Hedonophobia

Hedonophobia is an excessive fear of, or aversion to, obtaining pleasure, formally defined as the fear of experiencing pleasure. The name comes from the ancient Greek hedone, meaning pleasure, and the word phobia. The source describes possible backgrounds such as an egalitarian solidarity with people in the poorest countries, a persistent sense that things which are too good to be true must not be deserved, and an ascetic or religious upbringing that treats pleasure as frivolous. High anxiety, panic attacks and extreme fear are listed as symptoms that can follow the anticipation of pleasure. Cognitive behavioral therapy is described as an effective approach, with medication needed only when daily functioning is affected. The record here is descriptive and is not medical advice.