If you fear getting close to people or making relationship decisions that have a long-lasting effect, such as getting married, you might have commitment phobia. It is common to fear the unknown, but people with commitment phobia can extend this fear to other parts of their life — especially romantic relationships.

What do commitment phobes want?

People with a commitment phobia want a long-term connection with another person, but their overwhelming anxiety prevents them from staying in any relationship for too long. If pressed for a commitment, they are far more likely to leave the relationship than to make the commitment.

Is commitment phobia a mental illness?

Phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. Someone living with it can experience high anxiety and panic attacks even thinking about what they fear. Commitment phobia isnt a formal diagnosis, although its a challenge mental health experts often see in clinical settings and study.

Why am I such a commitment phobe?

Commitment phobia is no different. This anxiety of relationships or commitment phobia can come from a variety of places. Some commonalities are negative past relationship experiences such as abuse, betrayal, and/or infidelity.

Do narcissists commit?

There is a popular belief that “Narcissists rarely commit suicide. When a Narcissist threatens to do this, its generally as a means of manipulation” (Saeed 2014). However, studies suggest that NPD is associated with suicidal behavior (Stone 1989, Links et al.