Misophobia

Many of us have dirt on the street and public transport, the dust in the house is annoying, but nothing more. But there are people who are afraid of dirt, and panic. They are afraid to get dirty or get infected by anything because of contact with dirty objects. Such a fear of mud is called misofobia. Let's see what kind of attack this is and how to get rid of it.

Misophobia - fear of dirt?

Such a question was not asked by chance, because in most cases, misofobia is expressed in fear of acquiring a disease, touching a dirty handrail in public transport. Cases when a person experiences panic fear just before the dirt, are very rare. So, more often than not, mesophobia is associated with hypochondria - the fear of contracting an incurable disease. But unlike the hypochondriac, the misofob does not keep in his head obsessive thoughts about the disease, when he has washed his hands 30 times in the last hour, he thinks only that his hands need to be washed, a causal relationship between cleanliness and health is not established here.

Most people are well aware that not all microbes and bacteria are harmful. After all, many of them help the normal functioning of the body. But mizophobes can not take this into account, they believe that any microorganism is potentially dangerous and try to isolate them as much as possible from them. Often, mizophobia manifests itself in too frequent washing hands (which, by the way, reduces skin protection and increases the risk of infection), the desire to avoid contact with people or animals.

Where does misofobia come from?

As mentioned above, mesophobia can be associated with hypochondria, and it can also be a symptom of an anxiety disorder that leads to violent actions and undesirable thoughts.

Most of our fears are associated with obtaining negative experiences, the same can be with the misofobia. For example, a very emotional moment can be remembered, associated with a negative reaction to any contamination, or knowledge of a similar experience with a well-known person.

Misophobia can develop under the influence of films or television programs. Some psychologists believe that the increase in the number of people with such a disorder occurred at the end of the twentieth century, when humanity learned about the reality of the threat of such serious diseases as AIDS.

Some experts believe that the media, propagandizing various disinfectants, are responsible for the growth of the population of misofobs, explaining that without them life is simply dangerous (remember the microbes riddled with toilet bowl from advertising). The number of people suffering from misofobia in the United States is especially large. Among them were such famous people as Cameron Diaz, Howard Hughes, Michael Jackson, Donald Trump.

Misophobia - treatment

It is not necessary to think that mesophobia is another whim, the treatment of which is a waste of time. People tend to perceive the mizophobia as paranoid, and this leads to alienation and isolation. And as we know, a person can not exist for a long time outside of society, here and to more serious disorders nearby. Also, the disease can cause panic attacks on contact with contaminated things. In addition, mizophobia, like any other disease, is able to progress and from a mere desire to take the door handle through a napkin can develop into a panic fear of contact with the outside world.

So how do you get rid of misofobia? There are several ways to treat this ailment, some of them can be used on their own, and some only under the supervision of a specialist.

  1. This method is suitable for those who have noticed a recent misofobia, that is, it is still at the initial stage of development. Well, willpower and endurance here will require considerable, as well as a determined desire to cope with the disorder. Start small - make a mess in the room. Scatter things, try to have fun while you're a little child. If the check is successful, go to the nearest hospital (only not in the infectious department) and try to say hello to the hand with the sick, grasp the door handles with your bare hands. Stroke a homeless cat or dog, and you can still dig in the trash can.
  2. Learn several ways to relax, so that when you are in a stressful situation, do not panic, but try to relax. At first, it will not be easy, but gradually the body will not learn how to react to things, The fear of a state of panic.
  3. 3Misophobia is treated with hypnosis, moreover, this method is considered one of the most powerful in its impact.
  4. Medicines treat this disease, too, but usually it is done in combination with other methods, because the medications themselves give a short-term effect. And the presence of side effects has not been canceled yet.

If you are unable to cope with the disease yourself, you should consult a therapist, the main thing is to choose a specialist who has experience in treating such diseases.