The fear or experience of losing one's individual identity by being overwhelmed or consumed by another person's needs, emotions, or presence. It often occurs in intimate relationships when boundaries are unclear or violated.
From 'engulf' meaning to surround and swallow up completely, derived from Old French 'en-' (in) and 'golfe' (gulf). The psychological usage developed in the mid-20th century to describe the terror some people feel when relationships become too close or demanding.
Try Another Word