Foreigner Anxiety Disorder, as Suffered by the Japanese

Foreigner Anxiety Disorder (FAD) is a mild to severe disorder suffered by the majority of Japanese when in the presence of a non-ethnic Japanese person. FAD mainly causes sufferers to have difficulty undergoing basic interpersonal communication with non-Japanese, especially non-Asian, but can also hinder any type of interaction as well. When in the presence of “foreigners” the sufferer will generally experience physical affects ranging from ‘butterflies’ or minor uneasiness to overwhelming fear - which in extreme cases can cause the sufferer to be housebound for long periods of time.

Foreigner Panic Disorder (FPD) is a rare but violent disorder experienced by a very small percentage of Japanese. Sufferers of FPD believe that their panic after encountering a non-Japanese foreigner is the result of some dire physical cause, and often rush to hospital or call for immediate medical attention during or after their attacks. As of present, FPD has no known cure, thus leaving its sufferers unable to interact with non-Japanese in any matter. Though strides in understanding FPD have been made in recent years, victims of this fatal affliction will perpetually remain socially handicapped outside of Japan.

Experts often distinguish between generalized and specific foreigner induced anxiety disorders. Japanese with generalized foreigner anxiety will have great difficulty with all foreigner interactions. Even the presence of a foreigner on television may cause mild uneasiness. Those with more specific-type foreigner disorders may only experience anxiety in a handful of situations. The most common specific anxiety is eigophobia, the fear of conversing in English with an English native speaker for fear of failure and or public humiliation. Other examples of specific foreigner disorders include fear of encountering a foreigner in a Japanese onsen (or public bath), fear of meeting a foreigner at a 4-way stop or parking lot while driving, and fear of encountering a foreigner in a public restroom.

Today, many sufferers of FAD have learned to overcome their fear through various self-treatment techniques all generally focused on prolonged contact with non-Japanese, whether abroad or within Japan. Popular therapeutic procedures include intensive English instruction through a non-Japanese instructor, regular visitations to Japanese Foreigner Bars, and of course international travel.

Formal medical treatments for the most severally afflicted often center on a combination of various cognitive foreigner behavior therapies, as well as foreigner group therapies in which a foreigner is physically present for forced, but controlled interactions. Though still in their testing phase, Anti-Foreigner-Anxiety medications hold hope for sufferers of the worst cases, such as severe Foreigner Panic Disorder.