Trypophobia is fear or dislike of sets of holes. A person who has trypophobia feels dizzy when looking at a surface with small holes close together, for example a strawberry can trigger this phobia. It has not yet been officially recognized as a phobia. Studies on trypophobia are limited, and existing research is divided between those who believe it should be officially considered a phobia and those who do not. If you think you may have trypophobia, talk to a specialist.
It can help you find the root of your fear and manage the symptoms. In this Psychology-Online article we show you what is trypophobia and we offer you a definition with images.
What is a phobia: definition in psychology
A phobia is a overwhelming and debilitating fear to an object, place, situation, feeling or animal. A phobia is more intense than fear and tends to occur when the person experiences an exaggerated or unreal feeling of danger in the presence of the feared situation or object.
If a person who has a phobia does not come into contact with the feared stimulus, his or her life will not be affected, although in some cases even thinking about that stimulus can cause the person to experience “anticipatory anxiety”. If the phobia becomes very serious, the person can organize their life based on the avoidance of what causes them stress, the stimulus they fear.
Trypophobia: symptoms and definition
Trypophobia is a recently defined phobia, but many people have suffered from it for longer. The term trypophobia was coined in 2005 by internet users and comes from the combination of the Greek words a hole and fear.
Although it has not yet been officially defined as a condition, one study has estimated that trypophobia is present in 16% of people.
This condition provokes an intense reaction of fear although “the stimulus is usually a set of holes of any variety that are almost always harmless and appear to pose no threat.”
The severity of the fear varies from case to case. While some report that the set of holes makes them feel uncomfortable, others say that the sight of these images makes them feel terrified.
Symptoms are triggered when the person sees an object with groups of small holes or geometric shapes that look like holes.
When a set of holes is seen, people with tryptophobia react with disgust or fear. Some of the symptoms include:
- feel repulsion
- feel discomfort
- Visual discomfort such as: visual distortions, illusions or visual fatigue
- Stress
- Panic attack
- Sweats
- Nausea
- Tremors
- Goosebumps
Trypophobia triggering images
Not many aspects of the , but some common triggers They include things like:
- lotus seed pods
- honeycombs
- Strawberries
- Corals
- Grenades
- Bubbles
- a group of eyes
- Animals including insects, amphibians, mammals, etc. can trigger trypophobia in humans.
Causes of trypophobia and risk factors
Currently, the risk factors for trypophobia are not exactly known. A 2017 study found a possible relationship between trypophobia and major depressive disorder and . According to researchers, people with trypophobia are more likely to experience major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety. Another study from 2016 also raises the association of social anxiety and trypophobia.
However, it is important to comment that, although there are risk factorsmany people suffer at some level from this type of disgust or fear of holes for no apparent reason.
Treatment of trypophobia or fear of holes
There are different ways to treat phobias. The most effective way to treat them is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on a change in the person’s response to the situation or object that causes fear.
Another common way to treat phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT combines exposure therapy with other techniques to help manage anxiety and keep thoughts under control without them becoming overwhelming.
Other treatment options that can help you manage your phobia are:
- Psychotherapy in general
- Drugs such as beta blockers and sedatives that help reduce anxiety symptoms and panic. Keep in mind that medications have been tested for other types of anxiety disorders, and their effectiveness for tryptophobia is not known.
- deep and yoga
- Physical activity to manage anxiety
- Strategies mindfulness to cope with stress
It may also be helpful:
- Get enough rest
- Eat healthy and have a balanced diet
- Avoid caffeine and other substances that can make anxiety worse
- Cope with situations feared in the best possible way
Trypophobia studies in humans
There is no agreement among researchers on whether or not to classify trypophobia as a real phobia. One of the first studies of trypophobia, published in 2013, suggested that the phobia could be an extension of a biological fear of potentially harmful objects. The researchers found that symptoms were triggered by high-contrast colors in certain graphic layouts. They argue that people affected by trypophobia unconsciously associated harmless objects such as a honeycomb with dangerous animals.
A study published in 2017 addresses these results. They conducted a survey of preschoolers to confirm whether the fear of seeing an image with small holes is based on the fear of dangerous animals or is a response to certain visual features. These results suggest that people who experience trypophobia do not have an unconscious fear of poisonous creatures, but rather the fear is triggered by the appearance of the creature.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) does not recognize trypophobia as a phobia. More research is needed to achieve a better understanding of trypophobia and its causes.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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