Spiders, needles, germs, heights – these are all common fears. But there's one that quietly grips more people than you might expect: metathesiophobia – the fear of change. While it may not be as visible as a panic over spiders or as dramatic as a fear of heights, the fear of change can be just as paralyzing, influencing decisions, stalling progress, and quietly holding people back.
Change can feel like standing on the edge of a diving board. It’s scary but thrilling if you take that leap.
“The fear of the unknown can create a feeling of anxiety,” said Dr. David Ludden, Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) professor of psychology and chair of the psychology department. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 12.5% of adults experience some type of phobia in their lifetime.
While change goes back to the beginning of time, the pace from then to now continues to accelerate. Consider the automobile, said Ludden. Just over 100 years ago it was accepted as a widely used means of transportation.
“Today, it’s all about technology,” he said. “For example, take our cell phones. Something as simple as getting a new phone can cause anxiety and frustration. I just bought a new one and I’ve had to learn how to use it all over again. It functions differently and has features that I’m getting used to.”
Change, added Ludden, isn’t a bad thing.
“Most change is for the better when you think about it,” he said. “The transition can be rough, but once you get past that, you’ll appreciate how change can make things better.”
Fear aside, part of the challenge with change is people tend to resist it.
“It’s common to hear about the ‘good old days’ and how great it was then,” said Ludden. “However, many times that is a nostalgic, romanticized view of how things actually were.”
Both Ludden and his wife are avid readers.
“My wife has rows of books on shelves in our house,” he said. “And she asks me why I don’t read anymore. I tell her I read just as much, only on a screen.”
Like it or not, change happens.
“The idea of change can trigger negative reactions like anxiety,” said Ludden. “Accepting that change is going to happen is a good first step. It’s part of what helps you grow personally. Many times, it’s not as bad as you imagined it would be.”
In the end, Ludden said change is inevitable, but how you approach it is what makes the difference.
“It’s okay to be afraid of change, but you shouldn’t let fear rule your life,” he emphasized.