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Is it normal to feel more anxious when you're alone?

307 Answers
Last Updated: 04/17/2022 at 6:09pm
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Top Rated Answers
SpaceDino
January 29th, 2020 4:27pm
It is definitely normal to feel more anxious when you're alone in my experience. When I am alone, that means I am left with my own thoughts and no distractions. My brain has more opportunity to jump to anxiety inducing thoughts and worries. I think it helps to have options lined up in advance for how you can keep distracted and engaged when you're alone. I like to have a list of possible activities so when I'm alone and anxious I do not have to brainstorm what to do, I just have to look at my list! Some examples from my personal list are: read a book, doodle, go for a walk, watch a movie, have a shower, listen to an album, write to a friend, call somebody, clean or organize the house, meditate, play a video game. I find it helps to keep busy.
ambrosiuscosteau
January 31st, 2020 9:36pm
It's normal to feel anxious at any time. Like humans, it takes all different forms. The only thing you can do when feeling anxious is to keep going and get through it. You can't change how you feel in a day. It might take years for you to be completely better. Anxiety is a serious illness and a lot of people don't understand how it affects a person's life. Saying "It's all in your head!" "You're faking it for attention!" and the like. You shouldn't pay attention to them, or if you want to help someone you can try to teach them and change their minds. Although it's easier said than done.
kindDreamer9743
March 5th, 2020 9:20am
Yes It is normal to feel that way as being alone for many is daunting. Having being there myself, this is where its wise to keep yourself busy. Either out for a walk in fresh air or casual doing the house work in other words give your self a distraction. But remember as always with anxiety it's important to remember all your techniques you have learnt about breathing and relaxation, using videos and sound files of meditation may help you with this. If you live near a busy place just sit and people watch think about where they are going and been. But one thing is for sure your not alone with those feelings maybe think about joining some local group where your time alone is less.
Anonymous
March 21st, 2020 2:56pm
Autophobia is an anxiety disorder that is triggered by the idea and experience of spending time alone. Like other anxiety disorders, autophobia may lead to some physical, as well as psychological, symptoms. Autophobia can be distressing to experience and may have a negative impact on a person's life if left untreated. Autophobia is also called eremophobia, monophobia, or isolophobia. It is a phobia of isolation, being self-centered, and being ignored. People with autophobia do not necessarily have to be physically alone to experience symptoms. Autophobia is a type of specific phobia. A specific phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that involves a persistent, irrational, and excessive fear of a particular object or situation. A specific phobia leads to a person avoiding the thing they are afraid of or experiencing intense anxiety if they are forced to endure it. For a person diagnosed with autophobia, the idea and experience of spending time by themselves may cause severe anxiety. The term autophobia comes from the word “auto” (meaning self) and the word “phobia” (meaning fear). In the literal sense, then, autophobia is when people are afraid of themselves. However, this is not what the mental health condition, autophobia, refers to. In the field of mental health, autophobia is when a person has a fear of spending time alone.
MatthewDaBest
March 22nd, 2020 4:56am
It is always normal to feel more anxious when you're alone. When you're alone, all you have is you and yourself, that is your thoughts. However, when you are with other people you tend to be able to block out those thoughts and to distract yourself through them. This is why social isolation can be very difficult for people. Rather, when you are alone you might consider reaching out to others even through the telephone or through Skype or Facetime. This will help alleviate some fears and anxiety and even can help make connections, which tend to become more of normal.
NoelLikesSunsets
March 28th, 2020 6:41am
Being alone can sometimes increase feelings of anxiety, as you may have less distraction from your thoughts. When you are around people, or doing an activity, your mind can focus on what the conversation is about, or the steps involved in the activity. When you're alone, you might be listening to your thoughts with a lot of focus, and that can increase the feeling of anxiety. It could feel like a one-sided conversation, perhaps. If the anxious feelings becomes overwhelming, try reaching out to talk to someone about your feelings, or watch a tv show to distract yourself from the thoughts!
kindFlower1098
April 1st, 2020 12:29am
Loneliness is a very difficult challenge to most people as most of us are raised in a social surroundings in our early life. As we grow older, when we are alone, we feel others are ignoring us or we have no one to go to or others do not care for us. We start thinking of negative thoughts and become more weak emotionally which drains our immune system. It is a normal reaction to some people but there are ways to combat this anxiety. If we do not learn how to address loneliness, this type of low level anxiety can grow to monstrous size. We can learn the ways and means to overcome anxiety from monks and others that lead a lonely life.
Jessgill266
April 1st, 2020 8:07pm
We all feel anxious at times some just more than others. Alone or not there's always something someone will fear. In my opinion 'normal' is such a strong terminology and I feel no one falls under the category as we are all unique in our own ways but being alone is well known to trigger anxiety as when we're alone we tend to think more and worry more due to lack of distraction and feeling less safe. But isn't the case for everyone. Some feel more secure alone this just doesn't apply to everyone as we are all very different.
bountifulDreamer46
April 2nd, 2020 8:21pm
Normal - I just hate that word. Normal is subjective and based on your own circumstances, not some overreaching idea of what is right or good. Some people find they like time alone and it feels right to them. Other people find they don't do well when they spend too much time alone. And of course, there's everything in between. Instead of worrying about "normal" think about what's right for you. If something is interfering with your ability to enjoy your life, then it's something to address. Otherwise, if you find you're uncomfortable being alone, maybe time with other people is something that's very important to you and that's okay too.
Anonymous
April 9th, 2020 5:41pm
Yes, it is completely normal to feel anxious when you're alone. I do too sometimes. Lots of people feel anxiety in different ways and Monophobia(anxiety when alone) is one of them. When you're left alone with your thoughts too much your mind would conjure up anything and a floodgate would flood through! I find that music or talking to myself or just something that keeps me distracted can really help since it echoes the sounds so that i dont feel alone. Finding support can also help, the safety net of someone being beside you and have them by your side to just chat or support you. The presence of another helps a lot no matter what they are doing.
thedancerwithin
April 22nd, 2020 2:09am
Hmm... perhaps normal isn't the most productive word to be used in this instance. For example, just because "depression" is experienced by many and therefore not something out of the ordinary doesn't mean it is productive or healthy for us to live with it. Now on to the actual question: Do you feel that the anxiety is affecting your life? Can it be resolved easily? There are a variety of reasons to feel more anxious when you're alone. For one, it could be due to the quiet environment which allows you to spend more time with your own thoughts and feelings instead of pushing them away? Bottom line is if you do feel anxious, my suggestion would be to reach out to someone (e.g. on 7 cups), or a mental health professional, especially if you feel it is impacting your life.
Anonymous
June 20th, 2020 3:46am
The answer can be Yes or No. We can feel anxious in both situation. some people will feel anxious when they are in crowd and some people tend to feel anxious when they are alone and contemplating things.A bit of anxious feeling is normal despite of setting but if the level of anxiousness is high or severe then it's not normal. An anxious feeling when we are alone happens for many reasons. Especially, when we don't have a good coping mechanism and support circle, we tend to overthink and suppress our feelings which can come up when we are feeling alone.
NurturingOne
June 21st, 2020 7:48pm
Minimum When You are alone your brain kicks into overdrive. That is when the most anxious time hits. The what-ifs happens, second-guessing yourself. Your brain doesn't stop and nothing can make your mind stop. At this point, it's you and the thoughts in your head. STOP!!! Take a deep breath know that you are okay that moment that you play over and over in your head already happened. Guess what? You can't take it back so buckle up buttercup and get ready for the next adventure. You are enough no matter what. Breathe life into yourself you deserve it. NuturingOne
windfox3
July 3rd, 2020 6:12am
It is absolutely normal to feel more anxious when we are alone. There are several reasons for this. The first being, when you are alone, you're more apt to get caught up in your own train of thought which can lead to worrying about various facets of yourself, your life and the future. Secondly, we as humans feel physically safer with other people around. It's a survival mechanism that evolved with us because it's easier to fight a threat (like a tiger) with three or four humans, than it is to fight alone. Lastly, conversations and company with other people open our minds and take our focus off ourselves and our worries. Hearing laughter and seeing smiles trigger responses in our brain and body that put us at ease. Even sitting in a coffee shop listening to other people around us have conversations makes us feel less lonely. People's body language and tone of voice help us identify the mood of the environment we are in, and also help us identify and gauge our own feelings in comparison to theirs. It creates a feedback loop for us to help monitor our own feelings against reality around us.
scoopitywhoop
July 4th, 2020 9:27pm
It is absolutely normal to be more anxious when you're alone with your thoughts than when you're out and have responsibilities. When you're alone, it's easier to sink deep into "what if" questions and worry about whatever's happening in life. In my case, nighttime lying awake in bed was particularly bad because there's nothing you can do except try to go to sleep. Anxiety can happen in many different ways, like in social situations or when you're doing a job, but you're completely not alone in having these sorts of anxiety issues when you're alone. I support you on this so much, since I know how bad it can be.
Rayoflight4u
July 16th, 2020 1:15am
Different people respond differently to being alone and while some can find it peaceful, others may find it anxiety provoking. Also depending on your mood you may respond differently to being alone at different times. It could depend on what thoughts are in your mind and your ability to cope with them at that time. It helps to identify that it is causing you anxiety and to develop ways which can help relax- calling a friend, listening to music but if being alone is always anxiety provoking then it may be time to seek some professional help from a therapist.
Lovingpalm6021
July 18th, 2020 1:44pm
I feel anxious whenever I am in a situation where I am not used to. Case in point, I am used to having people around me whenever I work, study, play, or generally do everyday things and to be in a situation when i am not used to, where I feel isolated makes me feel anxious. I would like to say that it is normal however for some people, being alone helps them focus better so I would say that it would depend on the personality of the person and the familiarity of the surrounding to which the person is used to.
Youareworthyofgreatness
July 28th, 2020 7:47pm
Absolutely! In my opinion, we need others to survive. Touch, eye contact, etc is very important. In my opinion, while social media is being used more frequently. It takes away some connection that we have physically with others. Therefore, it may cause some anxiety because there's an underlying fear of being lonely or maybe even an anxiety about your personal safety when being alone. Both in which are very normal feelings. For example, isolation can cause the feeling of loneliness therefore increasing an individual's anxiety. Isolation essentially goes against basic human nature, in which it's best to find support from those you feel safe with. :)
Anonymous
July 31st, 2020 2:34pm
It is normal to feel anxious when you’re alone, if you are anxious when alone you may be overthinking something or worrying about something in your life. You have to remember it is normal and you are not the only one going through it. You can talk to someone you trust about it if it’s really bothering you. If you feel anxious when alone you may be stressed about something happening around you. Therefore yes it is normal to feel stressed and or anxious about something even if your alone. If you think you need to talk to someone about it that is perfectly fine.
wonderfulUnicorns
August 2nd, 2020 2:52pm
It is normal to be more anxious when you're alone because you will have the tendency of fear of the uncertainty. A lot of things can trigger anxiety attacks. When you're alone, you may start to think about upcoming exams or presentation which has been playing in your mind. Or you might be worried about your own health condition or someone else's. You did not invite all this thoughts but it is in your unconscious and they appear you're by yourself. That's when anxiety attacks can happen and you may experience shortness of breath or palpitation, which can be very daunting when you're alone.
Anonymous
August 6th, 2020 6:45pm
yes as you have no one to resure you the best advice i can give is if you alone at home call a friend or even chat to them your never alone you will allways have some to chat to and if your felling anxious count from ten or do something what makes you happy and have little rewards for what you did and if your still anxious message a listener we will be happy to help and talk to you when ever you need us even when you think you might not just drop a text you will not regret it
peaceandlovesun
August 8th, 2020 8:59pm
It is normal to feel anxious when you are alone. As humans, we are social beings. We belong in packs interacting with one another and protecting each other. This being said, it is pretty normal to feel more or less "threatened" when alone. When you are alone, you might think too much- more than you would if you were with others. You will think too much and too deeply about something because your brain is trying to occupy itself since it cannot talk out loud and have a meaningful conversation with anyone. This can lead to anxiety. However, it is essential to spend plenty of time with yourself too. It is important to find a healthy balance between alone time and time around others.
happylittlenote
August 14th, 2020 7:18am
i think so. usually when i'm all alone it's easier for my mind to wander everywhere especially to the negative memories or thoughts. it's important to focus in the present or to any positive things. the company of a right person is playing a big role for me. but if you want to spend your time alone but afraid to get bothered by the anxiety, usually what i did was make myself as my own companion. i usually talk to myself about anything that's bothering me. and that actually works, just as long as you are honest about everything.
Anonymous
August 30th, 2020 7:35pm
Everyone is different, and we all experience different feelings for different reasons. Whatever your feelings or reasons are, they are valid. There are people who are going through things similar to what you're going through. I don't know if normal is the right word, but you make sense. Ask yourself why being alone makes you anxious, try to understand yourself. There are reasons for your feelings and they are valid. Like I said, you, your feelings, and your reasons make sense. It's ok to feel whatever you feel. You are loved and you are enough. Best of luck to you!
Anonymous
September 20th, 2020 9:02pm
Yes, it is normal to feel anxious when you are alone. If you are alone and you know you should be you could get anxious that someone may be with you that isn't suppose to be. You could also get anxious at a noise you are not use to. Some people may get anxious if someone left then to go do something because you may be worried they won't come back or they got hurt. If you are out in public but not with anyone you could get anxious because your afraid something may happen with a stranger and you. So yes it is normal to feel more anxious when you're alone.
caringBerry61
October 4th, 2020 1:16pm
First and foremost you should ask yourself if you really know the meaning of anxiety in order to avoid exchanging it for another type of mental state. From your question, it appears as you are "always" anxious. In fact, you typed: "Is it normal to feel "more" anxious when you're alone?" which leads me to assume that when you are NOT alone you are "less" anxious so you always feel anxious. Let's try to investigate what you call anxiety. "According to the British NHS, Anxiety is the main symptom of several conditions, including: - panic disorder - phobias, such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia - post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - social anxiety disorder (social phobia) Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life. For example, you may feel worried and anxious about sitting an exam or having a medical test or job interview. During times like these, feeling anxious can be perfectly normal. But some people find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives." Have you ever tried to ask yourself why do you feel that way? What happened recently or a few minutes earlier that made you react with anxiety to an event or just because you spoke with someone? My opinion is that "this exists because that exists" which means that everything has a cause. So I would urge you to start investigating your thoughts, the events in your day life, the people you interact with, and all the situations of life you encounter. What do you do when you are alone? What would you like to do but you cannot do when you care alone? Are you really alone in a room or there are other people around that add their behaviours you dislike? Are you really present to your senses when you are alone or would you like to be somewhere else? May you be happy and healthy.
skylarpilot47
October 7th, 2020 10:35am
In my experience, it all depends! Sometimes introversion or social anxiety can make you more susceptible to anxiety around others. But if you are feeling more anxious alone, your thoughts are the only thing keeping you company, and they are probably negative thoughts. When we are not 'distracted', so to speak, by people and events around us, our thoughts are the only thing we are focused on. Being alone and constantly thinking, or over-thinking, we are more likely to produce anxious thoughts and they can become overwhelming very quickly. Staying in isolation too long can definitely increase this anxiety, and it is completely normal in this sense!
Abbyhelpspeople
October 24th, 2020 1:49pm
In some cases yes, if you struggle with anxiety already, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in anxious moments. Being anxious is a very normal involuntary act. But we need to see why, and what is causing this for you. As everyone does experience this, there are reasons why you shouldn’t be. Is stress from work bothering you? Or give a few examples of something’s that are bothering you to think about. Let’s start at the root of the problem and see if I can listen and help where you need me to be at. I want to help.
beautifulFlower8404
October 31st, 2020 4:53am
I am definitely more Anxious when alone. I think it is because I have a history of trauma. But in all actuality I think most people dont lie beinng alone as people prefer to be social and do things and be with Friends, Family and Work Colleagues. Isolating in general is bad for me, I find my thoughts end up being too scattered and racing way too much. I like my alone time, but there is just some times where I prefer to be in the Company of others. I go to visit a friend or go out to eat with friends. I also have some neighbors I talk to.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2020 6:35pm
While some people may feel more anxious when alone, some people may feel calmer. Everyone is different, so it is hard to say what is "normal". If you are extroverted, enjoy the company of others, or are not used to being alone, being alone may feel strange to you. Some people might feel more anxious when alone if they don't know what to do with unstructured time, have had unpleasant experiences while alone previously, or are unfamiliar with their surroundings. If you are feeling more anxious when you're alone, it might help to reflect on your environment, circumstances, and what is causing that feeling. What makes being alone anxiety inducing for you? This is a helpful question to ask if you want to know where those feelings might be coming from.