What is atychiphobia and how can it be dealt with?

He fear of failure It is a feeling that many have experienced at some point in their lives, whether at work, in their studies or in personal relationships. However, when this fear of failure is irrational, persistent and becomes a paralyzing obstacle, it is known as atychiphobia.

This psychological condition affects many people, including those in leadership positions, and can have a profound impact on their daily lives. Feeling fear in risky situations is natural, but when this fear persists in a maladaptive way and affects daily life, we are faced with a problem that needs to be addressed.

What is atychiphobia? This term combines 3 prefixes: “to-“ indicating denial; “tic-tac-toe”, which comes from the Greek “tikos” and means “failures” or “errors”, and “phobia”which indicates fear. This fear is not officially recognized in diagnostic manuals such as the DSM-5 or the ICD-11, since it has a complex nature that often overlaps with other anxiety disorders and the normalization of the fear of failure in everyday life.

This psychological phenomenon can be debilitating and start early. The publication Advances in Applied Sociology explains its impact among teenagers who mostly admitted that the fear of failure affected them causing stress, self-doubt and anxiety.

What are the symptoms of atychiphobia?

People who suffer from atychiphobia ask themselves questions like, “What if I fail? What if I can’t cope? Emotionally, They may experience intense anxiety, feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteem, apathy, shame, irritability, hopelessness, and a constant fear of external judgment. These emotions can lead to emotional paralysis, making decision-making and action difficult. Cognitively, It is reflected in mental or physical blocks, procrastination, extreme perfectionism, a critical internal dialogue, a persistent fear of failure, rumination of past failures, and a pessimistic vision of the future.

Physical reactions include tachycardia, sweating, digestive problems, fatigue, muscle pain, and sleep disturbances. Behaviorally, People may avoid new challenges, show a lack of initiative, and constantly distract themselves to avoid facing situations that could generate anxiety. These symptoms and behaviors reflect the depth of the impact of Atychiphobia, affecting both personal well-being and professional performance.

Causes of this psychological condition

The causes of Atychiphobia are diverse and can include both individual and social factors. We live in a society that puts considerable pressure on personal and professional performance. Extremely high standards are set in almost every aspect of life, from work to personal relationships, and the stigma associated with “failure” only compounds the problem.

On a more personal level, past experiences of “failure” or perceptions of not having measured up can fuel this fear. It can also be related to an overly critical or demanding upbringing, which creates deep insecurities.

As we have seen, atychiphobia is a specific phobia that can affect anyone, regardless of their level of success or responsibility. Although debilitating, with the right tools and a correct therapeutic approach, it is possible to overcome it and regain control over personal and professional life.

A practical case: Ana, leader in a multinational

I want to share with you the story of Ana, a senior leader at a multinational technology company. Ana had risen rapidly in her job due to her great ability to manage complex teams and projects. However, as she progressed in her career, she began to feel increasing pressure and a growing fear of making mistakes.

The fear of failure began to paralyze her, affecting her ability to make critical decisions and lead effectively. Ana sought professional help for years, and during the sessions, we began to work on addressing work problems from a comprehensive perspective, helping her distinguish between her personal identity and her “Work Self” and providing her with deep tools to overcome work and personal blocks. As with every patient, we address the following basic points:

• Deep self-knowledge: Through a reflective process to help understand her fears and limiting beliefs. In Ana’s case, this involved exploring how her fear of failure was related to internal and external expectations she had built up over the years
• Separation of roles: One of the keys to the method is learning to separate the professional role from the personal identity. In Ana’s case, this meant understanding that a mistake in her work did not affect her value as a person. This approach allowed Ana to alleviate some of the pressure she felt when leading teams.
• Re-evaluate and re-signify experiences: The method also addressed how past experiences, which are sometimes not fully resolved, can manifest themselves in the work environment. Ana discovered that her extreme perfectionism had roots in her family’s high expectations, which increased her fear of failure (WORK BETTER).
• Empowerment of the “Work Self”: She empowered herself to redefine her “Work Self” by integrating past, present and future experiences. This involved learning to better manage emotions, accepting mistakes as opportunities to grow and realigning work goals with personal ones.
• Customized strategies: With Ana, we work on setting realistic goals and developing coping strategies for anxiety with a comprehensive approach, including relaxation techniques, self-compassion, and strengthening mental health through clinical occupational psychology.

• Support from the environment: Intervention in the family and social environment was very important to provide support in the moments when it was experienced.
• Reframing distorted narratives of success and failure in parenting: Changing the way failure is perceived is essential. We work on changing the culture of failure and turning it into an opportunity as a natural part of the learning and personal growth process, which can help reduce anxiety.

Work psychologist and Director of @trabaja.mejor