Are you afraid that you’re losing control — over yourself, your thoughts, or your behavior?
Does your heart start racing, do you feel dizzy or break into a cold sweat?
Do you struggle to catch your breath and feel overwhelmed by emotions you can’t manage?
These experiences can be terrifying. But why do they happen? What are these feelings connected to?
What Is the Fear of “Going Crazy”?
The term “going crazy” is not a scientific or clinical term. It is a phrase rooted in public perception, typically used to describe unusual behavior, delusional thinking, or speaking with hallucinated voices. The fear of “going crazy” is often associated with the loss of rational thinking or self-awareness — and this loss can provoke intense anxiety and fear.
When experiencing this fear, individuals may have recurring thoughts that they are losing their sanity or that it could happen soon. As a result, they may begin to avoid social interactions, their emotional state may worsen, and they may become increasingly anxious, tense, or even depressed. Over time, this fear can significantly impact self-esteem and overall life satisfaction.
The fear of going crazy often presents as an obsessive thought — an intrusive fear accompanied by classic signs of anxiety, such as a racing heartbeat, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and more. People in this state may feel that they are on the verge of losing touch with reality.
This fear is sometimes referred to as dementophobia, a term that describes an intense, irrational fear of losing mental function. It is generally categorized under specific phobias in diagnostic classifications.
symptoms and signs
psychological symptoms:
- Fear of developing schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder
- Fear and sense of losing control over oneself
- Irrational fear of being admitted to a psychiatric hospital
- Fear of losing one’s mind or mental clarity
- Significant distress caused by avoidance behaviors and anxiety, where the anxiety is often excessive or unfounded
- Fear that leads to notable emotional distress or impairs social or occupational functioning
- Anxiety related to perceived decline in cognitive abilities
- Anticipatory fear of developing dementia
physical symptoms:
- Rapid heartbeat (accelerated pulse)
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle tension
- Rapid or shallow breathing
- A sense of physical weakness
- Difficulty concentrating
What Causes the Fear of “Going Crazy”?
Several factors can contribute to the fear of losing control or developing a serious mental health condition. These include:
High Stress and Anxiety
Living in a constant state of tension or stress can overwhelm a person’s coping mechanisms. This may lead to fears that they are “breaking down” or will be unable to handle life’s demands.General Fear About Mental Health
Some individuals experience a persistent, internal worry that they might lose control or develop a mental illness. This fear may not be tied to any specific symptom, but rather a general anxiety about their mental well-being.Traumatic Experiences
Past exposure to stressful or traumatic situations — or a family history of mental health issues — can increase sensitivity to the idea of losing mental stability. These experiences may leave emotional imprints that manifest as irrational fear.The Fear of “Going Crazy” and Its Connection to Stress and Mental Health Disorders
The fear of “going crazy” often arises after intense stress, when an individual starts to fear that they might lose control over their thoughts, actions, emotions, and more.
This fear is frequently linked to mental health conditions such as:
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
These conditions can heighten anxiety and contribute to the belief that one is losing grip on reality or their mental stability.
Managing the Fear of “Going Crazy”
As mentioned earlier, the fear of “going crazy” is a common manifestation of various forms of anxiety. Dealing with anxiety can be addressed through both medication and psychotherapy. For effective treatment, the involvement of both a psychiatrist and a psychologist is essential.
- Medication:
Medication is commonly used for anxiety disorders or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and typically involves the use of antidepressants. In some cases, a combination of medications from different groups may be used, depending on the individual’s needs.- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT is also highly effective for treating anxiety. This therapeutic approach helps individuals learn and apply various skills, such as identifying and challenging negative thoughts, and replacing them with more positive, realistic thoughts.For the fear of “going crazy,” CBT can be used both as a standalone treatment or in combination with medication.
Author: Avtandil Papelishvili
Editors: Guga Sikharulidze, Elene Khomeriki