Mysophobia

 

 We all have fears, but phobias tend to be viewed as an unreasonable or an excessive compared to standard fears. The question arises that what is a Phobia? A phobia is an irrational fear of an object or a situation. There are hundreds of phobias which have been recognized by the doctors today. In my blog I will be talking about a phobia which is concerned with a fear of germs. It is Mysophobia, more commonly known as "germaphobia" or "germ phobia”, is a pathological fear of germs, dirt, and above all of contamination. The Mysophobes lacks the ability to differentiate between good and bad germs and they overestimate the risk of being harmed by germs, believing that any potential exposure to germs is dangerous and threatening. Mysophobia may be referred to by other names, including: Bacillophobia, bacteriophobia, verminophobia.

                It is normal and prudent to be concerned about issues such as cross-contamination of foods, exposure to the bodily fluids of others, and maintaining good hygiene. However, if you have mysophobia, these normal concerns become overblown.

 

What leads to Mysophobia?             

Mysophobia is often caused by a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors. A shock, contamination or exposure to bad body odour in childhood could be the root cause of the trauma that led to mysophobia. Some people may develop this condition after experiencing a disturbing event, while others may simply focus on germs as a repercussion to their anxiety. Some experts are of the opinion that increased use of products such as hand sanitizers, and toilet seat covers, that promote hygiene, have significantly contributed to the rise of this condition. However, people with a history of depression or anxiety in their family are at a greater risk of contracting a phobia.

 

What are its symptoms?

To be diagnosed with mysophobia, a person’s avoidance of germs cannot just be eccentric. It has to interfere with one or more life activities or threaten the person’s health. Common traits associated with mysophobia include:

§  Obsessive hand washing

§  Avoidance of places perceived to be full of germs or contamination

§  Overuse of sanitizing products

§  Declaring the desire not to share any personal items, including utensils and toothbrushes as well as food

§  Fixation on cleanliness

§  Fear of one’s children becoming contaminated; for example, by refusing to allow visitors to interact with a baby

§  Spending an excessive amount of time thinking about, preparing for, or putting off situations that might involve germs

 

There are also the physical symptoms of germaphobia are similar to those of other anxiety disorders and can occur during both thoughts of germs and situations that involve germs. They include:

§  Rapid heartbeat

§  Sweating or chills

§  Shortness of breath

§  Shaking or tremors

§  Muscle tension

§  Difficulty relaxing

§  nausea or vomiting

Children who have a fear of germs can also experience the symptoms listed above. Depending on their age, they may experience additional symptoms, such as:

§  Tantrums, crying, or screaming

§  Clinging to or refusing to leave parents

§  Difficulty sleeping

§  Self-esteem issues

 

Sometimes a fear of germs can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with mysophobia can be seen having some obsessive-compulsive elements. A lot of people think mysophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder are the same thing. But they aren't. While a symptom of both disorders is repeated hand washing, it's the thought process behind it that separates mysophobia from OCD. But how to know if is it Mysophobia or OCD?

 A mysophobe washes their hands repeatedly to get rid of germs and contaminants while someone with OCD washes their hands repeatedly because they feel they have to.

 

What are the effects of being a Mysophobe?

Mysophobia can have severe social repercussions. Because the individual is terrified of contamination, she will avoid many social situations for fear of coming into contact with germs or dirt. Also, other individuals may not understand the mysophobe's condition, and think of her as paranoid or hostile, leading to alienation and isolation.

For example, most of us are familiar with the germ-fearing character of Dr Sheldon Cooper played by Jim Parsons in the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory. He is so apprehensive of germs and contracting an infection that he once even alienated his friend and moved to another table just because he sneezed. Also, in an Amazon’s Original series named ‘Breathe into the shadows’, it is seen how Abhishek Bachchan used one’s mysophobical condition to kill him. Abhishek was seen mentally harassing the guy who had mysophobia by dumping litters and wastes in front of the guy’s house and then tricked him to come out of the house and killed him.

 

Some of the famous personalities that came up and publicly accepted that they are mysophobes.

    Howie Mandel admits to suffering from both OCD and Mysophobia. He refuses to shake hands unless he's wearing latex gloves. He's been known to literally run from germs. First in 2007 when NFL running back Marshall Faulk grabbed Howie's hand and tried to shake it, Howie ran off stage screaming and washed his hands several times. This happened twice more while he was a judge on America's Got Talent. Once when a contestant was trying to sneeze too close to him and again when another contestant dropped a piece of used dental floss too close to Howie.

      In 1997 Donald outlined his fear of shaking hands in his book Trump: The Art of the Comeback. As it turns out, Donald Trump is actually terrified of germs. "I'm going to do everything in my power not to shake hands with teachers. They have 17,000 germs per square inch on their desk. That's ten times the germ rate of those in other professions. It's absolutely swarming with germs."

 

 

What is its treatment?

§  Therapies designed to treat OCD

§  Hypnosis or the use of anti-anxiety medications have proven to cure mysophobia till an extent.

§   A combination of education about the risks of overly sanitized environments, exposure therapy, and psychotherapy designed to address any underlying causes can be helpful.

§  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in this the therapist guides sufferer through a series of gradual exposures to feared items and situations. Early sessions of therapy may involve having the individual shake someone's hand without washing it for five minutes. As the person learns to master the fear, the therapist will guide the sufferer through more intense exposures, such as touching garbage or shaking the hands of hospital patients. This type of treatment is extremely effective and, if properly administered, works after just a few months.

§  Talk- Therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is based on the core idea that talking about the things that are bothering you can help with emotional distress. Proponents of talk therapy believe that mental disorders are largely based on reactions to one’s environment. Therefore, they can be treated through discussion, resolution of conflict, behavioral changes, and changes in thinking.

 

 

What are the Action Steps?

Educate yourself – One of the challenges of overcoming mysophobia is learning to correct irrational thoughts you have about germs and contamination. Reading or watching videos about how bacteria are a natural part of our bodies and our environment can help you manage fear and worry.

Find support – Millions of people suffer from a specific phobia, so take some time to check out what support is available to you in your community. In-person and online support groups can be an encouraging force in the lives of people who want to manage their anxiety about germs.

Talk it out – Communication is the key. Do not feel embarrassed to tell friends and family about your phobia and how they can support you in your treatment.

Recruit a professional – It is difficult to overcome a phobia without the help of a professional. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional about what therapy approaches and/or medications could help you begin to manage your anxiety and reduce obsessive behaviors that inhibit your life.

 

                                Mental illness was something that was a dark subject for many years but it’s changing now. So, let us be a part of this change by not judging someone who is suffering from a mental illness instead provide them a helping hand, talk about such things aloud, spread awareness and support them.

                                                                                                                                            - Saniya Sharma