Trypophobia skin

Trypophobia is an anxiety disorder characterized by an irrational and intense fear of or discomfort with clusters of holes, bumps, or repetitive patterns. As of 2023, this condition is not recognized as a distinct entity by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, 5th Ed. (DSM-5), which guides clinical practice in psychiatry and mental health. However, researchers estimate that up to 14% or more of the population experience some form of aversion to or fear of stimuli associated with trypophobia. Symptoms Trypophobia is a type of phobia: an extreme and irrational fear of a specific trigger or set of triggers. In this case, the triggers are objects and patterns dominated by clusters of holes, bumps, or nodules. People with trypophobia experience a combination of psychological and physical symptoms when exposed to patterns like these. Trypophobia Causes Your amygdala is the emotional and motivational center of your brain. When you experience fear, the activity in your amygdala changes in response to the perceived threat. Phobias occur when the fear response outweighs the potential threat of specific triggers. They're usually caused by a combination of genetics, previous traumas, learned responses, and underlying mental health conditions. Risk Factors Some populations have a higher risk of developing trypophobia. For example, this condition can be more common and chronic in people assigned female at birth. There also seems to be a genetic link: the con...

Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. There is some debate among researchers as to whether trypophobia is a genuine condition. Early reports of trypophobia were first described in an online forum in 2005, but it has not been recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association. While not listed in the What Is Trypophobia? Trypophobia is often described as “the fear of holes,” but it is important to note that it may also apply to bumps or other patterns that are closely clustered together. When people see trigger objects, they experience symptoms such as severe fear, nausea, itching, sweating, shaking, and even This video has been medically reviewed by One case report illustrates how trypophobia often presents. The patient, a 12-year-old girl, experienced feelings of discomfort when she encountered surfaces and objects covered with holes or dots. When asked to draw a picture of her fear, she filled a paper with a repetitive pattern of clustered, round dots. While prevalence is unknown, some research indicates that trypophobia may be quite commo...

Trypophobia refers to a strong fear of closely packed holes. People typically feel queasy, disgusted, and distressed when looking at surfaces that have small holes gathered close together. The name trypophobia, first introduced on a web forum in 2005, combines the Greek words “trypa” (punching or drilling holes) and “phobia” (fear or aversion). Experts don’t yet officially recognize trypophobia as a That said, there are plenty of anecdotal reports of people experiencing trypophobia. Read on to learn more about the fear of holes, including potential triggers, causes, and how to get support when it causes extreme distress. Trypophobia is mainly visual. If you have this phobia, you might feel anxiety, disgust, and discomfort when looking at things like: • lotus seed pods • honeycombs • strawberries • coral • seeded breads • Swiss cheese • scabs or lesions on skin • aluminum metal foam • pomegranates • sponges • pebbled or graveled roads • bubbles • condensation • cantaloupe • a cluster of eyes Animals with spotted skin or fur — think leopards, Dalmatians, or poison dart frogs — can also prompt revulsion and fear. Some people with a fear of holes have an aversion to surfaces with irregularly shaped holes only. They may not notice the same level of discomfort when looking at surfaces with holes of the same size, like those in a showerhead or on a fabric patterned with polka dots. Others might find all closely packed holes uncomfortable and upsetting. Pictures of trypophobia tri...

Does the idea of seeing a bunch of holes squeezed tightly and close together make you cringe? Do you feel anxious gazing at pictures of holes for extended periods of time? If so, you probably suffer from trypophobia. And while looking at these makes my skin crawl, I was able to make it to the end of this list without setting my laptop on fire and noping away from the internet for a while. How about you? (Also, totally don't light your laptop on fire even if you feel like it — just give it to me, if you're just going to destroy it anyway.)

Trypophobia, the fear of clustered patterns of irregular holes, is a real condition — but not necessarily a phobia. Do you feel uncomfortable, disgusted, or fearful when you look at lotus seed pods, a honeycomb, or the inside of a pomegranate? Trypophobia is an aversion to clustered patterns of irregular holes, circles, or bumps. These images can trigger disgust or fear in people with this condition. What could be causing this type of fear? Is trypophobia an evolutionary trait warning us of poisonous animals or skin diseases? Is it a learned fear? There are very few studies on trypophobia, and it’s not recognized in the Trypophobia is a strong feeling of disgust or fear toward clustered patterns of irregular holes, bumps, or circles. For instance, a person with trypophobia would have a strong negative reaction to items such as: • honeycombs • natural sponges • coral • wallpaper with an irregular pattern of circles and dots Trypophobia is not recognized in the DSM-5, and the condition has prompted very few studies. But surveys and online anecdotes suggest that many people experience its symptoms. Experts suggest that most people with trypophobia experience strong levels of disgust rather than the type of terror often seen in Either way, trypophobic images can trigger significant discomfort. Among 195 survey participants recruited from a trypophobia support group, People with trypophobia feel disgust, fear, or both toward clustered patterns of holes or circles. These pattern...

Trypophobia refers to a fear of or aversion to clusters of small holes or repetitive patterns, for instance, in sponges, soap bubbles, and strawberries. It is not currently categorized as a phobia. The term “trypophobia” is Greek for a fear of holes. It describes the aversion or unpleasant feeling a person may experience when they see a cluster of holes or similar repetitive patterns. Seeing these patterns may lead to symptoms such as fear, disgust, and At present, the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR) does not recognize trypophobia as a phobia. This is due to the ongoing debate as to whether it is a phobia or simply a feeling of disgust. In this article, we discuss trypophobia, including the potential triggers, possible causes, and how to treat it. In addition to the debate regarding whether trypophobia is a fear or disgust, researchers continue to investigate what may cause this strong aversion. Some people may make an unconscious association between hole patterns and some potentially dangerous animals that feature similar designs. A A However, another Some A However, researchers note that people with trypophobia are more likely to experience feelings of disgust than fear and that strong feelings of disgust Although more thorough research is still necessary, some people may believe that the data are sufficient to classify trypophobia as a specific phobia. Although no treatment s...

What Is Trypophobia? Does the sight of a honeycomb, sea sponges, or soap bubbles make you shaky and sick to your The name for this problem comes from the Greek words "trypta," which means hole, and "phobos," which means fear. But the term doesn't date back to ancient Greece. "Trypophobia" reportedly first appeared on a web forum in 2005. It's one of many fears of harmless things, like chaetophobia, a fear of People with trypophobia have a strong physical and emotional reaction whenever they see patterns made up of holes or spots. The bigger the cluster of circles, the more uncomfortable they feel. Is Trypophobia a Real Phobia? True The APA doesn’t officially recognize this disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), a large volume of all known mental illnesses and their symptoms. Experts say trypophobia is more likely disgust than fear. Trypophobia Symptoms The symptoms of trypophobia look a lot like a • • Shaking • Shortness of breath • A fast heartbeat • • People with trypophobia may get these symptoms several times a week or every day. Sometimes, the fear of holes never goes away. Trypophobia Triggers Common things that can trigger trypophobia include: • Holes or pebbles in concrete • Air holes in a slice of • Patterns in the frosting of a cake or pie • The head of a lotus flower • The holes in an old hockey mask • • Spotted animals • Shower heads • LEDs in traffic lights Trypophobia Causes Researchers have a few ideas abo...

Trypophobia brings on feelings of disgust or fear when you see patterns with lots of holes. Sunflowers, honeycombs, sponges and seedy fruits can cause this response. Trypophobia is a type of anxiety disorder. Most people don’t have a true fear of holes. Exposure therapy may help you manage repulsions to holey patterns. Overview What is trypophobia? Trypophobia (trip-uh-FOE-bee-uh) is an aversion or repulsion to objects like honeycombs and sponges that have repetitive patterns or clusters of small holes. People with trypophobia are disgusted by the pattern of holes. They don’t necessarily have a fear of holes. What are trypophobia triggers? A person is more likely to have an adverse reaction to a holey object or image the closer they are to it. Trypophobia triggers may include: • Bread and bagels with seeds. • Cheese with holes. • Fruits with small seeds like strawberries, raspberries, papaya and kiwi. • Honeycombs, sunflowers and lotus seed pods. • Insects and bees. • Skin on snakes, lizards, frogs and other reptiles. • Soles of shoes. • Sponges. How common is trypophobia? Some studies suggest that as many as 17% of children and adults (about one in six people) have some degree of trypophobia. It’s a fairly new disorder first named in 2005. More people became aware of trypophobia after news stories reported that people reacted negatively to clusters of tiny camera lenses on certain smartphones. In addition, the TV show “American Horror Story: Cult” featured a character who...

This phobia is not recognized in the American Psychiatric Association’s current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), but some people with trypophobia may fit the DSM-5 criteria of having a “ Because trypophobia can produce a range of symptoms with varying degrees of intensity, from mild aversion to an immediate, intense feeling of disgust, fear, or even a full-blown Trypophobia — the fear of repetitive patterns of closely packed holes or protrusions — is not recognized as an official diagnosis, though many who experience it will fit the criteria of having a specific phobia. It has been widely discussed in social media. ( Trypo comes from the Greek word for “hole.”) It is considered by some experts to be a kind of anxiety disorder. No, but it could be an evolutionary response to skin diseases. Many serious skin diseases resemble a cluster of shapes. Some say trypophobia is an excessive reaction to things that resemble serious skin diseases. That kind of response may have evolved as a way to keep people away from others’ skin diseases. One study, based on accounts by 200 members of a trypophobia Facebook support group, divided the symptoms into three categories: • Cognitive-related reactions, such as uneasiness, helplessness, disgust, or fear • Skin-related reactions, such as goose bumps, itchiness, or feeling your skin crawl • Physiological reactions, such as dizziness, trembling, shortness of breath, sweating, body shakes, racing heartbeat, headac...