Scopophobia

Scopophobia (also known as Scoptophobia or Ophthalmophobia) is an anxiety disorder characterised by the intense and irrational fear of being looked at or stared at. [cite web |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=cB5UOSsIN74C&pg=PA867&lpg=PA867&dq=scopophobia&source=web&ots=h70wgLgXpx&sig=LelcI0MXnz2R0CqKFVZofEna-So&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result |title=The Dictionary of Psychology (preview on Google Books) |accessdate=2008-10-07 |author=Raymond J. Corsini |date=1999 |work= |publisher=Psychology Press] Those with the phobia tend to avoid large public places such as shopping malls and other large gatherings of people. Even simple tasks like driving a car can be very difficult, as the sufferer will experience an acute sense of fear and uneasiness as they irrationally perceive others are staring at them, either from the cars beside them, or from the cars in front or back of them in their rear-view mirrors.

Treatments for the condition include behavior therapy and anti-anxiety medication. [cite web |url=http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/s/scopophobia/treatments.htm |title=Treatments for Scopophobia |accessdate=2008-10-07 |work=www.wrongdiagnosis.com |publisher=Adviware Pty Ltd]

ee also

*Scopophilia
*Social phobia

References