Haphephobia, Excessive Fear of Being Touched by Others
Haphephobia, Excessive Fear of Being Touched by Others"
Haphephobia is an excessive fear of touch from other people. This phobia is a specific type of phobia and is relatively rare. If not treated properly, haphephobia can interfere with the sufferer's quality of life.
For some people, getting physical touch from other people is normal. In fact, physical touch can be a love language to express feelings of love and affection. Even so, this does not apply to people with haphephobia.
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People with haphephobia will experience irrational fear and panic when touched by others or about to be touched. Apart from being referred to as haphephobia, this condition is also known as aphenphosmphobia, chiraptophobia, or thixophobia.
Recognize the Symptoms of Haphephobia
The main symptoms of haphephobia are the emergence of fear, panic, anger, and anxiety when they want to or have been touched by other people, be it friends, family, or partners. In addition, people with haphephobia may also experience the following symptoms when touched:
- A cold sweat
- Body shaking or tremors
- Dizzy
- Nauseous
- Heart beating fast
- Breathing becomes fast or short of breath
- Cry
- Insist on avoiding touch by slapping other people's hands or even running
A person can be said to suffer from haphephobia when he has experienced the above symptoms for at least 6 months. Symptoms can vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the phobia.
Symptoms of haphephobia can appear at any age, but are more common in adolescence and adulthood. In children, this phobia often goes undetected. However, you don't need to worry too much, because usually haphephobia will go away on its own with age.
Know the Causes of Haphephobia
The causes of specific phobias, including haphephobia, are currently unknown. However, there are several factors that can make a person more at risk of developing this phobia, namely:
- Have a family history of haphephobia
- Experiencing a traumatic event related to touch, such as physical or sexual abuse
- Suffering from impaired brain function due to injury or aging
- Suffering from certain mental disorders, such as social anxiety disorder or a phobia of germs
- In addition, specific phobias such as haphephobia are also more experienced by women than men.
Here's How to Overcome Haphephobia
Excessive fear of touch can affect a person's quality of life. Haphephobia can make sufferers become introverted and tend to avoid social relationships, so they can experience stress, loneliness, or maybe depression.
People with this phobia also often find it difficult or reluctant to want to have sex with their partners.
Because it can have a significant impact on the patient's quality of life, haphephobia is classified as a psychiatric disorder that needs to be examined and treated by psychiatrists and psychologists.
To deal with haphephobia, there are several treatment methods that can be done, namely:
1. Psychotherapy
Through counseling and psychotherapy, doctors and psychologists will help haphephobic patients to find out the cause of the excessive fear of being touched.
After that, patients with haphephobia will be guided to change their mindset and assume that physical touch is not scary or dangerous. One of the psychotherapy techniques that psychologists or psychiatrists can use to deal with this phobia is cognitive behavioral therapy.
2. Administration of drugs
Patients with haphephobia are also at risk for other mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders. To treat it, doctors can give drugs, such as antidepressants or sedatives.
3. Do relaxation techniques
When feeling afraid and panicked when being touched or after being touched, patients with haphephobia can try relaxation techniques, such as taking deep breaths and then exhaling slowly through the mouth. Perform this technique at a steady rhythm for 3 to 5 minutes.
Relaxation can also be done by meditation, yoga, or doing fun things, such as listening to music.
In undergoing treatment for haphephobia, extra patience is needed because the treatment takes a long time. Commitment, discipline, and understanding of the patient are also very influential to support the smoothness of treatment.
Therefore, if you, a family member or relative, feel or look like you have haphephobia, you should immediately consult a psychologist or psychiatrist. That way, treatment can be given as early as possible.