FEAR OF GERMS PHOBIA - Mysophobia or Misophobia - People with an excessive fear of germs believe the world to be a ‘filthy place’ and may develop obsessive-compulsive disorders. As a result, they are always washing or cleaning well beyond a concern with cleanliness. They are known to spend major parts of their day doing these activities over and over. Mysophobia is the excessive and often irrational fear of microbes or getting contaminated with germs. Mysophobia is also known as germophobia. They are known to spend major parts of their day doing these activities over and over. Mysophobics may also spend vast amounts of money on buying cleaning products and exposing themselves more than necessary to the harmful chemicals which many of them contain. A Mysophobic individual is mainly concerned with contamination and sterilization as unlike a tidy person who would only clean surfaces to ensure there is no dust. Many people with the extreme fear of germs also tend to think about microbes all the time. They fear getting contaminated from dirt, dust, grime or people who are sneezing or coughing. The more often a Mysophobe falls sick, the likelier s/he is bound to believe the need to clean. This can severely impact one’s daily functioning. Mysophobia usually stems from an Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD. The sufferer feels the need to wash his/her hands frequently, which is one of the characteristics of OCD.

 

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Fear of Germs Phobia

Mysophobia or Misophobia

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People with an excessive fear of germs believe the world to be a ‘filthy place’ and may develop obsessive-compulsive disorders. As a result, they are always washing or cleaning well beyond a concern with cleanliness. They are known to spend major parts of their day doing these activities over and over.

BY JACOB OLESEN

 

Mysophobia

Myso is the Greek word for germs and Phobos means fear.

Thus, Mysophobia is the excessive and often irrational fear of microbes or getting contaminated with germs.

Mysophobia is also known as germophobia.

Fear of Germs Phobia - Mysophobia

People with an excessive fear of germs believe the world to be a ‘filthy place’ and may develop obsessive-compulsive disorders.

As a result, they are always washing or cleaning well beyond a concern with cleanliness.

They are known to spend major parts of their day doing these activities over and over.

Mysophobics may also spend vast amounts of money on buying cleaning products and exposing themselves more than necessary to the harmful chemicals which many of them contain.

It is important to note the difference between ‘being tidy/orderly’ to being a Mysophobe.

A Mysophobic individual is mainly concerned with contamination and sterilization as unlike a tidy person who would only clean surfaces to ensure there is no dust.

Many people with the extreme fear of germs also tend to think about microbes all the time.

They fear getting contaminated from dirt, dust, grime or people who are sneezing or coughing.

The more often a Mysophobe falls sick, the likelier s/he is bound to believe the need to clean. This can severely impact one’s daily functioning.

Causes of the fear of germs phobia

Mysophobia usually stems from an Obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD.

The sufferer feels the need to wash his/her hands frequently, which is one of the characteristics of OCD.

Naturally, in case of Mysophobia, the motivation to frequently wash stems from the fear of microbes unlike that in the OCD where it is more of a matter of following routine.

That being said; most patients are known to suffer from both conditions.

A thorough medical evaluation is hence necessary to determine if it is Mysophobia or OCD.

Heredity and genetics are believed to have a strong link to the fear of germs phobia.

Children with an obsessive-compulsive parent or caregiver are more likely to become Mysophobes.

Additionally, a traumatic (personal or witnessed) event in the past or sometimes even a random event can trigger Mysophobia.

Media, learning about germs at school or getting sick after coming in contact with germs can reinforce one’s belief’s about microbes to the extent that the individual learns to excessively fear germs.

Symptoms of Mysophobia

Depending on the level of fear, different symptoms may be seen in the individual:

Physical symptoms of a panic attack (in what is perceived to be the presence of germs) such as shaking, dry mouth, sweating, nausea, rapid and irregular heartbeat etc are seen in people suffering from the excessive fear of germs. The patient is also likely to indulge in unreasonable behavior or actions like:

o  Washing frequently and excessively.

o  Refusing to use public bathrooms.

o  Avoiding all kinds of social activities or places that include coming in contact with ‘germy’ people or animals.

o  Refusing to share personal items like combs, brushes, or food with anyone.

Gradually, the individual may impose many restrictions upon himself including refusing to touch the doorknobs directly or shaking hands with anyone, as well as constantly using products like hand sanitizers or soaps, which, in large quantities, are (paradoxically) known to make one more prone to infections. Thus, Mysophobia can severely impact one’s occupational, social and familial activities.

Treatment for fear of germs

o  A combination of therapies is recommended for treating phobias like Mysophobia and anxiety disorders like OCD. These include drugs, cognitive behavior therapy, exposure and gradual desensitization therapies as well as relaxation training.

o  Exposure therapy consists of helping the phobic relearn how to encounter germs gradually until he is able to refrain from washing his hands. The individuals also learn to focus on calming techniques and develop the ability to remain in a ‘contaminated environment’ without having a panic attack.

o  Cognitive behavior therapies help the person with a fear of germs change his attitude and thoughts about them. This involves writing down negative and positive thoughts such as “I fear I will die from germs” to “Germs are sometimes healthy and useful to us” and so on. The patients are then asked to decide on beliefs that are healthier and useful to them.

Germs are a necessary part of our lives and for a person with excessive fear of germs; life can be very stressful and complicated.

However, there is hope and many treatment options that can help one heal completely from Mysophobia.

Welcome to FEAROF – I’m Jacob, creator of this site.

Are you suffering from panic attacks or general anxiety?

Then let me tell you that you’re in the right place.

Here’s how this site can help you:

Discover the cause of your fear

Understand your symptoms

Overcome your phobia

I can help by sharing techniques that can get you on the right track towards a life without fear.

https://www.fearof.net/fear-of-germs-phobia-mysophobia/

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ASTRAPHOBIA - Fear of Thunder and Lightning If you or someone you know has a fear of lightning that causes you to hide in your closet or avoid attending events, you may have astraphobia. Astraphobia is the term for the extreme fear of thunder and lightning. And it’s not just children and adults who can suffer from an extreme and irrational fear of thunder and lightning. This common phobia can also affect animals, so don’t be surprised if your dog starts howling and hiding under the bed at the height of a nasty electrical storm. The term, astraphobia, is derived from the Greek word astrape which means lightning, and phobos which means fear. Astraphobia can negatively affect and limit the lifestyle of people dealing with the fear, but it is treatable – for both humans and pets. A person who has astraphobia will frequently check the weather report. If they hear that there is a storm coming, they will alter their plans and they may go to extreme degrees to change these plans. And when there is a storm, they may become so afraid they go into a closet in their home and hide. People with a phobia of thunder and lightning may avoid situations where a storm might be present, such as camping. Astraphobia may cause them to go irrationally out of their way to avoid bad weather, such as canceling plans at even a slight possibility of a storm. The good news, for those who suffer from astraphobia, is that the condition is treatable.

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Astraphobia

Fear of Thunder and Lightning

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If you or someone you know has a fear of lightning that causes you to hide in your closet or avoid attending events, you may have astraphobia. Find out how you can treat it

Article by: Rosemary Black

 

Are you scared of lightning?

Does thunder make you want to curl up in a ball and hide?

Do you have a physical reaction when a storm begins, such as sweaty palms or chest pain?

Astraphobia is the term for the extreme fear of thunder and lightning.

And it’s not just children and adults who can suffer from an extreme and irrational fear of thunder and lightning.

This common phobia can also affect animals, so don’t be surprised if your dog starts howling and hiding under the bed at the height of a nasty electrical storm.

The term, astraphobia, is derived from the Greek word astrape which means lightning, and phobos which means fear.

Astraphobia can negatively affect and limit the lifestyle of people dealing with the fear, but it is treatable – for both humans and pets.

What is Astraphobia?

A person who has astraphobia will frequently check the weather report, says Greta Hirsch, PhD, clinical director of The Ross Center, an outpatient mental health treatment center in Washington, DC.

“If they hear that there is a storm coming, they will alter their plans and they may go to extreme degrees to change these plans. And when there is a storm, they may become so afraid they go into a closet in their home and hide,” explains Dr. Hirsch.

People with a phobia of thunder and lightning may avoid situations where a storm might be present, such as camping.

Astraphobia may cause them to go irrationally out of their way to avoid bad weather, such as canceling plans at even a slight possibility of a storm.

The good news, for those who suffer from astraphobia, is that the condition is treatable.

Causes of Astraphobia

Astraphobia can be attributed to instinct, and a natural physiologic response, says Alan Manavitz, MD, clinical psychiatrist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“It can be instinctual or learned or traumatic in origin,” he says.

It makes sense to want to avoid a storm, since they can very realistically present danger.

However, having an overwhelming physical reaction to a storm when you are knowingly safe in a home is a condition that can be overcome.

When people have had a traumatic experience linked to thunderstorms and lightning, they may be more prone to develop astraphobia.

And if a person has witnessed someone getting hurt by thunder and lightning, this can contribute to the development of astraphobia.

Those who are generally inclined toward anxiety and fear also may be more prone to develop this phobia.

Additionally, children with autism and those with sensory processing issues tend to develop astraphobia more frequently than other people because they are more sensitive to sound, Dr. Hirsch says.

Astraphobia Symptoms

Individuals who have astraphobia may have feelings of panic before and during a storm. The phobia can cause such symptoms as:

o  Chest pain

o  Numbness

o  Nausea

o  Heart palpitations and a racing pulse

o  Breathing difficulty

o  Sweaty palms

o  An obsessive desire to monitor the storm

o  Clinging to others for protection during a storm

o  Understanding that these feelings are irrational and overblown

Individuals with astraphobia may also feel the need to hide away from lightning and thunder in a closet, bathroom, bathtub, or under the bed, Dr. Manavitz says.

“They may cling to others for protection,” he says.

Treatments for Astraphobia

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used to treat astraphobia.

“Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective because it retrains our subconscious to rid itself of negative thoughts by retraining our conscious perceptions first,” Dr. Manavitz says.

In cognitive behavioral therapy, the therapist may encourage the person attending to keep an anxiety journal, Dr. Hirsch says.

In the journal, the person may note when there is a storm coming and that they believe that if they don’t hide in their closet, something terrible (like lightning striking the house or a tree falling on the house) will happen.

Next, the therapist and patient will look at their negative thoughts together.

“The person begins to see that when he or she is having a panic attack and believing these negative thoughts, all it does is make them continue to be fearful,” Dr. Hirsch says.

“So the anticipatory anxiety feeds the feelings of loss of control and creates a panicked feeling.” 

In treatment, this negative way of thinking is gradually replaced with fact-driven, evidence-based thinking, which helps the person to manage their anxiety.

Exposure therapy is also helpful, Dr. Hirsch says. “With exposure therapy, the person may watch videos of storms or listen to the sound of thunder,” Dr. Hirsh says.

Breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation can also be useful in treating astraphobia.

What You Can Do

Don’t constantly look at weather apps.

Checking the weather compulsively can make a person with astraphobia think they are keeping themselves safe, “but it really fuels the anxiety,” Dr. Hirsch says.

Try limiting yourself to checking the weather in the morning so that you can dress accordingly, but resist hitting the weather app multiple times per day.

Get a referral to a mental health counselor who is trained in CBT.

You may even want to have the therapist make a “house visit” during a storm so that you can practice your deep breathing and receive counseling during the actual storm.

Mental health apps and meditation apps are also an easy and accessible option for dealing with astraphobia.

There are apps that provide therapy sessions (including CBT), apps that provide guided relaxation techniques, and apps that allow you to journal your fears.

Share with your loved ones that you have an irrational fear of thunder and lightning, and ask for their support.

Talking out loud about your fears may help you begin to face them and informing your loved ones that your phobia is limiting you may help decrease additional anxiety you have about missing your loved ones’ events and gatherings.

Surprisingly, knowing the rarity of death by lightning strike won’t lessen the irrational fear.

“During a storm, to calm yourself, count backward from 200 by 3s or 2s. Or talk on the phone,” advises Dr. Hirsh.

“Doing either of these out loud regulates your breathing.”

She also says to remind yourself of how many times you’ve been at home by yourself during a storm, and nothing bad has happened!! 

It might feel like you’ll never get over this fear, especially if it’s something you’ve been dealing with since you were young, but opening up about your phobia and seeking treatment will help you get over your fear of thunder and lightning.

Rosemary Black is a veteran journalist who has written about food, health, fitness, and parenting for more than 25 years. A former senior editor at Everyday Health, she was food editor for the New York Daily News and Parade’s Dash magazine. Rosemary, the author of four cookbooks, has written for QualityHealth.com and various other websites and magazines. The mom of 7 lives with her family in Westchester County, New York.

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ANEMOPHOBIA - The Fear of Air - Anemophobia, sometimes called ancraophobia, is a sort of catch-all term that encompasses a wide variety of air-related phobias. Some people are afraid of drafts, others of gusty winds. Some fear swallowing air (called aerophagia). The phobia may be mild or severe and is often life-limiting. Anemophobia is often, though not always, related to other weather-based phobias. Lilapsophobia is the fear of severe storms, while astraphobia is the fear of more run of the mill weather events such as thunder and lightning. Many people with anemophobia based on another weather phobia may not be afraid of the wind itself but of the possibility that it signifies an upcoming storm. The fear of tornadoes is common among people who suffer from both anemophobia and another weather-related phobia. Some people with anemophobia may worry that a strong wind will blow away items of financial or sentimental value. Others are possibly concerned that a particularly gusty wind will tear apart their home. This type of anemophobia is often rooted in the fear of losing personal identity and may be more common in those who have survived a tornado, a hurricane, or some other severe weather disaster. Like the fear of losing personal identity, the fear of losing control may be at the heart of air-related phobias. Like all weather phenomena, wind is beyond our control.

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Anemophobia

The Fear of Air

By Lisa Fritscher 

Medically reviewed by 

Steven Gans, MD 

Anemophobia, sometimes called ancraophobia, is a sort of catch-all term that encompasses a wide variety of air-related phobias.

Some people are afraid of drafts, others of gusty winds. Some fear swallowing air (called aerophagia).

The phobia may be mild or severe and is often life-limiting.

The Link Between Anemophobia and Weather Phobias

Anemophobia is often, though not always, related to other weather-based phobias. 

Lilapsophobia is the fear of severe storms, while astraphobia is the fear of more run of the mill weather events such as thunder and lightning.

Many people with anemophobia based on another weather phobia may not be afraid of the wind itself but of the possibility that it signifies an upcoming storm.

The ​​fear of tornadoes is common among people who suffer from both anemophobia and another weather-related phobia.

Loss of Identity

Some people with anemophobia may worry that a strong wind will blow away items of financial or sentimental value.

Others are possibly concerned that a particularly gusty wind will tear apart their home.

This type of anemophobia is often rooted in the fear of losing personal identity and may be more common in those who have survived a tornado, a hurricane, or some other severe weather disaster.

Loss of Control

Like the fear of losing personal identity, the fear of losing control may be at the heart of air-related phobias.

Like all weather phenomena, wind is beyond our control.

Those who fear losing control of their lives and surroundings may be at an increased risk for air-related phobias.

Medical Phobias

Strong winds can cause loose items to blow around, tear off tree branches, and even cause structural damage.

Those with a fear of being injured may worry that they will be in the path of destruction.

Some people, especially children, may also be afraid that they will be picked up or knocked down by a particularly strong gust.

Medical phobias could also be at the heart of the fear of drafts.

Although we now know that illnesses are caused by bacteria or viruses, conventional wisdom has long held that drafty rooms can make people sick.

The fear may be heightened in those who suffer from cryophobia, or the fear of cold.

Similarly, those who are afraid of swallowing air may worry that excessive stomach gas is a sign of disease.

Anemophobia in Children

Like many phobias, anemophobia, particularly the fear of severe storms, is relatively common in young children.

Kids are not always able to make sense of the world around them, and infrequent events may be startling or intensely frightening.

Consequently, phobias are typically not diagnosed in children unless they persist for at least six months.

If your child has a mild fear of wind, try focusing on playtime activities that utilize the wind in positive ways.

Fly kites and experiment with real or toy sailboats.

Go outside and talk about how much fun it is to let the wind blow through your hair.

Of course, if your child's fear is especially severe or long-lasting, seek the guidance of a trained mental health professional.

In older kids and adults, the fear of wind is much less common. Consider seeking professional assistance with any fear that causes you to limit your daily activities.

Lisa Fritscher

Writer

Expertise

Phobias

Education

University of South Florida, Polk State College

Highlights

Experienced in community mental health

Case management and hands-on care at various mental health facilities

Experience

Lisa Fritscher is a former writer for Verywell Mind covering phobias. Lisa first became interested in mental health during her childhood, when she frequently accompanied her mother, a therapist, to work at the Winter Haven Hospital Community Mental Health Center. With years of familiarity in the field, it was only natural that Lisa would follow in her mother's footsteps. Her diverse experiences include both case management and hands-on patient care at a variety of residential and outpatient facilities.

Education

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of South Florida.

Verywell Mind Editorial Process

Verywell Mind is an award-winning, trusted, and compassionate online resource that provides the guidance you need to improve your mental health and find balance. We take a human approach to health and wellness content and reach more than 150 million readers annually.

Our editorial team includes writers, editors, and fact checkers who are all focused on making sure our information is clear, accurate, and actually useful so you can make confident choices about your mental health.

Our writers are notable voices in their respective disciplines, including board-certified physicians, therapists, health journalists, and other mental health experts. These individuals are specifically selected for both their extensive knowledge and real-world experience, as well as their ability to communicate complex information in a clear, helpful, and unbiased way.

Our team of qualified and experienced fact checkers provide a critical step in our commitment to content integrity. Fact checkers rigorously review articles for accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We use only the most current and reputable primary references, including peer-reviewed medical journals, government organizations, academic institutions, and advocacy associations.

Steven Gans, MD

Review Board Member

 Psychiatrist

Expertise

Psychiatry, Psychotherapy

Education

Harvard Medical School, Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, Rush University Medical College, Massachusetts General Hospital

Highlights

Assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School

Attending psychiatrist at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA, where he leads a team-based approach to the management and recovery of patients with serious mental illnesses

Board-certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

I am thrilled to be involved with Verywell in their mission to bring accurate and accessible information regarding health issues to everyone. This is an especially crucial time that the information available to the public in understanding their health is factual, clear, and contextually useful.”

— STEVEN GANS, MD

Experience

Dr. Gans is passionately involved in the practice and teaching of psychotherapy. He is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor in the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program and in their Program in Psychodynamics (PIP). A graduate of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, he is a supervisor and mentor in their Advanced Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program.

He serves as a psychotherapist attending to the Pavilion program at McLean Hospital. Dr. Gans was a psychiatric consultant for the Laurel Hill Inn eating disorders treatment program, and served as the Clinical Challenges editor for the Harvard Review of Psychiatry. He has previously been named to “Best Doctors” by Boston Magazine.

Education

Dr. Gans received a Bachelor in Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago. He earned his medical degree from Rush University Medical College. Dr. Gans did his residency in psychiatry at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He is a graduate of the Boston Psychoanalytic Society and Institute.

Verywell Mind Review Board

Verywell Mind is an award-winning, trusted, and compassionate online resource that provides the guidance you need to improve your mental health and find balance. We take a human approach to health and wellness content and reach more than 150 million readers annually.

The Verywell Mind Review Board is a team of board-certified physicians and established mental health experts who join us in our mission to be a compassionate resource that helps you prioritize your mental health and well-being.

Our experienced board of psychotherapists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, mindfulness coaches, and other mental health professionals and educators verify our content is high-quality, up-to-date, and inclusive to support you in feeling your best.

https://www.verywellmind.com/anemophobia-fear-of-air-2671730