Fear of holes: Also called trypophobia is the repulsion or irrational fear of a set of holes, holes or gaps. That fear expands when the holes are similar in size and close together, it is an anxiety towards repetitive patterns. Although it seems incredible, it is contemplated that this phobia is suffered by 25% of human beings and it is more serious and common than we think.
This disease has not been fully studied by science, in fact not a yet recognized phobia. The Statistical and Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, has not approved it as a phobia at the level of the most recognized, because not enough studies have been carried out to name it as such. The word was coined in the year 2005. The The etymological origin of the word has Greek roots, in which «trypa» means hole and phobia, which means fear.
Fear of holes: Source
There are different theories as to why it starts. trypophobiabut one of the most successful and recognizable, is a study published by the Psychological Science. Where he asserts that the repetitive and equal patterns that cause so much anxiety and fear in people who suffer from trypophobia, are the same ones that make us react to the fear that seeing the most lethal species on the planet gives us.
The most poisonous animals have on their skin geometric figures that are constantly repeatedExamples of this are: king cobra, certain spiders, blue-ringed octopus, different snakes, the arrowhead frog and the marble cone snail.
The fear of the geometric figures of these animals comes from time immemorial, where the human being developed a defense mechanism against the danger caused by these species.
That is why nowadays seeing these shapes and holes is the defensive mechanism that we have deep inside, that our ancestors left us.
Types of trypophobia
As we mentioned before, there is more than one class of this phobia or fear, finding a very basic classification that includes the skin trypophobia and extreme trypophobia.
The first of these types of trypophobia (trypophobia on the skin) closely resembles dermatopathophobia, and refers to the irrational fear that manifests itself in front of rashes and conditions that tend to run across the skin, as if in sequential, repeating patterns
It is possible to view a large number of images that refer to the stimulus that triggers this type of trypophobia which, although they are real in certain cases, little has been seen in human beings.
On the other hand, the second of the types of trypophobia (extreme trypophobia) is the one in which the tolerance to the stimulus of this disorder is quite low, whether it’s about repetitive patterns related to skin conditions, honeycombs, roundworms, etc. This type of trypophobia Significantly decreases the quality of life of those who suffer from itsince it can find multiple phobic stimulus factors with great assiduity.
Symptoms
When people with trypophobia are exposed to repetitive geometric patterns such as lotus seeds, beehives, strawberries or crustaceans, they can manifest symptoms, such as:
- Nausea.
- Tremors.
- sweating
- Disgust.
- Crying.
- Shaking chills.
- Discomfort.
- Increased heart rate.
- General itching and tingling.
- In more severe cases, the person may also suffer from panic attacks, due to an extreme level of anxiety.
Evolution
As we said before, this phobia comes from our ancestors who left us the instinctive rejection towards the figures that are repeated, to recognize the poisonous species. Now, this type of phobia has become more recognizable today, due to the virtual launch it has had. With the arrival of social networks, netizens realized that by sharing images of deep and repetitive holes, they caused repulsion not only to them, but also to the majority of people who saw said images.
I am afraid of holes, what should I do?
Normally, the reactions provoked by the stimulus of trypophobia they usually cease once the eye is removed from it. However, there are cases in which the symptoms are usually aggravate and prolongcausing much greater discomfort in those who suffer from the disorder.
If this is your case, you should go to a mental health expert, who will be in charge of evaluating your condition in order to provide you with an effective solution to your problem.
This may involve pharmacological treatment or psychological treatmentwhich basically includes exposure therapieswhich will seek to face the stimuli of the phobia, with the aim that you can, progressively, go overcoming anxiety, disgust or fear of them.
Treatment
There are several ways to treat trypophobia, with systematic desensitization being the most effective therapy. This type of therapy helps control fear by changing the response to the stimulus causing the disproportionate response, so you should see a specialist on the subject. Since care must be taken not to produce a new trauma or increase the fear that was already present.
This therapy must be carried out by a psychologist through gradual exposure to the stimulus that produces the phobia. Through dialogue, the therapist uses relaxation techniques so that the person faces the fear, until the discomfort it causes is reduced.
This therapy can be accompanied by other techniques that help reduce anxiety and treat this fear:
- Taking medications that help reduce anxiety and panic symptoms, such as beta-blockers and sedatives;
- Practice of relaxation techniques such as yoga, for example;
- Exercise practice to reduce anxiety. Learn some tips to reduce anxiety.