Mysophobia is an intense fear of dirt and uncleanliness. It is typically associated with a fear of contamination with germs; some people call it “germaphobia” as a result. This condition can have serious repercussions for people who suffer from it, as they may embark on radical lifestyle changes to avoid situations in which they may potentially be exposed to germs. There are several treatments for this condition which can allow mysophobes to live relatively normal lives.
As with many psychological conditions, the root causes of mysophobia can be varied and difficult to trace. It may be related to various forms of trauma, for example, either experienced first hand or in the form of books and films. Some psychologists believe that conditions like mysophobia also experienced a sharp increase at the end of the 20th century, as people began to be concerned about conditions like AIDS.
The severity of mysophobia varies. Patients tend to feel tense around potential sources of contamination, and they may feel breathless or nauseated as well. Heart rates typically increase, which can make a patient feel physically ill as a result. Many mysophobes engage in obsessive compulsive behavior like washing their hands. Some people go to extreme lengths to avoid situations in which they might get dirty or sick, essentially cutting themselves off from society.
This condition was first described by William Hammond in 1879. Hammond was interested in the role of mysophobia in conditions like obsessive compulsive disorder. It can be easy to confuse mysophobia with obsessive compulsive activities like hand washing, but it is important to remember that the root causes of hand washing in mysophobes and obsessive compulsives are different. A mysophobe washes his or her hands repeatedly out of fear of contamination, while obsessive compulsive patients wash their hands because they feel like they have to in order to maintain the order of their lives.
The most common treatment for mysophobia is cognitive behavioral therapy, which attempts to get to the root cause of the condition and to address the specific concerns of the patient. Techniques like meditation and hypnosis may be utilized as well, along with medications which are designed to treat some of the stress and mental anguish associated with severe mysophobia.