Trypophobia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Trypophobia: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

What is a phobia? It is a type of anxiety disorder which causes an individual to experience extreme, irrational fear about a situation, object, place or living creature. A person with a phobia will try to avoid what causes them this feeling of fear. A phobia is generally a mental disorder. The person experiencing the phobia will experience immense distress when faced with whatever is causing their phobia. This prevents them from functioning normally and could lead to a panic attack.

What is Trypophobia?

Trypophobia is a repulsion or aversion rather than a fear to tightly packed patterns of holes or patterns such as those found in honeycombs, sea sponges, or cheese. Any object that has a repetitive pattern or clusters of small holes can trigger such people. People with trypophobia are disgusted and repulsed by such patterns of holes. They don’t necessarily fear them. These sights could make people with trypophobia shaky, panicky and sick.

The name comes from the Greek word “Trypa” which means hole and “Phobos” which means fear.

People with trypophobia may be triggered by cheese, fruits with small seeds like strawberry, raspberry, papaya, and kiwi. They could also be affected by sunflowers, lotus seed pods, honeycombs, insects and bees, skin on snakes, lizards or frogs, sponges, or soles of shoes. Sometimes, looking at a shower head can also cause trypophobia.

Symptoms of Trypophobia

The symptoms of trypophobia look almost like that of a panic attack. People may have any or some of the symptoms below:

•   Nausea
•   Shaking
•   Shortness of breath and rapid breathing
•   Fast heartbeat
•   Sweating
•   Chills, trembling or shaking
•   Dry mouth or choking
•   An intense feeling of disgust, fear, or revulsion
•   Pale skin

Causes of Trypophobia

It is still unknown why people have trypophobia. It is possible that the human brain associates clusters of holes with danger. So, this could be a way of protecting yourself from danger. Patterns of small holes are found on the skin of a snake or some other poisonous animal. Also, deadly diseases like small pox and measles cause spotty skin rashes. Therefore, it is possible that trypophobia is a reaction that humans have to avoid getting sick. Some researchers feel that hole-like patterns have a visual energy that causes the unpleasant reaction. It is also believed that the brain uses more oxygen to process holey patterns, and this triggers feelings of distress.

Impact of Trypophobia

It is possible that in some extreme situations, trypophobia may affect a person’s ability to go to work, school or socialize. People with trypophobia may experience depression, increased stress and irritability, insomnia, or sleep problems, or even panic attacks.

People who do not phobias may find it difficult to grasp what you are going through if you have trypophobia. However, it is possible that your depression and anxiety can even cause suicidal tendencies. You may be constantly trying to avoid your phobia triggers. Some people may turn to drugs or alcohol to calm their nerves when they are triggered. Insomnia is also very common. You may have trouble with relationships at work or children may not be able to make friends in school.

Treatment and Coping Strategies

Since trypophobia isn’t a real disorder, there is no specific treatment for it. While there is no cure, you can take steps to curb what causes you anxiety and learn some coping strategies. Certain steps that you can take are:

Exposure therapy (desensitization): In this type of therapy, your therapist will gradually expose you to what causes you disgust or fear. For instance, they could show you pictures or videos with clusters of holes, hold an object with repeating patterns, or encourage you to think about your triggers. There is a good chance that you will feel upset and then they will give you tools to manage your anxious thoughts, feelings and physical reactions that come up. When this is done over multiple sessions, there is a probability that you feel more comfortable around your triggers.

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of talk therapy that will change your thoughts and perceptions about the causes of your fear or aversion. Your therapist will teach you healthy ways to deal with the thoughts and feelings that are triggered by trypophobia.

Relaxation techniques: In a stressful situation, you must learn to calm you mind and body. You may use guided imagery or visualization, deep breathing exercises, yoga and meditation, mindfulness, or progressive muscle relaxation.

Medication: Antidepressants and drugs that reduce symptoms of anxiety and panic could be helpful. You could take the medication in a situation where you know that you will be triggered. Doctors could prescribe you antidepressants or beta-blockers. Beta-blockers block adrenaline that raises your heart rate and blood pressure when you are scared or nervous. Sometimes a sedative could help you feel calm. However, they are not a good long-term solution since they can be addictive and dangerous if you have a history of drug abuse or alcohol misuse.

Self-care:  While therapy and medication can help you, it is important to focus on self-care as well. Try and get at least 7 or 9 hours of sleep in the night. A good nutritious diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is important. Do not eat ultra-processed foods that are high in sugar. Avoid caffeine and get regular exercise. Confide in your family or friends and ask them to help you cope with your fears. Joining a support group for people with trypophobia may also help. 

Conclusion

With proper treatment and help, it is possible to gain control over trypophobia. You may try different methods of therapy and treatment to get relief. While there is no cure for trypophobia, by taking proper steps, you can manage your symptoms. It is important not to feel embarrassed and to seek help from a healthcare provider if you experience trypophobia.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is trypophobia?

Trypophobia is a disgust or feeling of fear when you see a pattern of holes. Clusters of holes in things around you like flowers, sponges or cheese can trigger feelings of revulsion.

2.What causes trypophobia?

There is no specific reason why people have trypophobia. It is believed that evolution and biology may play a part in it. Patterns of holes may mimic those in the eyes of a snake or spider or certain skin diseases. These patterns may put stress on the part of your brain that processes these visual stimuli.

3.What are the trigger for trypophobia?

Common triggers are bagels with seeds, honeycombs, cheese with holes, fruits with small seeds, lotus seed pods, insects or seeds, skin of snakes, lizards, or frogs.

4.What are the treatments for trypophobia?

There are many treatment options like exposure therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, lifestyle modifications, self-care, and support groups.

5.What happens to people with trypophobia?

People with trypophobia experience a sense of fear or disgust. They also experience emotional symptoms such as anxiety or depression. They may also have sweating, fast heartbeat, chills or nausea.