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Reem Khokhar

Eden Morales has an interest in words that capture complex feelings, featuring them in a series of Instagram reels.
Terms like the Portuguese saudade, a sad state of intense longing for someone or something that is absent, or oubaitori – the Japanese idea that people, like flowers, bloom in their own times and in their individual ways.
One word in particular resonated strongly with him, capturing what he has often felt: cherophobia. From the Greek word chairo, to rejoice, it describes an irrational fear of being happy.
“This was probably one of those words that found its way to me,” says the 33-year-old user interface and user experience designer in Manila, The Philippines.
“I always find myself anticipating a misfortune to come after experiencing an excessively positive moment,” Morales says.
He cannot recall the first time he experienced this feeling, but he is certain cherophobia keeps him from wholeheartedly savouring joyful moments in his life.












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A post shared by Athena Taj (@betterbehaviorist)



Cherophobia is a word that pops up in social media posts, along with its adjective, cherophobic. California-based therapist Athena Taj sums it up well on her Instagram account @betterbehaviorist.
Many of us may feel this way occasionally, expecting chaos after a period of calm; experiencing a fear of attracting bad luck by showing happiness; or feeling guilt at experiencing joy when others around us are going through difficulties.
For Morales, this anxiety is a constant undercurrent, making it difficult for him to enjoy good things that come his way. He has no official cherophobia diagnosis; the condition is not included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

Cherophobia may be considered rare, and there are probably not enough clinical studies to support classifying it as a distinct disorder, says clinical psychologist Dr Ken Fung, founder of Your Relationship Clinic, and director of therapy and counselling at Jadis Blurton Family Development Centre in Hong Kong.
It may also overlap with other recognised conditions such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders or personality disorders, he adds.
“However … it is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life,” says Fung.
Cherophobia can be influenced by cultural attitudes and superstition, such as the fear of attracting bad luck by displaying happiness.
Its symptoms include avoiding joyful activities or opportunities, such as social gatherings, holidays, or promotions; anxiety about positive experiences because of the fear of subsequent negative events; and persistent, irrational thoughts about the dangers of being happy.

For Morales, even the thought of going on a holiday brings immense feelings of guilt for leaving his mother behind.
“I feel like I should be doing this with her and not be experiencing new things alone. She has given me everything I could not provide for myself when I didn’t have anything,” he says.
This sense of being unworthy of happiness, he feels, may stem from growing up in a broken family, which affects how he views himself as an adult. He also feels it could be related to being in a challenging phase of life between his mid-twenties and thirties.
“I assume people my age – who feel like they wasted so many years chasing happiness selfishly – are now feeling some guilt whenever joyous moments come their way,” Morales says.
“You do not yet fully realise your individual identity, and are under pressure to balance life and work, and find time to build your dream. How can you be happy when you juggle too many incomprehensible thoughts at the same time?”
I started doing a daily journal and reminding myself of things I am grateful for each passing day
Eden Morales on how he is overcoming cherophobia
Cherophobia can affect people of any age, and its causes are varied.
“Undergoing serious and complex trauma may alter the way an individual views themselves and the world,” says Fung. This can affect their feelings of self-worth, safety and self-image, which can trigger their uneasiness at feeling happy.
Other causes, he says, are anxiety disorders, which might include pleasure-related fears, the constant worry altering an individual’s view of happiness.
Cultural and familial attitudes towards joy and success can also shape an individual’s outlook. “Particularly if the parenting style is emotionally restrictive or dismissive, where expressing emotions, including happiness, is deemed inappropriate,” Fung says.
Collectively challenging and traumatic events like the Covid-19 pandemic or war could also exacerbate a fear of happiness in some people.
“These events significantly impact mental health and can alter perceptions of safety and stability,” says Fung.
Managing symptoms and overcoming this fear is possible through self-help methods and professional expertise.

“To cope with this, I started doing a daily journal and reminding myself of things I am grateful for each passing day, whether it was a great cup of hot matcha latte or a cat happily brushing my thigh during my stray-feeding volunteer work,” says Morales.
Another effective routine for him is unwinding after work by wandering around Manila, which helps him set aside unhappy thoughts.
Fung endorses self-help strategies such as journaling, relaxation techniques and positive affirmations.
He does advise professional intervention for persistent or severe cases, including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), which can help identify, challenge and change negative thought patterns associated with happiness; and exposure therapy, which helps to gradually introduce a client to joyful situations to reduce fear responses.
He says: “Promoting a balanced perspective towards happiness and encouraging gradual exposure to positive experiences can help individuals overcome their fear of joy.”
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Have an irrational fear of being happy? It’s called cherophobia; here’s how to overcome it

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“I always find myself anticipating a misfortune to come after experiencing an excessively positive moment,” Eden Morales says. Photo: Eden Morales

Morales is grateful for small moments of happiness, such as catching up on life with a friend in a quiet cafe. Photo: instagram.com/_sincerelyeden

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An irrational fear of being happy keeps IT worker Eden Morales from savouring joyful moments, but he is finding ways to escape its clutches


An irrational fear of being happy, known as cherophobia, has prevented IT worker Eden Morales from enjoying good times in his life, but he is working to overcome the condition.


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Have an irrational fear of being happy? It’s called cherophobia; here’s how to overcome it

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}An irrational fear of being happy keeps IT worker Eden Morales from savouring joyful moments, but he is finding ways to escape its clutches

An irrational fear of being happy keeps IT worker Eden Morales from savouring joyful moments, but he is finding ways to escape its clutches