Reasons for fear of a new job and ways to overcome it

Master a newfangled gadget, go rock climbing, get a new job, move to a neighboring city, start a new relationship... Thoughts about such changes make us worry, and sometimes give rise to real panic, which can be a sign of neophobia and have a significant negative impact on life. What is the reason for this fear and how to overcome it, you will find out by taking the time to read this article.

The concept of neophobia and its impact on life

Neophobia is a fear of everything new, an irrational fear of change, new situations, people, ideas or places. On the one hand, man is a creature of habit. He can live in the same house for decades, work in the same job, drive the same car, and even eat the same dish every Friday night. On the other hand, it is human nature to seek adventure. We look forward to promotions and vacations to visit another country, constantly striving for knowledge and new achievements.

Neophobia challenges a person. In its mild form it does not cause discomfort, but in its severe form it becomes a real problem and limits life. If a person feels comfortable in their current circumstances and does not seek drastic changes, this does not mean that they suffer from neophobia. You need to think about the problem in the case when he makes a conscious decision not to stand out from the rest; refuses to try new vacation spots or avoids opportunities to make new friends; rejects innovative ideas and products, desperately clinging to the old.

Neophobia has a serious impact on everyday life. It's easy to get stuck in a rut, avoiding challenges that, when overcome, could lead to personal growth or social fulfillment. To succeed or fail, you must take risks. Both outcomes are potentially life-changing, forcing one to adapt to new circumstances. If a person suffers from neophobia, they may feel that the potential benefits of success do not outweigh the potential upheaval of introducing something new.

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Neophobic reactions

Fear of change can manifest itself in forms that are not obvious, but have a tremendous impact on life. It is likely that neophobia will negatively affect a person when he:

• suffers an unhappy marriage/relationship;
• remains in a job that does not provide adequate emotional and/or financial satisfaction;
• has a clearly limited set of interests and rejects others;
• is friends only with specific people and does not want to make new acquaintances;
• has a limited list of places where he likes to visit and does not deviate from it;
• refuses opportunities that could be beneficial;
• gets irritated and defensive when someone suggests he reconsider or change his life.

By succumbing to the fear of the new, a person misses many chances that can significantly improve the quality of life. In moderate to severe form, neophobia may manifest itself as:

1. Ideophobia is a fear of new ideas that stops progress and can lead to disaster, since new ideas and ways of thinking about a situation are critical to success.
2. Technophobia is fear or dislike of advanced technologies and new devices. An estimated one-third of the population suffers from technophobia, and older people are especially susceptible to this fear.
3. Epistemophobia is an irrational fear of new knowledge or unknown information.
4. Food neophobia. Often occurs in young children. Picky eaters who refuse unfamiliar foods may actually be suffering from food neophobia.
5. Futurophobia is a fear of the future that causes anxiety and nervousness.
6. Ergasiophobia is an abnormal fear of work or job search, avoidance of new activities.
7. Anthropophobia (fear of people), which manifests itself as a fear of new acquaintances and social contacts.

In addition to the subtypes of neophobia listed above, fear can manifest itself in the form of painful resistance to new youth cultures, vaccines and vaccinations, changes in the Russian language, etc.

Fear of the new leader

Fear of the boss is a separate category of “work” fears: there is always the risk of getting a new boss, even without changing jobs. This is not the worst case scenario: you remain in the same team, at your same workplace, and it is possible that the work performed will remain the same. But people differ from person to person, and managers also meet with different characters and visions of the organization’s work - from literate and correct people to tyrants and adherents of a totalitarian regime. Whether you are afraid or not of the new boss, there are only two options: either you learn to communicate with the boss, despite his views on work and subordinates, or you should think about looking for a new job.

Getting along with your boss is a whole science, the study of which will have to be approached responsibly and seriously (whether you like it or not). A manager is the person on whom your work life and the acceptance of its results directly depend. After all, the boss is also subject to many requirements, which, if necessary, you can clarify: the specifics of the assigned tasks, job responsibilities and the ability to fulfill them (including technical ones), criteria for evaluating the work done. Yes, not all bosses are good, and sometimes you may have to put the manager in his place - this is also a communication experience, and it will certainly come in handy in the future.

Causes of neophobia

Various factors contribute to the development of neophobia, including heredity, cultural influences and traumatic events in the past. People who have close relatives with neophobia are three times more likely to suffer from a fear of new things than those who do not have a similar family history. In addition, the following reasons for the development of neophobia can be identified:

1. Anxiety about the unknown. Even if a person is tired of the current situation or has outgrown it, it is understandable and safe for him, familiar obstacles can be overcome relatively easily. Any new situation carries the potential for discomfort. Therefore, the reptilian part of the brain actively generates worst-case scenarios and alarming “what ifs”, thus trying to protect a person from troubles and keep a person safe.
2. Fear of failure. This fear is closely related to the feeling of shame. A person’s feeling that there are flaws inside him that can lead to failure in front of other people immobilizes and stops in the bud the desire to master new things. The desire to avoid the shameful feeling of failure fuels neophobia.
3. Fear of success. The development of neophobia is also facilitated by anxiety about how success in a new endeavor will change life, affect friendships and a person’s sense of self. Fear is felt especially acutely by those who were instilled in childhood with the idea that standing out from others and being special is dangerous. Such people are tormented by an internal question: “If I manage to become a “new person,” what if my old friends leave me, judge me, or become jealous?”
4. Fear of death. Although this is an unconscious reaction, a person may hesitate to make big changes because they raise the idea of ​​the finitude of life. Being in a familiar routine, we lose the passage of time, and changes are sobering, leading to the realization that death is inevitable. This fact causes fear and reluctance to change anything.
5. Self-judgment. Hesitation before any change, even positive ones, is normal, but if a person does not understand this, he may interpret his hesitation as weakness or cowardice. Thus, feelings of guilt and self-blame are trapped, overshadowing the desire to try new things.
6. Fear of evaluation. If a person is planning an unconventional change, such as quitting his job to have more free time or moving to a smaller apartment, he may worry that other people will think of him as a weirdo or a slacker, judge him, or judge his actions as “wrong.”

Instead of experiencing a feeling of happy anticipation of change, a person suffering from neophobia feels immobilized by a stream of fears. The good news is that any fear can be overcome. We will talk about how to overcome neophobia a little later in this article.

conclusions

The fear of a new job is familiar to almost all of us to one degree or another. Some people are able to overcome it on their own, while others need to consult a psychologist. This is not surprising, because for many people work is a second home, and they really want it to be pleasant or at least comfortable to go there. Before starting a new job, try to accept the idea that this anxiety is temporary and gradually you will become familiar with all the nuances and feel good. And if not, then to hell with it, you’ll find a new one!

Symptoms of neophobia

Neophobia falls under the category of anxiety disorders, so when exposed to triggers, a person may experience any (if not all) of the following physical and/or psychological symptoms:

• sweating;
• shiver;
• hot flashes or chills;
• shortness of breath, feeling of suffocation, difficulty breathing;
• cardiopalmus;
• chest pain;
• feeling of butterflies in the stomach;
• nausea, dry mouth;
• headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, disorientation;
• weakness;
• numbness or tingling in the body;
• fear of losing control;
• fear of fainting;
• feelings of guilt, shame, disconnection;
• sadness, feeling of hopelessness;
• difficulty concentrating;
• anger, irritability, mood swings.

A person experiencing these symptoms will often go to great lengths to avoid the phobic situation. This leads to missed opportunities, poor quality of life and mental well-being, which can ultimately lead to depression. This is why it is necessary to learn to overcome neophobia.

Should you be afraid of changes in life?

Our psyche is designed in such a way that we are always afraid of serious changes. Fear of the new is based on the innate instinct of self-preservation. A person protects himself from emotional stress based on uncomfortable sensations, experiences and unpreparedness for new living conditions. So it's normal to be afraid of change.

However, this does not mean that you should simply accept the fact that fear exists and do nothing. The desire for change is a step towards movement and progress. And if you sit and wait for help from other people or fate, you can freeze in your development and miss out on many interesting things.

It seems to us that if we had at least some guarantees at our disposal, we would immediately cast aside all fears and doubts and begin to act. But no one ever gives us these guarantees. Any new experience, any radical decisions are always associated with risk and making mistakes along the way.

But only those who do not make mistakes do not make mistakes. Therefore, we must step into the unknown and gain new experience, even if this experience is negative. Because it's still an experience. And based on this experience, you can take the next confident step. But to do this, you must first do the first one.

So don't be afraid of change, take action! If you want to go remote work, go. If you want to learn a new profession, be sure to try it. You may even be afraid. Be afraid, but do it. Only by looking fear in the face can you learn to manage your life and achieve your goals.

How to overcome neophobia

Surely each of you strives to live a fulfilling, happy life. Change is a necessary condition for achieving this goal. We offer several ways to help overcome neophobia and initiate change:

1. Develop self-compassion. Fear of change is natural, normal and universal. Discussing your thoughts with a good friend or coach will help you realize that you are not weak or defective. Make sure the person you trust acknowledges your feelings and doesn't judge or project their own anxieties onto you. Share your fears with someone who can actually listen and understand and who doesn't lecture you or try to solve the problem instantly.
2. Recognize that the old was wonderful, but the new can be painful. The old life was good enough if you held on to it for so long. Take stock and thank yourself for everything you have achieved. Every change is a bittersweet experience, so don't expect to completely avoid feelings of emptiness, regret, sadness and confusion. Remember that the unpleasant feelings will lessen over time, especially as you begin to experience the rewards of change.
3. Focus on the future. A person is afraid of change because he is not able to control it. To help ease the stress, you can ask people who have made similar changes in their lives to share their experiences or look for more information about the changes in books, blogs, etc. Of course, it is impossible to predict the future with 100% certainty, but if you have as clear an idea as possible about how events may develop, you will feel less vulnerable.
4. Be aware . When abandoning the old and introducing the new, going on autopilot will complicate your life. Think about what you are doing, and most importantly, why. In other words, set an intention that will motivate you to change.
5. Don't expect perfection. If you are confident that a new life situation will magically solve all your problems, you may find yourself disappointed as soon as the first obstacles arise. Remember that every change brings new challenges. Here again, talking to people who have undergone similar life changes will help.
6. Recognize the imaginary monster. Take time to introspect: try to identify your resistance and determine its reasons. From a psychological point of view, a person associates changes with losses, be it the birth of a child, a promotion at work, or the purchase of a new smartphone. Most often, fear is far-fetched and has nothing to do with the real consequences of change.
7. Don't forget the old favorites. Newness is daunting, so sometimes it's good to return to old and familiar things. Support yourself with your favorite rituals and usual actions: enjoy visiting familiar places, watch a movie dear to your heart, cook your favorite dish.
8. Create a reliable support team. The support of loved ones and understanding people helps to endure even the most dramatic changes in life. Surround yourself with people who won't let you give up, even if you feel like you want to.

We must admit that any innovations and changes cause discomfort and make us nervous. It `s naturally. Your task is to continue moving forward, working with your inner state. If you are determined to overcome the fear of new things and want to learn how to manage your own mental reactions, take our online program “Mental Self-Regulation”. It contains a lot of useful information, as well as games, tests and exercises that will help develop and consolidate skills in managing your mental state.

Now we suggest you take a short test to check how well you have learned the information about neophobia:

Life is full of possibilities. By avoiding the new, a person avoids life. Many new things are worth trying, yet fear keeps some people hopelessly stuck in the past. If you suffer from neophobia, remember: everyone gets nervous when they encounter something new and different. Take a deep breath, take things slowly, and know that new things will help you grow.

Friends, we wish you courage and strength in overcoming fears, as well as flexibility and the ability to easily accept any changes in your life!

We also recommend reading:

• Storytelling
• How to cope with fear: a selection of useful materials
• How to overcome the fear of a white page
• Overcoming Fear
• Overcoming Fear of Failure
• Fear of success
• How to deal with the fear of rejection
• Interesting and unusual facts about fear
• Typology of fears. The most common fears and phobias
• Seven ways to stop rumination
• Discomfort from happiness

Key words: 1Cognitive science, 1Psychoregulation

Fear

We all get scared, and that's normal. Fear is biological. The amygdala, or almond-shaped body, is responsible for it in our brain. The “panic button” that helped our species survive.

The Amygdala taught ancient man: the unknown is not very good. Both a harmless rabbit and a poisonous snake can rustle in the bushes. So it’s better not to take risks and quickly go into the cave.

Now we live in a more or less safe world. In any case, the chance of meeting a poisonous snake or tiger on the way to the bus is small. But the signals from the amygdala have not gone away. We perceive risks as threats, consider the familiar safe, and are more likely to trust opinions that are more common.

If you are afraid to change jobs, move, or take up yoga, know that part of what scares you is the amygdala. It's instinct. But everything, of course, would be too simple if fear was limited only to biology.

"Safe airfield"

Lack of understanding of one’s own actions in the event of an emergency gives rise to unbridled fear.
Think back to your childhood. Now analyze a situation where you might be afraid of monsters living in the dark or under the bed. What frightened you most, that they really exist or what to do in case of contact? I suggest you familiarize yourself with the most sobering method of getting rid of fear in the future tense. To do this, you need to answer several important questions. Honest and frank! This way, you can shatter your list of subconscious worries and feel much better.

• One by one, write down on a piece of paper a list of the most frightening aspects in the context of “What if?..”;
• think about what is the likelihood that a far-fetched fear will definitely come true in the near future? (assumption percentage);
• describe in detail what will happen to you and how you will feel if the situation happens at its worst? (in colors and details);
• decide and detail your options if this happens. What exactly will you do? At the same time, always remember that there is no way out only from the coffin.