11 Best Things to Comfort Your Autophobia When You Fear Being Alone

Life offers few certainties, but one thing is certain: when our time comes to leave this world, we do so alone. If you suffer from autophobia, or a fear of being alone, take comfort in knowing you’re not truly alone—everyone grapples with loneliness at some point. While it’s an uncomfortable feeling, it’s also temporary.

It’s natural to reach out to a family member or make plans with a friend when the emptiness of your home feels overwhelming. We are social beings, and connecting with others brings comfort.

However, if you find yourself constantly avoiding solitude, your fear of being alone might be dominating your life.

If this fear has become a phobia, or if it’s significantly impacting your daily life, it might be time to explore ways to overcome it and find peace in solitude.

Most people dislike feeling lonely, and it’s common to call someone or step out when those feelings become too intense. But if your fear of being alone starts affecting your daily life, mental health, or relationships, you might be dealing with autophobia.

Autophobia is an irrational and overwhelming fear of being alone, lonely, or isolated. It can make it unbearable to be away from others, and it often stems from a deep fear of rejection or abandonment.

Even in a crowded room, you might still feel the weight of this fear, as autophobia can strike at any moment, making it a particularly challenging condition to live with.

# You Only Need One Person

We often think that life requires a large circle of contacts, much like social media, to feel complete and avoid loneliness. However, the truth is that having just one good person in your life—whether it's your spouse, sister, or a close friend—means you’re never truly alone. One person to talk to is all you need, so stop worrying about being alone. Instead of exhausting your energy trying to keep everyone around, focus on the one person who will stand by you through thick and thin, and let the rest go.

# You Are Capable of Standing on Your Own

Even in the unfortunate event that you find yourself alone, remember that you have the strength to stand on your own two feet. Sometimes we fear solitude because we don’t recognize the power we hold within. Life may throw challenges your way, and you may feel lost or helpless at first. But when you face the situation, you’ll discover that you are indeed capable of handling it. It may be tough, but as you push through, your confidence and resilience will grow. Fearing loneliness doesn’t solve it—it only complicates your relationship with it. Once you tap into your inner strength and stop fearing your ability to be alone and okay, the fear begins to fade.

# Loneliness Comes from Within, Not from Being Alone

Feeling lonely doesn’t necessarily stem from being physically alone. Often, you can be in a relationship or surrounded by others and still feel isolated. The worst loneliness occurs when you’re with someone but still feel alone or when you fear being alone so much that you can’t enjoy what you have. To live in the moment, stop relying on others to make you feel less alone. Overcoming loneliness is all about changing your mindset. Don’t let feelings of loneliness or the fear of being alone dictate your life.

# Cherish Quiet Moments with Your Own Thoughts

Sometimes the fear of being alone is really a fear of being alone with yourself. If you’re at peace with who you are, being alone should not be frightening. What exactly scares you about solitude? Is it the fear of confronting your feelings, evaluating who you are, or simply being bored without someone to talk to? By learning to be comfortable with yourself, appreciating quiet moments, and finding inner peace, you’ll start to welcome time alone instead of fearing it.

# There’s Always Someone New Around the Corner

Every time you lose a friend or loved one, someone new is likely to enter your life. It could be a kind stranger or a fleeting friend who appears just when you need them most. It’s as if angels are sent to make us feel less alone when we need it most. Stop fearing the loss of people in your life, and accept that we’re all here for a limited time. Losing someone doesn’t mean you’ll be alone forever.

# If You’re Open to It, There’s Always Someone New to Meet

Sometimes, autophobia—the fear of being alone—can lead to self-sabotage. When you’re afraid of being alone, you might push away those who matter most. Subconsciously, you might distance yourself from others to avoid potential hurt, but in doing so, you end up hurting yourself and reinforcing your loneliness. There’s no reason to fear loneliness when there are billions of people on this planet. Unless an unlikely disaster wipes us all out, there will always be opportunities to connect with someone new.

# You Can’t Control If People Leave, But You Can Control How You Reach Out

One of the hardest lessons in life is realizing that you can only control yourself, not others. No matter what you do, you can’t control if or when someone leaves your life. Once you accept this, you have two choices: you can either reach out to people or shut yourself off. While you can’t control others leaving, you can control your decision to connect with others.

# Have You Ever Truly Been Alone?

Think back—have you ever truly been alone in your life? You might have lost someone and felt alone, but have you ever been completely isolated, like being out in the wilderness or on a deserted island? Chances are, you’ve never been completely alone. Even when you felt lonely, there were always people waiting in the wings. Learn from your past experiences—there’s always been someone there, even if you didn’t realize it at the time.

# What Does “Alone” Really Mean?

Being alone isn’t necessarily about physical isolation. It’s more about feeling like you don’t have anyone who cares. You might not even realize how many people love and care for you because you’re focused on the wrong people or ignoring those who are trying to reach out. “Alone” is a concept we create in our minds—it’s not necessarily real. If you look around, you’ll likely find that you’re never truly alone or lonely.

# How Can You Be Alone with So Many People Around You?

With billions of people on this earth, how could you ever truly be alone? You might be without the people you currently have in your life, but being “alone” is a mindset, not a reality. The sense of being alone is something you create within yourself.

# Are Your Own Actions Contributing to Your Loneliness?

Sometimes our own behaviors contribute to our feelings of loneliness. If you’re constantly afraid of being alone, you might be creating that reality in your mind. Fear can give power to the things we dread the most. Consider whether your actions or attitudes toward others are causing you to feel unstable or alone. Are you doing something that keeps your fear alive?