Trypophobia - fear of multiple, clustered holes and holes

Hello dear readers. Many of us have various kinds of fears, but there are those that at first glance seem unthinkable and far-fetched to us, but this is not so. A phobia is a mental disorder accompanied by unreasonable fear. It is common for a person to be afraid of something if a situation or circumstance threatens life or puts us in danger. However, a phobia is a fear that has no rational basis.

Scientists count more than 40 thousand phobias, and their number is only growing every year. Some are afraid of ghosts, some are afraid of heights, others are terrified at the sight of insects. But there are also the most unusual fears, for example, trypophobia.

What is trypophobia, how does it manifest itself, what symptoms indicate the presence of a mental disorder, and how to deal with this illness, you will learn in this article.

All photos that can cause an attack of trypophobia, so as not to harm you, I hid under spoilers! Open and look at these photos only if you are sure that they will not harm you!

What is trypophobia and who are trypophobes?

The term "trypophobia" comes from gr. τρύπα - hole and φόβος - fear. That is, in simple words, it is a fear of holes. Although this phobia is not classified as a type of mental disorder, about 16% of people on the planet suffer from the disease.

Trypophobes experience overwhelming horror and disgust at the sight of a cluster of small holes on something. To understand how developed this fear is in a person, you need to have a trypophobic experience. For example, true trypophobes, when they see cluster holes (a collection of holes and bumps on any surface), experience anxiety, disgust and irrepressible fear. Some develop a panic attack, and even a catatonic stupor.

Today, scientists are actively studying the topic of trypophobia, conducting numerous studies and tests that help people with a fear of holes overcome unpleasant sensations.

What is the most common cause of hole phobia?

Trypophobia in humans is caused by intolerance to any kind of holes and openings. Unfortunately, this disorder is much more serious than one might think. Trypophobes are afraid of anything that may contain many holes: coffee foam, pasta, honeycombs. A striking example of disgust for trypophobes is the seemingly harmless lotus fruit. The presence of round holes causes disgust and anxiety in people.

Even biological materials can cause fear and nausea in trypophobia sufferers. These include human skin (pores, for example), trees, insects and even stones, rocks with pronounced cluster holes.

The most severe case is the fear of holes in food. People suffering from trypophobia react especially negatively to waffle cakes, pancakes, cheese, cucumbers, strawberries, and even citrus fruits. Any hint of a cluster of holes will immediately turn you away from using the product.

Photo of a honeycomb.

Historical roots of trypophobia

In fact, every person, to one degree or another, experiences a dislike for a large accumulation of holes and holes. But healthy people who are not susceptible to trypophobia can easily switch their attention to other details. A trypophobe will not be able to stay in the place where his phobia was identified. He will want to leave the room or place as soon as possible.

Previously, scientists assumed that the fear of holes was inherent in humans by their ancestors. They explained the gene for fear of the accumulation of holes simply: the bodies of dangerous animals, for example, the octopus, posed a direct threat to our ancestors. Spiders and sea creatures had round holes on their bodies. Therefore, even an ordinary person may experience discomfort at the sight of some animals.

Scientists from the University of Essex have established a direct connection between pathogenetic fear. People have an instinctive tendency to reject certain visual images that could previously cause harm to health. We associate objects that cause fear in trypophobia with spots on the surface of the dermis, which are present in most poisonous animals and insects.

Therefore, we inherited from our ancestors a kind of instinctive mechanism: to feel disgust at the sight of such objects. However, such a genetic property can be aggravated by traumatic circumstances and cause a pathological fear of any kind of holes.

There is also another hypothesis for the appearance of trypophobia. It is connected with the work of our brain. According to this theory, we associate cluster holes with infectious diseases or the consequences of skin trauma.

For example, a wasp sting automatically causes an allergic reaction to the insect's venom in a person. The skin becomes blotchy and we can clearly see enlarged pores. Knowing that this is accompanied by pain and discomfort, we subconsciously avoid everything that could cause us harm. The same applies to the consequences of a disease such as measles. The skin becomes covered with pimples, and the holes are clearly visible. This, perhaps unconsciously, leads us to the conclusion that many holes are a possible health hazard.

Trypophobia in the modern world

To date, the medical association does not classify trypophobia as a type of disease. Cluster hole phobia is not a medical condition. However, this does not mean that phobias are not studied by researchers, scientists and psychologists.

Unfortunately, the phobia presented is also not given due attention. And all because there are not so many people with pronounced symptoms. Despite such circumstances, England is actively studying the issue of trypophobia and conducting tests at universities to study the human psyche.

Photo of cells.

Causes of trypophobia

In a state of panic, a person experiences many negative emotions, which are very difficult to cope with without outside participation. The causes of the pathology are still not fully understood. But there are certain provoking factors that lead to trypophobia.

• Mental trauma. This can be explained by some negative event in the past associated with cluster holes. For example, if a person was attacked by a swarm of bees as a child, then he associates bad memories and emotions with honeycombs. If a person is very impressionable, then a similar situation can subsequently lead him to trypophobia.
• Age. It is believed that this pathology occurs more often in older people than in the younger generation. Scientists explain this by the fact that old people have a lot of life experience and certain situations can make them remember the negative moments of their life and cause panic.
• The presence of enlarged skin pores or acne in someone close to you or in yourself. A person will have a fear of the occurrence of such skin deformations or the aggravation of the situation, if any.
• Heredity. It has been proven that trypophobia in humans can be transmitted genetically and occur without provoking factors.

It is believed that this pathology developed at the evolutionary level. For example, if a monkey had lesions on its skin, it means they had worms, etc. Because of this, the animals developed a feeling of anxiety and danger for their lives. This is exactly what was transmitted to man.

On the scientific side, it has been proven that the occurrence of trypophobia is associated with the brain’s incorrect interpretation of the objects seen and impaired association.

What is the most common cause of trypophobia?

Panic can occur on any object or product in which there are closely spaced small holes. But the most common culprits of fear are:

• passages of worms, larvae;
• honeycomb;
• depressions in plants in place of seeds (sunflowers, corn);
• food products (cheese, sausage with lard, bread);
• sparkling water;
• acne and enlarged pores on human skin;
• natural phenomena (bubbles in puddles during rain).

Interesting! Panic occurs upon contact with both living and non-living objects.

Symptoms of trypophobia

As I wrote above, many people feel a slight dislike when they see holes. Even the accumulation of larvae, worms, or anthills can cause us anxiety and anxiety. We will want to leave the place where the hidden threat or unpleasant picture is located. But with trypophobes everything is much more complicated.

The first symptoms of trypophobia

Recognizing them is not so difficult. The main thing is to realize that such a problem really exists. The disorder can be identified by observing two elements, namely:

• Visual perception of clusters. Directly when you see an unpleasant image near you;
• Bodily sensations, i.e. the feelings you experience when visually examining an object.

The brain of trypophobes, when they see holes, immediately gives a signal to their internal systems about the onset of danger. Symptoms of this condition are accompanied by:

• Rapid breathing. Shallow and rapid breathing indicates that a person is wary of clusters;
• Tachycardia. A person may experience rapid increases in blood pressure and rapid heartbeat;
• Lack of oxygen. The trypophobe begins to breathe deeply in order to “breathe”;
• Often, such people begin to rapidly sweat and dry out their mouths. This is another important sign of trypophobia.;
• Nausea. A more serious symptom is the onset of nausea, which in some cases may be accompanied by vomiting. By the way, this reflex was conceived by nature for a reason. A person frees himself from everything unnecessary so that it is easier to escape from danger.

One has only to see something cellular and a person will immediately feel uneasy.

The most obvious symptoms of fear of holes

• Itching on the body. First, the patient begins to scratch his neck (the most vulnerable place), then his arms, and his torso. The itching does not stop for a long time, which in turn causes nervousness and irritability;
• Dizziness. Due to lack of oxygen, a trypophobe may experience clouding in the head. Black spots often appear in the eyes, which also cause hostility and fear in the patient. This may lead to fainting;
• Panic attack. In this case, the trypophobe may behave inappropriately, try to hide from the holes, hide in a corner and cry. A panic attack can manifest differently for each person. Some take a passive position and experience horror alone, while others show aggression and rage.

Most often, the consequences of trypophobia are accompanied by a rash on the skin and hands. After encountering cluster holes, the patient may notice red spots on the body on a bodily level. But over time, they go away without the use of any medications or ointments.

All symptoms can be combined, or just one may appear.

General information

Trypophobia as a concept arose relatively recently, in 2005. The Oxford Word and Language Service interprets the name as a fear of heap holes. She gained real fame in 2009 after Masai Andrews founded a website dedicated to the disorder called Trypophobia.com.

However, neither the American Psychiatric Association nor the DSM officially recognize the existence of trypophobia as an independent disease, considering this condition to be a banal disgust. However, it generates enough conversation around it that many people claim to be carriers of it.

Currently, trypophobia has been identified in 15% of people, and women are more often affected than men. First of all, unpleasant sensations are caused by holes in biological objects. But other items can also provoke a negative response. They could be:

• lather;
• sponge;
• kitchen utensils - sieve, slotted spoon, colander;
• dough, aerated chocolate, cheese;
• strawberries, citrus fruits, some bark vegetables;
• coffee, foam, bubbles in carbonated liquids.

Both real objects and drawn ones cause hostility, and they seem to be the most harmless ones. This is how an 8-year-old child discovered a wasp nest filled with white bubbles with larvae. Over time, the disgusting sensations that arose against this background provoked the progression of the disorder, and other objects became triggers for a negative reaction. And the girl became upset after she saw a cartoon where one of the characters had a large head and his chin was covered with large cracks. A wave of horror washed over her, and she turned off the TV with disgust.

Phobia or not

Fear is a rather dubious characteristic of this disorder. When frightened, an individual with a phobia feels a strong heartbeat, muscle tone increases, and pupils dilate. It's all because of adrenaline, released by the body when there is a feeling of danger and mobilizes a person's strength so that he can scream and run, similarly telling about the threat and trying to hide.

Studies have shown that the body's response to trypophobia differs from that of other phobias. A person's heart rate slows down and their pupils constrict. A state similar to stupor occurs. That is, he experiences nothing more than disgust. This is the main symptom of fear of cluster holes.

More and more scientists are inclined to believe that pathology is a historically established protective reaction to infectious and parasitic diseases. More precisely, a trypophobe is disgusted by a rash from various infections: measles, scarlet fever, acne, smallpox and other diseases with purulent, ulcerative lesions of the skin, since they disfigure its appearance and leave pigment spots and scars. The same applies to damage to the skin by parasites: ticks, fleas, lice.

There is also a defensive reaction here, but of a different kind. It is not aimed at a chaotic, reckless escape, but at a quiet escape from the disease. This refers to the desire to hide, to protect yourself from illness, to slowly “get away.” In other words, trypophobia is historically designed to protect us from infection.

Normally, this is a defensive reaction, saying: leave, it’s not safe here. However, in particularly impressionable people this property is transferred to harmless objects: coffee, chocolate or honey. They provoke an exaggerated feeling of disgust, which from the outside looks quite strange. This is more than incomprehensible behavior when a glass of champagne makes a person turn away with disgust and run out from the table.

In addition to pronounced disgust, such people describe other unpleasant sensations: itching, tingling, goosebumps. There is a feeling of something crawling under the skin. It becomes uncomfortable, nervous excitement increases. Nausea and vomiting are sometimes present.

It’s not for nothing that when you search for “trypophobia” on the Internet, you get pictures of a person covered with multiple holes. Such images clearly convey what a trypophobe experiences. He literally feels like the exciting object is “devouring” him. A wild imagination makes you feel every element of the chain and immerse yourself in it. Those suffering from the disorder characterize the response generated by cluster circles in this way: it seems to me that I live in them.

Paradoxical disease

So, we found out that trypophobia cannot be called a phobia unconditionally. Trypophobes, rather, do not experience fear, but characterize their condition as a piercing, vivid feeling or strong bodily sensation.

There are three stages of the process:

• mild – nervousness, anxiety when colliding with an object;
• medium – the previous symptoms are joined by itching, tremors of the limbs, nausea, dizziness;
• Nervous tension leads to a panic attack.

The brain of a trypophobe works in such a way that it purposefully isolates cluster holes from the surrounding space and sees danger in them. Everywhere his gaze falls first on them. On floor tiles, walls, grass - everywhere he isolates unfortunate objects and only then - the object itself, that is, initially he sees only a figure - a circle, and the rest is just a background.

Patients who see multiple circles have different associations. Some see them as an abyss capable of swallowing them up. Others think that someone will crawl out of them, something will leak out.

And this is where paradoxes arise. Trypophobia, on the one hand, is a fairly young disorder, and on the other, its origins arose several thousand years ago. This is the opinion of adherents of the hypothesis that the disease has taken hold as an innate protective reaction for survival in the wild. It exists as myiasis - a disease provoked by parasites, in particular flies. Their larvae penetrate tissues, cavities of animals and humans. When the skin is damaged, it first becomes hyperemic, then the skin swells, and subsequently an ulcer forms, from which a fly larva can crawl out.

The described picture is very reminiscent of the sensations that arise in trypophobes: holes from which something crawls out.

Myiases are currently classified as neglected diseases. But humanity’s innate reaction to them has been preserved in the form of an exaggerated defensive reaction: these holes are dangerous, you can get infected. The hypertrophied form manifests itself as trypophobia. Its absence, according to one hypothesis, indicates that the individual descended from poorly adapted ancestors.

Another nuance: cluster circles simultaneously disgust and attract. Patients, despite the feeling of disgust, strive to see them again, to experience previous experiences. Psychologists compare this process to extreme sports or a roller coaster ride: it seems alarming, scary, but very tempting, impressive and exciting.

Along with the ancient theory of fear of infection, there are other theories about the origin of the disorder. One of them is experiencing negative experiences. For example, a person saw the decomposed body of a dead animal filled with parasite larvae. Against the general background, they looked like many round objects. Human consciousness became focused on this picture. And the experienced sensations are now renewed at the sight of all the numerous circles.

The hereditary theory suggests that if parents suffer from this disorder, then most likely the child will be able to adopt this tendency.

Types of fear of hole congestion

Today, there are two types of trypophobes. This aspect should be discussed in more detail to make it easier to diagnose the type of disease in the future.

Cutaneous trypophobia

This type of patient cannot tolerate bodily harm. Trypophobia on the body is probably one of the most unpleasant types of fear, as a person experiences panic, horror, nausea and disgust at the sight of:

• Acne or various types of pimples on the body;
• Sebaceous glands and wide open pores;
• Scars left after acne;
• Necrosis of the dermis.

It is not possible for a trypophobe to withstand all these physical circumstances. Considering that skin problems, to one degree or another, occur in all people, trypophobes have a hard time. Moreover, some patients even narrow their social circle and prefer homework to group work. With such asociality, the help of a specialist is necessary. I will describe below who you should contact.

Photo of a hand.

Cluster trypophobia

This type includes all other types of holes. These include:

• Food products (bread, buns, coffee, pasta, etc.);
• Sponge algae;
• Some types of flowers and seeds, as well as trees;
• Tunnels that were created naturally by insects or animals.

One way or another, with cluster trypophobia, a person can avoid meeting potential danger. That is, the patient may not buy scary products, not look at them in the store (although sometimes this can be difficult), and avoid wild nature.

Photo of a porous chocolate bar.

Historical roots

About 15% of the planet's population subconsciously experiences anxiety, attacks of suffocation, dizziness and skin itching when cluster holes of biological origin come into their field of vision. The situation is even worse if the holes have any contents. Severe cases occur, including loss of consciousness, but such a reaction is rather rare than the rule.

The majority of people suffering from trypophobia, in the first seconds of visual contact with an irritant, feel disgust mixed with curiosity and anxiety, as well as a pathological desire to extract the contents of the holes. Where did this desire come from? All inexplicable things regarding human reflexes and instincts have their roots in the distant past. Likewise, the fear of holes has its own hypothesis of origin. It's all because of parasites!

All animals, to one degree or another, suffer from skin parasites. This was the case in ancient times. Man was no exception and was also subject to their attacks. Primates, our closest class relatives, still retain the habit of searching for and removing all kinds of garbage and parasitic insects from the bodies of their relatives. This adaptive reaction contributed to the development of trypophobia in humans.

But what does this have to do with the holes, and even the cluster ones, which are so frightening to some people? The reason for this is the small and, at first glance, harmless tumbu fly, which lives throughout the African continent. She can quickly and quietly lay eggs under the skin of mammals, including humans. The eggs hatch into larvae, forming an African tropical miasm in their location.

It looks, frankly, terrible. The larva lives and develops in its own hole on the skin, while several more individuals settle nearby. They breathe and move and look exactly like the worst pictures on the Internet about trypophobia. The sight of an extensive skin miasma can cause a strong aversion to clusters even in the most hardened and inflexible person.

All human behavior is genetically determined. Just keep in mind that over time, their reaction and behavior in general has changed a lot. If some, very few, at the sight of a cluster of pimples or blackheads have an irresistible desire to squeeze them out, then the majority of people suffering from trypophobia experience discomfort, nausea or suffocation.

Causes of phobia of holes and holes

The main researchers of the strange mental reaction to multiple holes, Arnold Wilkins and Jeff Cole, noted that the term “phobia” does not accurately explain the patient’s condition. The opinion of psychologists has come down to the fact that they do not see fear in this disease, but rather disgust and disgust.

If you type “What is trypophobia” or “Trypophobia test” on the Internet, you will be asked to watch a thematic video series on cluster holes. Any footage that graphically depicts hands in honeycombs or wide holes on the hands, face, and body in general will cause disgust and hostility even in a mentally healthy person.

Postmodern artists painted hands and bodies riddled with holes and worms, which looks more like a sick fantasy of the author than an aesthetic artistic masterpiece. And here the question arises by itself: what comes first – multiple holes that cause fear or such images created by someone’s fevered imagination?

It is worth noting that researchers at the University of Essex also identified signs of trypophobia. Thus, from the proposed pictures, where both cluster holes and other images were presented, they noted that the first made them feel disgusted, but the second did not.

British scientists interpret trypophobia as an “evolutionary gene” that we inherited to help us survive the sight of poisonous animals and insects.

Photo of a honeycomb.

Causes

Since this deviation has not yet been sufficiently studied, it is difficult to name the exact causes of trypophobia. However, scientists still conducted research, and based on these observations, they identified the following risk groups:

1. Unfavorable social conditions.
2. Hereditary predisposition.
3. Age-related or hormonal changes in the body.
4. Unsuccessful treatment of dermatological problems.
5. Congenital pathological disgust.

The fear of congestion does not depend on age or gender and can appear at any time.

Trypophobia, as a deviation, manifests itself in a person with unpleasant sensations on the skin when seeing clustered holes on something. The brain instantly begins to process what he sees and imagine that the same horror could be on his arm, leg or throughout his body.

Stages of trypophobia

Of course, this is a mental problem. Accordingly, help needs to be provided to overcome this unmotivated fear. Today there are three types of trypophobia:

1. Light form. When a person sees an object of fear, he begins to get nervous and experience anxiety, for example, looking at chocolate or coffee foam;
2. Medium shape. In this case, the patient experiences persistent disgust, nausea, and sometimes itching may begin;
3. Severe form. A person experiences unbridled fear, leading to a panic attack. Semi-fainting and fainting conditions may also occur.

In any case, with mild or severe trypophobia, you need to take measures to alleviate your condition.

Don't be afraid to see a doctor!

How to Diagnose Cluster Hole Fear

Considering that today it is impossible to diagnose “trypophobia” due to its not being included in the medical classification of diseases, the disease is classified as obsessive-compulsive disorder. Accordingly, diagnosis and treatment are the same as recovery methods for other types of phobias.

Today, the diagnosis of the condition is carried out by a psychotherapist or psychologist. The only difference is that the first has the right to prescribe drug therapy in the form of sedatives and stronger drugs, while the second does not have such powers.

It depends only on your symptoms which specialist is preferable to go to. However, it should be noted that even with a severe stage of the phobia, taking pills does not guarantee complete relief from the disease. In this case, it is better to find a good specialist who can correctly diagnose your condition and prescribe competent therapy.

Photo of a cellular plant.

Should fear of holes be treated?

A person must answer this question for himself. It is advisable to treat a phobia if it interferes with life, causes discomfort and life seems hopeless. I have already written above about the stages of trypophobia. But as practice shows, even with a mild form of phobia, not only the mood, but also life in general deteriorates.

If you feel that you cannot ignore the smallest details that you associate with clusters, it is better to consult a psychologist. This is a sure sign that you yourself cannot cope with obsessive fear.

Treatment of trypophobia

Any psychological and mental illness does not have a single therapeutic program. Each patient is individual, and the approach to solving the problem is selected taking into account the person’s medical history. There are currently three types of treatment for trypophobia. Let's look at them in more detail.

Pharmacological.

Accompanied by taking sedatives, antihistamines or stronger drugs. Drug therapy is justified only if the patient experiences bodily sensations (itching, dizziness, loss of consciousness). This therapy is aimed at quickly relieving the symptoms of trypophobia, but is not curative.

To reduce the severity of cephalgia of psychogenic etymology and attacks of headaches, short-term courses of anxiolytic drugs, such as benzodiazepine tranquilizers, are used.

For mild symptoms of trypophobia, it is important to prescribe sedatives to improve the patient’s sleep. If the phobia is accompanied by seizures or convulsions, the doctor has the right to prescribe anticonvulsants.

The pills are aimed at relieving symptoms, not treating.

Psychotherapeutic

The work of a psychologist is to normalize the patient’s mental state by conducting a psychotherapeutic course. In this case, there is no clear method of the session, since the psychologist creates the course, taking into account the patient’s condition.

One proven practice is to reduce the symptoms of a panic attack. The patient is offered a series of pictures that evoke peace and aesthetic feelings. Along with inspiring images, the psychologist also shows the object of the patient's fear, and then again calming fragments. Gradually, the specialist increases the duration of display of cluster images, replacing them with pleasant pictures. The presented technique includes proper breathing.

When seeing both images, another trigger begins to go off in the patient’s head: “it’s not as scary as it seems.” The results of such sessions are truly fascinating. Most trypophobes experience a decrease in the intensity of their anxiety reactions, and also gain control over their own behavior.

Perhaps the best way to overcome trypophobia.

Hypnosis treatment

Sometimes a destructive thinking program is so deeply embedded in the psyche that it is not possible to identify it in a waking state. Hypnosis techniques are used to treat panic attacks and aggressive conditions. What is its essence?

Sometimes a person himself cannot truly understand the reason for his fear. Unreasonable worries can be identified in the subconscious, which is impossible to reach in wakefulness. The specialist reduces the control of a person’s consciousness, plunging him into a hypnotic trance, after which he corrects the “plan” of the subconscious.

During a natural half-asleep state, a hypnologist can reveal the true mechanisms of progression of trypophobia. In this state, the hypnologist instills a motivating attitude to eliminate defective thinking structures and introduces a new, constructive model of behavior.

Hypnosis can sometimes help.

Treatment

Adults most often show signs of fear of holes. However, many people do not even know what trypophobia is. Therefore, they do not understand what exactly bothers a person who experiences a panic attack at the sight of multiple holes.

If you have symptoms of trypophobia, it is recommended to seek advice from a psychologist. Otherwise, the pathology will continue to progress and worsen the quality of life.

Experts offer different methods of treating mental disorders. In most cases, patients are selected a whole range of practices that enhance each other’s effects.

Psychotherapy

Group conversations are very helpful, where you can listen to how others are coping with the problem and speak out yourself

Most psychotherapists do not recognize trypophobia as an independent mental illness. This fact is associated with insufficient knowledge of the disorder. Because of this, there are still no known practices that can successfully treat fear.

For trypophobia, traditional methods of treatment for treating fears are used:

• Psychoanalysis.
• Hypnotherapy.
• Cognitive behavioral treatment.
• Individual and group therapy.

Trypophobia is suppressed if treatment aimed at relaxation is used. Therapy also helps a person learn self-control techniques, which reduce the number of panic attacks at the sight of an irritant or thoughts about it.

Medication method

During the treatment of trypophobia, doctors suggest using medications. In this case, it is customary to prescribe sedatives and antiallergic drugs.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to take medications without prior consultation with a specialist, as such actions can be harmful to health.

For severe mental disorders, anticonvulsants and anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Antidepressants may also be required.

World research on trypophobia

To this day, scientists and psychologists debate how serious trypophobia is. Some believe that this is an obsession, others that it is a mental disorder. But in order not to scare all people, signs of trypophobia in a person are a normal phenomenon.

If you, for example, look at skin eaten away by worms, this will automatically cause rejection and hostility in you. So there is no need to be ashamed of this circumstance. What looks unpresentable, ugly or disgusting causes an understandable reaction in our brain.

Trypophobes, on the other hand, experience an irrational fear of any kind of holes. This is the main feature of the disease. Worldwide research on trypophobia is currently being actively conducted by scientists and psychologists. Despite the fact that there is a category that suffers from this phobia, it is impossible to find a single treatment method.

The human psyche is individual. Some course will be useful for one patient, but not for another. Therefore, a competent psychologist works with the patient individually.

Photo of coral.

What is trypophobia in humans?

Trypophobia is the fear of holes and holes accumulated in one area close to each other. We are not talking about defects on clothes or drilled holes in the wall. As soon as a trypophobe looks at a photograph of a honeycomb from a beehive, he experiences a sharp deterioration in his condition, accompanied by a strong feeling of fear.

The inability to calmly perceive the accumulation of holes is not clearly recognized by medicine as a disease, however, some stages of the manifestation of a phobia are diagnosed by doctors as a serious mental disorder, which means that a phobia has the right to be called a disease if it significantly spoils a person’s quality of life.

Additional Information. The presence of trypophobia is reflected in everyday habits. For example, a trypophobe cannot wash dishes with a porous sponge or use natural or artificial pumice in the bathroom.

The presence of trypophobia in a person is identified by pictures with enlarged images of corals, a ripe lotus box or bubbles in yeast dough. For a person with a healthy psyche, these illustrations will not evoke any strong negative emotions.

Lotus after flowering

Trypophilia is the opposite of trypophobia

Indeed, today there is an unofficial name for another deviation opposite to trypophobia - trypophilia. In this case, a person, on the contrary, experiences a craving for all sorts of clusters of holes, both on the body and on other surfaces. This is also a kind of psychological addiction. A person, looking at lotus fruits or honeycombs, not only does not feel disgust, but, on the contrary, contemplates them and, if possible, even picks at the holes. The phobia of holes gives way to dependence on holes.

Both trypophobia and trypophilia are not normal conditions for humans. The severe stage of tripophilia involves self-harm. Some people deliberately pick holes on their bodies and enjoy the look of them. So, both phobia and addiction have a destructive effect on a person’s outlook and life as a whole.

Photo of a manicure with cells.

Books about trypophobia

Today there is a lot of psychological literature that helps people get out of difficult situations or look at their lives from a different “angle.” To date, no books have been published about trypophobia, although the work of experts in the field of psychology has improved significantly.

Still, trypophobia is a rather rare disease, but, nevertheless, it deserves no less interest, since ordinary people suffer from unmotivated fear. If you clearly understand that you have such a phobia, then the best way to get acquainted with the possible causes is to visit the office of a psychologist or psychotherapist.

And know that any mental circumstance necessarily has a basis. Despite the fact that the psyche does not hurt, like, for example, the stomach or head, it needs healing. Consider that this is another organ of ours that needs to be monitored and cared for.