What It’s Like to Live With Mysophobia and How to Cope

So you have recurring hives, a fear of contagious diseases, and occasionally cannot use public washrooms. What do you do? The condition is referred to as mysophobia, a word combining “fear” and “hygiene.” Let’s take a closer look.

Definition of Mysophobia

It is a type of specific phobia and can also be called bacillophobia, bacteriophobia, or verminophobia. People with this fear may go to great lengths to avoid contact with germs, run away from anyone who coughs or sneezes, refuse to eat in restaurants, and avoid public toilets.

Causes of Mysophobia

There’s no clear cause for mysophobia, but it’s often linked to childhood experiences and trauma. For example:

• A person raised in an environment where cleanliness was important (for example, by parents worried about germs) may have developed mysophobia.
• A person bullied at school for being messy might have developed the condition to cope with this experience.
• An experience that made you feel dirty or unclean (for example, having an accident) may have caused you to develop the condition later in life.

Signs You Might Have Mysophobia

Sufferers may have some or all of these symptoms:

• Fear of becoming ill after touching things that others have touched
• Avoiding touching dirty objects, contaminated, or have germs on them (including other people)
• Fear of catching a disease when using public transport or sharing food or drinks with others
• Fear of being touched by others due to germs on their hands or body
• Hand-washing more than usual to prevent infection
• A need for personal space to avoid contamination by other people
• Hoarding as a way to keep things clean and safe from germs

People with this condition strongly fear getting sick or even the thought of germs because they believe contact with them could lead to illness. They may be afraid of sharing food, utensils, or other items with others and refuse to shake hands for fear of passing on germs.

The fear of germs can cause significant distress in daily life if it becomes unmanageable. Mysophobia can lead to avoidance of situations with a risk of contact with germs or dirt. This avoidance can make it difficult for them to lead normal lives due to their fear of contamination.

How Is Mysophobia Diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing mysophobia is to rule out any physical illnesses causing your symptoms, such as a skin condition or an infection. If your doctor thinks you might have a phobia, they will want to know about your past experiences with germs and cleaning.

Your doctor may also ask you questions about your daily life, including where you work and what activities you do at home. You may be asked to keep a diary of the tasks you perform each day and how often they make you feel anxious.

Suppose your doctor suspects that you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In that case, they will ask whether you have other disorder symptoms, such as counting, checking, or repeating actions repeatedly. They might also ask if certain situations make it more difficult for you to control these behaviors.

Mysophobia Treatment Options That Work

Some of the most common treatments for mysophobia include:

Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you learn to change your thinking and behavior to overcome fears. The goal is to help you face your fears in a safe environment with the guidance of a therapist. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be effective for mysophobia because it helps you examine your thoughts and feelings about dirt, germs, and contamination. You’ll learn skills to manage those feelings and behaviors.

Medications: Your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants if you have severe mysophobia and stress about germs contributing to your symptoms. Antidepressants can help relieve anxiety and reduce obsessive thoughts about germs. Anti-anxiety medications can effectively relieve extreme anxiety caused by mysophobia but don’t treat the underlying fear.

Hypnosis uses relaxation techniques to help you control your thoughts and feelings. A therapist will guide you into a relaxed state of mind so that you can focus on what’s going on around you instead of focusing on your fears and anxieties about germs and dirt. Hypnosis may be helpful if you have trouble relaxing or letting go of negative thoughts that make it difficult to overcome mysophobia.

Exposure therapy involves confronting your fears in a safe environment so that they become less frightening over time through repeated exposure to them without having any negative consequences due to these fears being confronted.

Coping Strategies

We all get stressed out sometimes, but people with mysophobia tend to be particularly affected. If you suffer from this condition, it can seem like the whole world is out to get you. You may worry about germs and dirt, causing you to clean your hands or body excessively. You might also worry about getting sick from touching things or eating food others have touched.

The good news is that there are ways of dealing with mysophobia. Here’s how to cope if you have this condition:

1. Talk about it. Talking about your fears with a friend, family member, or therapist can help you realize they’re normal reactions to a stressful situation rather than signs of an illness. It also helps keep you from feeling alone with your fears and helps you take steps toward overcoming them.

2. Get involved in online support groups and communities where people with mysophobia share their experiences and offer support and advice to each other. This can be especially helpful if someone else has had a similar experience as yours or if they can relate to how you feel on a deeper level than friends or family members who aren’t affected by this condition.

3. Avoid triggers. If you know what triggers your fear, stay away from them. That way, you won’t be forced into situations where feeling dirty or contaminated could make you panic.

4. Remind yourself that most germs are harmless. There’s no need to wash whenever someone sneezes near you — or even when someone talks about germs or bacteria! Most germs don’t cause any harm and can’t get inside your body through contact alone. Only a few strains of bacteria cause illness and infection (and even then, usually only in people with weakened immune systems).

5. To reduce stress and anxiety, Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation exercises. Try to engage in activities that help you relax and de-stress, such as exercising or meditating regularly, spending time with friends, reading, or listening to music.

How to Help Someone Who Suffers from Mysophobia

Mysophobia can also lead to compulsive hand washing, cleaning, disinfecting, or washing hands frequently. This can cause the individual to miss school or work because they spend so much time cleaning themselves or their environment.

If you know someone who has mysophobia, you might be able to help them get over their phobia by encouraging them to seek professional treatment. However, if the person refuses to see a therapist or psychiatrist, you can still take steps to help them overcome their fear of germs and dirt.

1. Don’t criticize their symptoms — Judging someone for irrational fear is easy but not helpful. Instead, try to understand what they’re going through and offer support instead of criticism or judgment.

2. Be patient. Being around someone constantly washing their hands or cleaning things can be frustrating. But don’t let your frustration show. Try not to sigh when they ask if you’ve washed your hands or when they ask for the fiftieth time if your food has been cooked enough. One of the most important things you can do is listen and be patient with them.

3. If you’re outing with them, try not to take it personally if they want to eat in or skip an activity that requires being outside, like going out for dinner or dancing. This can be especially hard if it’s something special like a date night or a wedding, but remember that this isn’t about you — it’s about their fears and trying to work through them in their way.

4. Don’t say, “Get over it,” or “Stop being so silly.” These comments will only make your loved one feel worse about their condition. Instead, try saying something like, “I’m sorry this is hard for you.” This shows your friend that you understand how difficult their situation can be and that there’s no need to hide it from others.

It’s Okay to Be Afraid

All in all, it’s important to remember that many people suffer from obsessive washing and cleaning. Whether you’re a germaphobe or just find yourself constantly hand-washing dishes, the best way to deal with it is to seek out a trained professional for help. 

Many therapists are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy, which may help you identify the root causes of your problem and deal with it more appropriately. If your behavior negatively impacts your quality of life, please try to talk to someone. You may be surprised by how much better you feel after discussing these issues with a professional.

FAQs

What is Mysophobia?

Mysophobia, or germophobia, is an intense and irrational fear of germs, dirt, or contamination. This fear can lead individuals to go to great lengths to avoid situations they perceive as dirty or could be contagion sources.

How to Overcome Mysophobia?

Overcoming mysophobia often involves Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy that can help individuals manage their fear by changing negative thoughts or behaviors. In some cases, medication may also be prescribed by mental health professionals to manage symptoms.

What Causes Mysophobia?

Mysophobia can develop from various factors, including a traumatic event related to germs or cleanliness, heightened awareness of germs and bacteria, or underlying anxiety disorders.

What Does a Person with Mysophobia Look Like?

There’s no distinct physical appearance for a person with mysophobia. Behaviorally, they may avoid crowded places, have excessive cleanliness, constantly sanitize their hands or personal items, and exhibit anxiety when faced with “dirty” or germ-infested situations.

How to Help Someone Get Over Mysophobia?

To help someone manage mysophobia, supporting their treatment plan, including therapy sessions, providing understanding and patience, and avoiding judgment or criticism about their fear is important. Encourage them to consult a mental health professional for appropriate therapy and, if needed, medication.