“O, Beware, My Lord, Of Jealousy; It Is The Green-Eyed Monster, Which Doth Mock The Meat It Feeds On.”

— William Shakespeare, Othello

We sometimes feel envious of others. This jealousy comes from believing that we deserve what someone else has. A lack of trust breeds insecurities which make us uncomfortable and unable to believe in ourselves. Jealousy has been a theme in many narratives. Starting from Shakespeare’s stories to Biblical stories of Cain and Abel, the sons of Adam, jealousy has been as prevalent as love. It is an emotion we all give into at times but oftentimes choose to remain silent about it. As jealousy begins to breed in our minds, we lose sight of what we have and become ungrateful, making us disappointed, unsatisfied and filled with envy.

But, Are We All Okay With Feeling Jealous? Can Jealousy Be Feared? 

Some of us might fear this envious feeling i.e. fear jealousy itself. This condition is known as Zelophobia. The irrational fear of feeling any kind of jealousy causes someone who is Zelophobic to be extremely anxious. Even the mere thought of jealousy can cause them to become anxious.

For someone who experiences internal turmoil due to the concept of jealousy, they are likely to go out of their way to prevent themselves from being in a situation which might cause them to feel any jealousy or envy. In other words, they relentlessly avoid what they fear. For instance, such a person might go as far as isolating themselves to guarantee that they are not exposed to anything or anyone that might make them feel jealous. The intensity and excessiveness of their worrying and irrational thinking pattern is what causes them to feel mentally anguished and clouded.

Zelophobia causes an intense amount of anxiety which might turn into full-blown panic attacks. The severity of these attacks might even cause them to become hospitalized. Although fearing jealousy might sound like something out of a fictional tale, this condition is just as consuming as any other mental illness and should not be taken lightly.

What makes this condition particularly difficult to address and more complex, is the vagueness in its origin. With no definitive causes, it is assumed that genetics and family history, environmental factors, past history of trauma and abuse, play a role in developing zelophobia. In some cases, any kind emotionally painful event  which links to feeling jealous or other fears associated with zelophobia may contribute or even be enough for someone to develop this condition.

Someone who is zelophobic might also fear other intense emotions similar to jealousy. Those who are consumed by this condition tend to repress their emotions. Consequently, this may either cause endpoints like rage, frustration and sadness to build up in them and cause more anxiety. It may also cause them to become detached with their emotions and expose them to more mental health problems.

As zelophobia has a lot to do with anxiety and panic disorders, daily activities or routines can indirectly fuel the gravity of the condition. Something as simple as daily coffee or tea can intensify anxiety. Caffeine in large amounts can be harmful for someone with zelophobia. As caffeine causes the heart to beat faster, we tend to feel more tense and thereby, in moments, more anxious, and our body resorts to its ‘flight or fight’ responses. This state of mind is often a motivator for someone with zelophobia to experience panic attacks.

Consuming little to no caffeine in drink or in foodstuff can significantly help reduce panic attacks and anxiety and help calm zelophobic attacks and stabilize the mind.

Another way to tackle zelophobia is by simply working out. American Psychology Association states that physical exercise and movements can help ease stress. It only makes sense for the mind to be able to handle stress better considering the intensity of stress that the body encounters while being put through strenuous exercises and workout routines. Engaging in any form of aerobic exercise could possibly aid zelophobic symptoms. It makes it easier for the individual to cope with the anxiety and stress.

Fearing jealousy is something which is uncommon. Those who might suffer from this might not even know they have it. They might avoid situations and thoughts which evoke a sense of envy and take extreme measures to avoid having to feel the slightest bit of jealousy. It might appear commendable that such individuals do not want to feel jealous, but zelophobia is much more complex and potent and far too detrimental to mental health to be glorified.

Despite being a phobia which tends to go unnoticed in most societies, extreme anxiety and hesitation for feeling envious or thinking envious thoughts are harmful to one’s mind and well-being. It remains imperative that we proactively begin to look out for these symptoms within ourselves and among our peers such that proper treatment can be taken in time.