Coping With the Fear of New Things

What Is Neophobia?

Neophobia is the fear of new things. This fear may apply to a variety of new experiences such as trying new foods, friendships, jobs, or destinations.

This phobia is a maladaptive coping mechanism and when confronted with new experiences, the fear response exceeds the scope of any realistic threat. It can take a serious toll on a person, limiting a person's activities, relationships, and experiences.

This article discusses the symptoms of neophobia and what causes this type of fear. It also explores some of the ways that it might affect a person's life and how it is treated.

Diagnosing Neophobia

Within the normal spectrum of personality traits, some people are extroverted lovers of adventure and are bigger risk-takers. Others are more introverted, enjoy quiet time, and prefer their comfortable routine.

Neophobia is more extreme than introversion because it challenges the human need for novelty with an intense fear of the unfamiliar and causes distress to the person who experiences it.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR)" neophobia falls under the diagnostic category of "specific phobias." It is a type of anxiety disorder and can lead to physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms whenever something new is encountered.

• Physical: Some of the physical symptoms when a person faces something new may include breathlessness, increased heart rate, dizziness, nausea, and trembling. Some people say they feel as though they are having a heart attack.
• Psychological: Some of the cognitive and emotional symptoms include intense catastrophic thoughts, an overwhelming sense of pending doom, a fear of losing control, a sense of unreality, or a fear of dying.
• Behavioral: Due to the distress caused by facing new things, people will avoid new experiences, or endure them with extreme discomfort.
  

To be diagnosed with a specific phobia, these symptoms must impact the quality of one's life, cause significant distress, last six months or longer, and cannot be better explained by another mental disorder such as agoraphobia or panic disorder.

Causes of Neophobia

Neophobia may be the result of several different factors:

Genetics: Genetics can play a large role in anxiety disorders, and having a close relative with anxiety increases a person's risk of developing a phobia.

Learned Behavior: In the case of neophobia, having distressing or traumatic experiences when trying new things might contribute to the onset of this fear, and you just don't want to risk it.

Fear of Risk: Neophobia may be related to the twins known as fear of success and fear of failure. To truly succeed or fail, it is necessary to take a risk. Both outcomes are potentially life-changing, forcing people to adapt to new circumstances. People with neophobia may feel that the potential benefits of success do not outweigh the burden of the potential upheaval to their lives.

Habit: More generally, people tend to be creatures of habit. They often spend decades in the same house, working for the same employer, driving the same car, and even eating the same thing every Friday night.

Stress Management: There are times when sticking to the familiar can serve as an adaptive coping mechanism, particularly when a person is dealing with stress. For example, researchers have found that re-watching TV shows can be a way to reduce feelings of anxiety and restore a sense of self-control.

It's the same reason why people enjoy eating certain comfort foods. Familiarity can serve as a source of comfort when people are tired and stressed out.

Complications

A mild fear of new things is not likely to cause major problems in a person's life. It might mean they make predictable choices or fall back on the same routines. It is easy to become stuck in a rut, avoiding risks that could lead to greater personal fulfillment. This might lead to boredom, but people can often overcome it by consciously making an effort to step outside of their comfort zone once in a while.

Over time, constantly choosing the familiar might play a part in hesitancy when it comes to the unfamiliar. You might feel rusty with your communication skills and 'out of touch' with what's out there. You may feel 'lost' with all the new technology and worry you will never catch on.

Some people make the conscious decision not to shine at work or school, some refuse to try new vacation destinations, and others avoid opportunities to make new friends. Eventually, this can lead to a less satisfying life, depression, and isolation.

Keep in mind, some degree of fear of the unknown is normal and even adaptive. Trying new things has its wins and losses, and can be frustrating at times. It can also bring great rewards, satisfaction, and joy. If the fear has become so intense that it is causing you distress and is placing undesirable limits on your life, it represents a more serious problem that may require treatment.

Neophobia in Children

Small children often demonstrate signs of neophobia. The entire world is new to them, and they are active explorers. However, some resistance to change at times may just be an innate need to feel like something is constant in their ever-widening worlds.

Neophobia in Older Adults

Many older adults develop mild neophobia. As people age, they sometimes seek out the familiar in order to feel like they are in control. In such cases, people prefer to remain in comfortable, familiar surroundings.

Food Neophobia

Food neophobia is especially common in small children. So-called "picky eaters," who are unwilling to eat more than a handful of familiar items, may actually have food neophobia. This can be a learned behavior related to their strong feelings of disgust when they have tried certain flavors or textures.

Most kids outgrow food neophobia as they mature and taste buds evolve. However, those who do not outgrow it by young adulthood may struggle with the fear throughout their lives. This can have a negative impact on eating habits, nutrition, and health.

Cenophobia

Cenophobia, or the fear of new ideas, is a subset of neophobia. The fear halts progress and can make it difficult for people to accept new ideas and change. While it is smart not to accept every idea at face value, new ways of thinking about a situation are critical to success, innovation, and effective problem-solving.

Treatment for Neophobia

Specific phobias such as neophobia respond well to treatment. Treatment approaches such as psychotherapy, medications, and supportive care can make a significant difference in a person's symptoms and help improve their life and functioning.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the first-line approach to treating specific phobias such as neophobia. CBT focuses on helping people change the negative thought patterns that can lead to fear and avoidance behaviors. Instead of dreading new things or experiences, people might work to relabel these thoughts as anticipation or excitement.

One component of CBT known as exposure therapy may be particularly effective. In this approach, people are gradually and progressively exposed to what they fear and over time, their feelings of fear diminish.

For example, neophobic people might start with small exposures to new things or experiences, like ordering a new dish at their favorite restaurant. Eventually, they work their way up to more challenging sources of unfamiliarity, such as visiting a new destination.

Coping With Neophobia

If you have a fear of new things, there are steps you can take that may help. In addition to getting professional treatment, there are also self-care and self-help strategies that can help you manage your feelings of fear and anxiety.

• Start small: Gradually exposing yourself to new things in small doses can help you get used to new experiences.
• Find ways to relax: Using relaxation strategies can be helpful when you are dealing with symptoms of fear and anxiety. Deep breathing is one approach that has been shown to be particularly effective when coping with anxiety.
• Distract yourself: When you find yourself faced with the unfamiliar, look for ways to occupy your attention without focusing on the source or symptoms of your fear.

A Word From Verywell

Even if you like your comfortable routine, challenging yourself to try new things now and then could help prevent the development of this type of fear. Over time, giving in to your fear and avoiding new things may cause you to miss out on personal growth, work opportunities, relationships, and experiences that could potentially bring richness and joy to your life.

Understanding the risk factors, which include genetics, learned behavior, personal experiences, and trauma, may help people recognize the signs, and take steps early on before fear and avoidance behaviors become worse.

If you have neophobia that is causing you distress and limiting your life activities, consider getting treatment to help you overcome your fear and open your life up to a world of opportunity.