I have a terrible fear of writing in public (Scriptophobia). I remember having to fill out an application for a job years ago and shook so badly, I knew I wouldn’t get the the job. I did not get the job and this phobia has affected my self esteem.
I’m a college graduate and can’t even sign my name in front of someone. I shake when I’m being watched. It’s horrible. It’s hindered my working career and I don’t know of too many people with this phobia.
What is Scriptophobia ( Fear of Writing In Public)
Scriptophobia is the extreme fear of writing in public. The word Scriptophobia is derived from the Latin word script meaning writing and Phobos which is the Greek word for fear or dread. Graphophobia is very similar to Scriptophobia but it is more specific in that; it is related to the extreme and often irrational fear of handwriting.
Both Scriptophobia and Graphophobia are very common fears affecting hundreds of people around the world. In some cases, the phobia can affect the sufferer’s day to day life. Many are unable to take on jobs that require writing. The fear is especially debilitating in the case of students who are unable to progress in school. Many tend to give up education because of this fear.
Causes of Graphophobia
The fear of writing usually originates from a negative experience in one’s past. Apart from technicalities, many Scriptophobes are also afraid of the fear of rejection, fear of ridicule or the fear of embarrassing themselves or fear of being criticized, etc. A student might have been rebuked or laughed at owing to something s/he has written or even for their handwriting. This episode can trigger panic attacks each time one has to write in class. This deeply conditioned response can create negative thinking patterns that are hard to change or overcome. Other issues like deep-rooted lack of self-esteem or the fear of persecution can also cause the fear of writing phobia.
Fear of excess success can also cause a fear of writing. This may be strange to believe, but the person who suffers from it develops a strange complex that makes him feel afraid of writing down his thoughts.
