The fear of abandonment is a specific phobia or a morbid fear of being alone, isolated, or of oneself. It is the overwhelming worry that people close to you will leave, and it can be deeply rooted in a traumatic experience you had as a child or a distressing relationship in adulthood. Fear of abandonment can lead to difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships, and it can be almost impossible to overcome without addressing the root cause.

There are different terms used to describe the fear of abandonment, including autophobia, monophobia, isolophobia, or eremophobia. Autophobia is characterized by extreme dependency on others, and it is commonly seen in adults and children who are also diagnosed with this phobia.

Although fear of abandonment is not a mental health diagnosis, it is sometimes related to mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD). People with a fear of abandonment possess an insecure attachment style, usually because their core needs were not met when they were children.

Some common symptoms of fear of abandonment include panic or anxiety about being alone or not coupled, sensitivity to criticism or rejection, shame and self-blame when something goes wrong in the relationship, crying when separated from primary caregivers, stress and withdrawal in new situations, and anxiety about going to school or day care.

In conclusion, the fear of abandonment is a specific phobia or a morbid fear of being alone, isolated, or of oneself. It can be deeply rooted in a traumatic experience you had as a child or a distressing relationship in adulthood, and it can lead to difficulties in maintaining healthy relationships. Although it is not a mental health diagnosis, it is sometimes related to mental health conditions such as borderline personality disorder (BPD).