Trypophobia is the phobia or fear of clustered or clustered holes, bumps, or repetitive patterns. It has been in the discussion in peer-reviewed literature, social media, news outlets, and many health-related websites. However, it is not officially considered a disorder by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – 5th Edition). The term trypophobia is taken from the Greek words “trypta,” and “phobos. Here, trypta means holes, and phobos means fear. Let’s know more about this condition to learn some facts and figures.
A Truth About Trypophobia
As mentioned above, the word ‘trypophobia’ comes from the Greek words ‘Trypa,’ meaning hole, and ‘phobos,’ meaning fear. Therefore the trypophobia meaning is fear or extreme aversion to holes or patterns, patterns in clusters. Some visual patterns are believed to be linked to evolutionary responses, as a visual pattern may resemble a vicious animal, or parasite, that may cause discomfort as a defence mechanism.
Real Trypophobia and its Triggers
The name trypophobia first came on a web forum in 2005. This condition can be stimulated by an aversion to visual stimuli, but everyone tends to react differently to this disorder. Some people get nervous by looking at pictures of natural objects such as honeycombs, coral, or lotus seed pods. These visuals induce feelings ranging from discomfort, fear, disgust, and intense revulsion. The question comes here is trypophobia skin a real condition? The answer is no, it is not an actual skin problem but it may be a common reaction to certain skin issues with holes, clusters, or bumps, which one can commonly see on characters in video games, television shows, etc.
Trypophobia Symptoms You Should Definitely Know
After knowing what is trypophobia, let’s learn about some common trypophobia symptoms. These symptoms can vary in intensity from person to person, making it crucial to identify and address them appropriately.
- Goosebumps or shivering
- Nausea or a queasy feeling in the stomach
- Crawling or itching on the skin
- Sweating
- Increasingly rapid heartbeat or increased anxiety
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Aversion looking at the triggering pattern.
In more severe cases, those who show its symptoms have reported feeling a high level of panic or sheer disgust that makes them want to look away from whatever provokes that reaction.
Trypophobia Causes
Although the exact trypophobia causes are unknown, researchers believe the phobia is an instinctual defence mechanism. The following points can be potential causes of trypophobia:
- Trypophobia causes are unknown but may happen due to evolutionary adaptation, helping humans avoid potentially dangerous creatures with clustered patterns.
- Certain animals, like snakes or spiders, display patterns that can trigger an innate fear response in humans.
- Some theories propose that the patterns associated with trypophobia resemble skin conditions.
- Traumatic experiences involving specific objects or patterns during childhood can be the reason for trypophobia.
- The overwhelming visual stimuli of clustered patterns may provoke anxiety or discomfort, leading to the phobia.
- Some individuals may be more predisposed to developing phobias due to genetic factors.
Snakes or spiders that are born with clustered patterns on their skin, for instance, can produce a protective response in humans because they don’t like the pattern. One more possible trypophobia cause could be learnt when someone has previously had a real experience of fear and traumatising contact with a certain object or pattern in their childhood.
Trypophobia Test and Diagnosis
There is no special trypophobia test, but people can figure out for themselves whether they are trypophobic by seeing how they react to some images.
For example, in a typical test, the person is shown pictures of images with clustered holes or bumps, and it is being seen if they will react. That said, people with trypophobia feel really uncomfortable or anxious when they see these pictures. What is more, since trypophobia is not among those officially recognised diseases, a clinical diagnosis is not needed.
Trypophobia Treatment
In addition to knowing trypophobia definition and its causes, you must also know about its treatment options as well. These include:
Exposure Therapy:
Desensitising a trypophobic person can be done by gradually exposing him to those images that trigger trypophobia. It is a common therapy for treating many other types of phobias and helps to reduce your fear and anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT teaches people that they can change their thinking patterns to respond to their fears. They can learn to manage and diminish their discomfort by rethinking the irrational responses they make to particular stimuli.
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques:
For those with an excessive reaction to trypophobic stimuli a regiment of breathing exercises, meditation, and other relaxation techniques can assist in dealing with the responses to these feelings.
Medication:
If anxiety or fear are severe, medications such as anti-anxiety drugs or beta blockers can be prescribed by the doctor to help control the physical symptoms associated with anxiety or fear.
Key Takeaway
Covering from what is trypophobia to providing a brief about is trypophobia skin a real condition, you must have gained insights that it’s not a recognised psychological condition. However, the experiences of those who felt such a condition are very real. Trypophobia can cause serious problems in a person’s life, even though it comes from evolutionary triggers, skin conditions, or psychological reasons. If you think you may have trypophobia, you should consult with a healthcare professional regarding ways for trypophobia treatments. In addition, more work needs to be done to fully understand real trypophobia.
