What is haphephobia?
Haphephobia (haf-uh-FOE-bee-uh) is an intense, overwhelming fear of being touched. Many people don’t like being touched by strangers. But haphephobia is significant distress over being touched by anyone, even family or friends. For some people, the fear is specific to touch by people of one gender.
Haphephobia is a type of anxiety disorder. Other names for haphephobia include:
- Aphephobia.
- Aphenphosmphobia.
- Chiraptophobia.
- Thixophobia.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
What does haphephobia feel like?
Haphephobia isn’t a physical sensation. It is not the same as allodynia, which is hypersensitivity to touch. People with haphephobia do not feel pain when touched. Rather, the fear of being touched is so strong that it is often paralyzing. It causes physical symptoms like hives, hyperventilation or fainting.
Who might get haphephobia?
Anyone can develop haphephobia. You are more likely to have haphephobia if one of your parents or other family members has the condition.
For some people, haphephobia is the only mental health issue they experience. For others, haphephobia is related to another condition, such as:
- Agoraphobia: Fear of becoming overwhelmed by panic or anxiety causes some people to avoid many situations.
- Mysophobia (fear of germs): The fear of being touched might arise from not wanting to be contaminated.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Someone with OCD might feel stress over situations that are out of their control, such as being touched.
- Ochlophobia (fear of crowds): A person may feel anxious about being touched in a crowd.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Fearing touch may come from experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It may occur after sexual abuse, sexual assault or rape.
How common is haphephobia?
Researchers don’t know exactly how many people have haphephobia. But phobias are fairly common. About 10 million adults in the United States have a phobia diagnosis.
FAQs
People with haphephobia often experience physical symptoms of intense distress when they are touched. They may feel nauseated, flushed or like their heart is racing. Treatment such as therapy or medication helps many people manage haphephobia symptoms and live a more comfortable life.
What is the object of fear of haphephobia? ›
It is in the class of phobias known as specific phobias, which are fears of a specific object or situation. If you have haphephobia, you fear being touched by anyone, although some people are only afraid of being touched by those of a different gender.
Why am I afraid to touch someone? ›
Anxiety Disorders
People who are afraid of others' judgment, evaluation, or rejection are naturally more likely to shy away from making intimate, personal connections. In addition, some specific phobias, such as the fear of touch, may occur as part of the fear of intimacy.
What is the treatment for Panophobia? ›
Many people also find it helpful to incorporate stress-reduction practices into their daily lives, including: mindfulness training. meditation. physical activity and exercise.
How do you solve scopophobia? ›
Common treatments for this condition include: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This therapy involves identifying the underlying thoughts that contribute to feelings of fear and then replacing them with more helpful, realistic ones.
What triggers haphephobia? ›
Haphephobia doesn't have one clear cause. Some people may never know the exact cause of haphephobia. Some people have a higher risk of developing a phobia. For example, women are twice as likely as men to develop a situational phobia.
Does haphephobia go away? ›
There's no one “cure” for haphephobia, but there are treatment options that can help you manage your condition.
Is haphephobia a mental illness? ›
Fear of being touched: Causes and treatments for haphephobia. Haphephobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of being touched. Other names for haphephobia include chiraptophobia, aphenphosmphobia, and thixophobia. Being touched by strangers or without consent can make many people uncomfortable.
Why do I hate the feeling of being touched? ›
Low confidence: Feeling vulnerable and exposed by physical closeness. Past trauma: Touch associated with negative experiences and triggers anxieties. Sensory issues: Touch can feel overwhelming or unpleasant due to neurological differences. Personal boundaries: Strong preference for personal space and autonomy.
What is erotophobia? ›
Erotophobia is a phobia or excessive and irrational fear of sex. This condition is often complex as people with erotophobia may be scared of sex in more than one way. For instance, they may fear the act of sexual intercourse (genophobia) along with having a fear of being touched (haphephobia).
Sidonglobophobia (si-dong-lo-bo-foh-bee-uh) is the fear of cotton or cotton balls. Doctors may also call it bambakophobia, which is a combination of bambaki, which means “cotton” in Greek, and phobos, meaning “fear.” People with sidonglobophobia have an extreme fear of cotton or anything consisting of the material.
What is glossophobia? ›
Glossophobia, or a fear of public speaking, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population. Some individuals may feel a slight nervousness at the very thought of public speaking, while others experience full-on panic and fear.
What is tomophobia? ›
Introduction. Tomophobia refers to fear or anxiety caused by forthcoming surgical procedures and/or medical interventions.
How can I stop Athazagoraphobia? ›
Athazagoraphobia treatment
It generally includes coping tools, therapy as well as medications, if needed. Options can include: cognitive behavioral therapy. mindfulness and breathing techniques.
Why do guts hate being touched? ›
In the 1989 manga Berserk, the main character Guts suffers from haphephobia as a result of being raped as a child. In the 2007 film Lars and the Real Girl, the main character Lars Lindstrom describes being touched by others as a burning sensation, and refuses to allow this for most of the film.
What is the object of fear Nyctophobia? ›
Nyctophobia is an extreme fear of the dark. The name comes from the Greek word for night. Children and adults with nyctophobia may fear being alone in the dark. They may have anxiety in dark places, and they may have trouble sleeping in a darkened room.
What is the object of fear in Bibliophobia? ›
Bibliophobia is the fear or hatred of books. Such fear often arises from fear of the effect books can have on society or culture. Bibliophobia is a common cause of censorship and book burning. Bibliophobia and bibliophilia are antonyms.
