welcome Renae... make sure you subscribe to our newsletter, because commitment phobia / commitment issues are one of the most common issues that people ask about, we're going to cover it a lot in the newsletter over the coming months, so you might be able to understand it even more! "
Paul Douglass - Anxiety Matters - 3rd September 2009