Mysophobia
Mysophobia is a phobia—an extreme fear—of germs or contamination. The central feature of this phobia is not just concern about germs but an obsessive fear of any kind of contamination, including by illness, dirt, body fluids, or bacteria.
About Mysophobia
Germs and contamination do pose some danger, and so a reasonable fear of germs cannot be construed as mysophobia. A fear of germs only becomes a phobia when it is both unreasonable and interferes with normal activities. A person who washes their hands more than normal may be unreasonably cautious, but if hand washing does not interfere with normal life or the fear of germs does not cause them discomfort or stress, then the frequent hand washing is not properly construed as mysophobia.
In recent years, the use of antibacterial products has become increasingly common. Some mental health professionals believe that this increased awareness of germs has increased the frequency with which people develop mysophobia. Ironically, the overuse of such products can actually create antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are much more dangerous.
Symptoms of Mysophobia
To be diagnosed with mysophobia, a person’s avoidance of germs cannot just be eccentric. It has to interfere with one or more life activities or threaten the person’s health. Common traits associated with mysophobia include:
- Obsessive hand washing
- Avoidance of places perceived to be full of germs or contamination
- Fixation on cleanliness
- Overuse of sanitizing products
- Fear of one’s children becoming contaminated; for example, by refusing to allow visitors to interact with a baby
Treatment for Mysophobia
Mysophobia can have obsessive-compulsive elements, and some people with this phobia also have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therapy designed to treat OCD, therefore, can also help some people with germ phobias. A combination of education about the risks of overly sanitized environments, exposure therapy, and psychotherapy designed to address any underlying causes can be helpful. Some people with mysophobia benefit from hypnosis or the use of anti-anxiety medications.
References:
- Carmin, C. N. (2009). Obsessive-compulsive disorder demystified. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
- Mysophobia. (n.d.). Epigee.org. Retrieved from http://www.epigee.org/mental_health/mysophobia.html
Last Updated: 08-12-2015
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Acsa D.
July 16th, 2016 at 6:32 PMis there any diagnostic tools for mysophobia beside the symptoms?
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Gizle
March 5th, 2017 at 5:15 PMI once washed my hands 7 times until I felt like they were completely clean, from touching someone’s hair (I had cuts afterwards). One time I had a panic attack from my brother smearing chicken broth on me with his bear hand. It was personally very disgusting on both occasions & more.
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Sherif T
March 22nd, 2017 at 8:54 PMI think I have this condition or disorder. I used to wear rubber gloves and a mask because of the fear of disease. I’m back to wearing gloves. As soon as I can I will buy a full mask not just a mouth and nose piece like before. I now wear long sleeve shirts when I leave my home, boots, and long pants. I’m afraid to shake a persons hand. To kiss someone even on the cheek. If I have a cut I tend to freak out. I’m a blood donor and I get very nervous after giving blood. In case I come up positive for any disease. I’m stricken with anxiety just thinking about being contaminated. I don’t want to get a job that won’t allow me to be as cautious as I’d like either. I’m afraid to even touch or kiss my girlfriend because she’s not as cautious as I am…I think it’s reasonable to be so afraid of germs. Especially if you live in a highly populated area. But what can I do to help future employers understand that I’m not crazy. I’m just afraid of sickness and disease. Can I have a doctors note as an excuse? Can I be prescribed medication for this anxiety issue?
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germs are gross
October 4th, 2018 at 7:14 AMi always use a whole small hand sanitizer bottle after toching a public door knob
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Takeshi
May 11th, 2019 at 7:09 AMI think I might have Mysophobia. I don’t like touching animals, I don’t touch doorknobs or unsanitary surfaces, I refuse to use public restrooms, I don’t enter other people’s homes and I try to keep them away from mine, I avoid coming into contact with any kind of bodily fluids (saliva, mucus, blood, tears, sweat.. etc.), I frequently clean to manage anxiety— and I don’t like touching people at all— yesterday I was compelled to shake someone’s hand because I was meeting them for the first time, a family friend, and after touching their hand I just started thinking about how many contaminated things that person had touched without washing. A few moments later I was panicking and rushing off to the restroom to wash my hands. Then once I was satisfied with their cleanliness, I decided to clean my entire house, top to bottom. Every. Single. Corner. It felt so good. For my entire life, I’ve been obsessive about keeping things straight, symmetrical and clean. I’ve been panicking when coming in contact with anything that may have been contaminated by bacteria. I’m terrified of getting sick and I feel like this is seriously ruining my life. I’ve done countless research and I know about the different types of treatment. I want to get better, but I also like being clean and orderly. I like myself the way I am, I just wish it didn’t affect my personal life so much.
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Ana
September 8th, 2019 at 7:27 AMOh dear, I think I have this phobia. For some reason, it’s babies/little kids and dogs that I perceive the most germ ridden, contaminated beings, so I avoid them at all costs. I also hate having people in my house. Needing repairmen to enter my home fills me with dread. Lending anything to people is an ordeal to be avoided as well. I don’t like to walk in big cities because there’s often human waste on the streets. I have severe emetophobia. I get nervous around people who are sick, for example if someone sneezes or coughs in a store, I’ll walk the other way. I’m sure there’s a lot more, these things came to mind suddenly.
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pong
October 8th, 2019 at 2:00 AMI think I have this phobia too. I’m so afraid of anyone’s body’s fluids. I wash myself everytime I urinate. I don’t use public toilets at all. I don’t want to go downstairs to touch doorknobs or refrigerator. My everyday life is so bad. And I still haven’t met a doctor yet.
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jacob
October 30th, 2019 at 6:15 AMI’m doing an assignment in school, I think it would be very helpful if you added more info for people at school to work off of your info.
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Katherine
February 13th, 2020 at 12:50 PMI think I have this phobia however, I don’t think it’s extreme. Like if i got to a store and got clothes I have to wash them with hot water before i wear them, and after just changing my socks or just touching my feet I have to use straight alcohol to wash my hands to get bacteria off and I avoid touching knobs and handles with my bare hands i also own my own towels, my family has many towels for the family and keeps them in the bathroom closet but i use my own and keep them in my room. But, I own four pets and I will pet them all the time and I have friends over all the time and I got to their house and even stay the night.
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Terry
May 16th, 2020 at 8:37 PMA strong-willed person, his world is full of infinite possibilities
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Lacy
December 17th, 2020 at 5:43 PMI’m a writer, and one of my characters has Mysophobia. Some questions I need answered are: Do you fear hospitals? What are you opinions of hospitals in general? As well as, how do you deal with liquids other than hand sanitizer? This is often linked to OCD as well so, do you have any OCD symptoms that tie in with your Mysophobia? How about eating in public restaurants that you didn’t see the environment it was prepared in? What’re small habits that you think are directly linked to your condition? Thank you so much if you answer :)
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Bear
November 16th, 2021 at 8:17 AMI probably have this. I have some past trauma from a parent going to the ICU when I was 7-8 years old, and am now terrified of contamination. Not so much cleaning as disinfecting or cleansing of bacteria, viruses, and poisons that I know aren’t there. Just going to the grocery store is nerve racking, and I refuse to go near a bowling ball despite loving the game.
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Marie
October 5th, 2022 at 12:50 AMIs there a variation of this where the person is scared of sexual body fluids? My ex was always saying he was “ dirty “ or therefore I was dirty when we weren’t and I personally shower every day. For this reason he would deny sex and he wouldn’t want to put his fingers or tongue really in me I noticed. It got to be too much for me.
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