Last Updated on March 11, 2023 by Mike Robinson
Mysophobia is the pathological fear of dirt, pollution, and germs. This phobia, like all others, can seriously alter your life, but the good news is that it has a cure.
If you suffer from this phobia because you are afraid of getting sick because of a virus or bacteria, you wash your hands permanently or bathe many times a day to get rid of dirt and microbes.
Many people with mysophobia also wear gloves before touching things and permanently disinfect the kitchen and bathroom; some even avoid leaving their homes for fear of germs.
Experts believe that mysophobia is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), since in mysophobia compulsive behaviors (washing hands, showering, and disinfecting everything permanently) occur as a result of pathological fear.
In other words, if you suffer from this phobia, you have obsessive thoughts about dirt, pollution, and germs, and then you act accordingly, having compulsive behaviors that you cannot avoid.
The difference between people who are overly concerned about pollution and mysophobes is the ability to tolerate uncertainty.
For example, if you get on the subway and take the railing, there may be germs on the surface, which will be transferred to your hands. It is a doubt, an uncertainty, because you do not know if there really are dangerous germs there. But you can live with it. You get over it, and as soon as you get home, you wash your hands, and that’s it.
But a mysophobia is not able to tolerate this uncertainty. The feeling of insecurity causes extreme anxiety and the need to do something about it immediately. Then he removes a disinfectant wipe from his pocket to clean the railing. Or, directly, do not use the metro or other means of public transport.
Causes of Mysophobia
Although the causes may be several, many phobias have their origin in a traumatic event that occurred in childhood. Other times, the phobia can be acquired through imitative behavior.
For example, if, when you were little, your mother was always obsessed with cleaning and disinfecting, this may have provoked in you a phobia towards germs and dirt.
People predisposed by uncontrolled anxiety, mysophobia can appear by doing simple everyday things. For example, reading or watching TV news stories related to contagious diseases.
Common Symptoms
People with mild mysophobia probably only feel tense when they think they are in a polluted environment, such as a public restroom or hospital.
Other people have more intense symptoms like:
- sweating
- tachycardia
- a desire to flee.
- weakness
- dizziness
- panic attacks (very rare)
These symptoms occur if they think they are surrounded by germs without being able to do anything about it.
Many patients with mysophobia are aware that they have a problem, although not all of them act in the same way. Some people minimize their symptoms or try to hide them, while others seek professional help right away.
You probably have mysophobia if:
Your obsession with contamination and germs is invading your life, and most of the things you do in a day have to do with your fear of microbes.
If you have cleaning or disinfection rituals that take you more than one hour per day,
If these actions are the only ones that alleviate (momentarily) your anxiety,
If you know that your fear is exaggerated but you cannot avoid washing and cleaning everything over and over again anyway,
If you present these symptoms, there is no doubt: what you should do is consult a professional right away, because there are treatments that can help you control this obsession and lead a more normal life.
If you have mysophobia, you fear contamination with the germs of other people and will probably avoid social situations. Examples include work meetings, outings with friends, or family celebrations.
Treatment for Mysophobia
All specific phobias have treatments in common, the main ones being cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Other treatments that can help are relaxation techniques and drugs.
But it is important to note that before starting any type of treatment, the patient must be evaluated by a professional. This is crucial to arrive at a correct diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment for each case.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
It is a kind of psychotherapy in which the therapist tries to modify the patient’s behaviors when faced with a stimulus; in the case of mysophobia, when he thinks he is exposing himself to germs.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps the patient control his anxiety and change the negative and irrational thoughts related to his phobia. In most cases, exposure therapy is also included as part of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Exposure therapy
As the name indicates, in this treatment, the patient is exposed to the stimulus that causes his symptoms. Gradual exposure is usually used; that is, treatment is started with short sessions and mild stimuli, and the degree of exposure is gradually increased.
When the patient manages to face what causes his fear, the anxiety begins to diminish because the dreaded consequences do not appear, and the body begins to “understand” that in reality there is no danger.
In exposure therapy, it is very important to have the therapist’s support. This helps guide the patient during this long journey. It will ass assist in controlling anxiety during treatment sessions.
Relaxation techniques
Techniques that help control anxiety include:
- Progressive muscle relaxation
- Deep breathing techniques
- Yoga and meditation
All of these can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of mysophobia.
Medications
The anti-anxiety medications also help control mysophobia.
The dose and the period during which the patient can use this type of medication will be defined by the psychiatrist. This is so the medication does not prevent the patient from learning to naturally control their anxiety. Which is what is sought with exposure therapy.
The important role of the family
Family members play a fundamental role in the treatment of patients with this disorder so as not to reinforce the disorder and help it get ahead.
For example, a mysophobic woman does not want to drink from a glass because she supposes that it is contaminated. If her husband washes it for her, he is harming the patient. It is a difficult situation to cope with in some cases. But family members can mean well but sometime make things worse.
In any case, the family can be supportive and help the phobic learn to control his anxiety and overcome his fears. The people who overcome this type of disorders more easily are those who have good family support, according to experts.
Those who live alone or in isolation will hardly find the right way out of their problem. So, if someone in your family suffers from this disorder, do not hesitate to accompany him in his consultations with health professionals.
If your family member still does not recognize that washing their hands 30 times a day is not normal, your role will be to calmly and affectionately signal them whenever you have the chance. At some point, they will become aware of your mysophobia and probably ask for your help.
As you can see, mysophobia is a problem that can be overcome. Do not hesitate to ask if you have symptoms. And if it’s someone from your family, the attitude you take is also important.
Some Real Cases
Did you know that the phobia of germs affects thousands of Spaniards? According to the President of the Association of Patients with OCD, 0.8% of the Spanish population suffers from OCD, and of these, 50% have.
Mysophobia is the pathological fear of dirt, pollution, and germs. This phobia, like all others, can seriously alter your life, but the good news is that it has a cure.
If you suffer from this phobia because you are afraid of getting sick because of a virus or bacteria, you wash your hands permanently or bathe many times a day to get rid of dirt and microbes.
Many people with mysophobia also wear gloves before touching things and permanently disinfect the kitchen and bathroom; some even avoid leaving their homes for fear of germs.
Experts believe that this disorder is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This is because of mysophobia’s compulsive behaviors.
In other words, if you suffer from this phobia, you have obsessive thoughts about dirt, pollution, and germs, and then you act accordingly, having compulsive behaviors that you can not avoid.
The difference between people who are overly concerned about pollution and misophobes is the ability to tolerate uncertainty.
.
Some of these people get to wash their hands 40 times in 20 minutes and burn the clothes after a single use. They sometimes think they could have been contaminated with some type of germ.
This comment is from the husband of a woman with mysophobia.
My wife does not even let her family get close to her because of her irrational fear of being contaminated. His obsession with germs is so intense that he often throws away the clothes he has worn only once; he does not go to crowded places, like a shopping center, for example, and he does not visit his mother either.
Her mysophobia affects all of us who live with her. We must take precautions when entering the bathroom or bedroom; we must enter naked and leave the clothes in specific places so as not to “spread germs all over the house”.
She believes that viruses and bacteria can be transmitted through the air. She also fears clothing items and associate’s contamination with certain places or people.
The mysophobes feel, think, and act by focusing primarily on their fear. Your whole life revolves around eliminating germs. They believe that what they do is never enough to avoid contamination or contagion.
Also Read: Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
