Autophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an intense fear of being alone.
Signs can include anxiety, avoiding being alone, physical symptoms, and changes in daily life.
An autophobia quiz can help you recognize signs and decide if you need professional support.
Autophobia, also known as monophobia, is an intense fear of being alone or without another person nearby. It’s a type of specific phobia centered on being alone.
You may feel anxious when you’re by yourself, avoid situations where you might be alone, or worry about what could happen when no one else is around. If these experiences sound familiar, an autophobia test can help you take a closer look at what you’re feeling.
This quiz can help you identify common signs of autophobia and consider how your fear of being alone may be affecting your daily life. It’s not a diagnosis, but it can help you decide if it would be helpful to talk to a mental health professional about your fears.
Do you feel anxious or distressed when you’re alone, even when you know you’re safe?
Take the autophobia test
The following questions can help you think about how you feel and behave when you’re alone. Answer yes or no based on what you typically experience. Try to think about your usual reactions rather than an isolated experience. There are no right or wrong answers.
Do you feel anxious or distressed when you’re alone, even when you know you’re safe?
Do you avoid being home or going places alone because it makes you uncomfortable or afraid?
Do you worry a lot about being left alone or separated from people you trust?
Do you worry that you won’t be able to cope or feel safe if you’re left alone?
When you’re alone, do you experience physical signs of anxiety, such as a racing heart, sweating, shaking, or trouble breathing?
Have you changed plans or routines to reduce the amount of time you have to spend alone?
Do you have trouble sleeping alone or relaxing when no one else is around?
Does your fear of being alone affect your relationships, work, school, or other parts of your daily life?
What your quiz results mean
Give yourself one point for every “yes” answer. Your total score can help you understand how often signs associated with autophobia show up in your life.
0–2 yes answers: You reported few signs associated with autophobia. You may sometimes dislike being alone, but your answers don't suggest that this fear regularly affects your behavior or daily life.
3–5 yes answers: You reported several signs associated with a fear of being alone. You may experience anxiety, change your behavior, or rely on others to feel more comfortable when you’re by yourself. It may help to notice when these feelings show up and how they affect you. Consider talking with a mental health professional, especially if these feelings cause distress or interfere with your daily life.
6–8 yes answers: Your responses suggest that being alone may cause significant fear or anxiety or interfere with your daily life. Talking with a mental health professional can help you better understand what's behind these feelings and explore ways to manage them.
Autophobia vs. other mental health concerns
This quiz looks at why being alone is difficult. Loneliness involves wanting more or stronger social connections. With autophobia, being alone itself can cause fear or anxiety. You may avoid being alone or feel unsafe or unable to cope without someone nearby.
Some of these experiences can also occur with other mental health conditions. For example, separation anxiety disorder involves intense fear or distress about being separated from an attachment figure. Agoraphobia can involve avoiding situations where getting help or escaping may feel difficult. A mental health professional may also consider specific phobia or another anxiety disorder, depending on your symptoms.
This quiz is meant for self-reflection, not diagnosis. A mental health professional can look at what triggers your fear, how long it's been happening, how it affects your life, and if another condition could be contributing to your symptoms.
Signs you may have autophobia
Autophobia can affect how you think, feel, and act when you’re alone. It’s more than simply preferring to have someone around. Being alone may cause strong fear or anxiety or lead you to avoid certain situations. Researchers [1] don’t know exactly how common autophobia is. However, about 9% of U.S. adults [2] experience a specific phobia each year.
The autophobia test looks for several common signs, including:
Having anxiety when you’re alone: You may feel afraid, anxious, or unsafe when no one else is around, even when you’re not in danger.
Avoiding being alone: You might change plans, stay near other people, or avoid going places by yourself.
Needing others nearby: You may feel safer when someone you trust is close or look for reassurance when you know you’ll be alone.
Experiencing physical signs of anxiety: Being alone or thinking about it may lead to a racing heart, sweating, shaking, dizziness, nausea, or trouble breathing.
Trouble sleeping or relaxing alone: You may find it hard to sleep, relax, or feel comfortable when no one else is around.
Impacting your daily life: Fear of being alone may affect your relationships, work, school, or social life.
Having some of these signs doesn’t mean you have autophobia. How often they happen, how much they bother you, and how they affect your daily life can help a mental health professional better understand what you’re experiencing.
Getting evaluated for autophobia
If a fear of being alone is affecting your life, a therapist can help you understand what’s behind it. An evaluation usually involves talking about your fears, when they started, what triggers them, and how they affect your daily life.
There aren’t separate diagnostic criteria for autophobia itself. Instead, a provider may consider whether your symptoms fit the criteria for a phobia or another anxiety disorder. They’ll look at factors like if your fear is intense, has lasted six months or longer, leads to avoidance, and causes distress or affects functioning.
It’s unclear how often people are diagnosed with autophobia specifically. Fear of being alone can overlap with conditions like separation anxiety disorder and agoraphobia. Part of an evaluation is figuring out which condition, if any, best explains what you’re experiencing.
Seeking help is important if your fear is limiting your independence or changing how you live your life. Avoiding being alone may provide relief in the moment, but continued avoidance can make fears harder to manage over time.
If you’re concerned, consider starting with a primary care provider or mental health professional. They can ask more about your experiences, consider other possible causes, and help you decide what to do next.
The care you need, when you need it
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In my experience, constantly finding someone to be with can bring relief in the moment, but it can make the fear of being alone stronger over time. The good news is that with support and small steps, you can become more comfortable and confident spending time on your own.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
Find care with Rula
An autophobia test can help you notice patterns in how you feel and act when you’re alone. If this fear is causing distress or affecting your daily life, a mental health professional can help you better understand what’s going on and what steps may help.
At Rula, we’re here to help you feel better. Rula makes it easy to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who takes your insurance. That way, you don’t have to choose between great care and a price you can afford.
Rula patients pay about $15 per session with insurance, and 93% say they feel better after getting care through Rula. We have 21,000+ providers, and appointments are available as soon as tomorrow. We’re here to help you take the next step — wherever you are in your mental health journey.
References
- Autophobia (Fear of Being Alone) https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22578-autophobia-monophobia-fear-of-being-alone
- Specific Phobia https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/specific-phobia
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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