Haphephobia - The Fear of Being Touched

What Is Haphephobia? Haphephobia is an intense, irrational fear of being touched. The person coping with this phobia may also exhibit an overwhelming fear of touching others. Some haphephobic individuals are fearful of their personal space being encroached upon while others may be fearful of contamination through touch.

This phobia is sometimes referred to as Haptephobia, Aphephobia or Thixophobia. Haphephobia derives from the Greek word "haphe", meaning touch and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Haphephobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person suffering with Haphephobia has experienced a real-life trauma at some point in their life. That traumatic experience is then consistently associated with touching or with being touched.

Perhaps that haphephobic person feels that touching and/or being touched objectives them. Maybe this person simply insists on maintaining a wider personal space than is typical of others. Perhaps this individual was the victim of sexual or physical abuse. Maybe this person's parents were not affectionate and rarely touched, cuddled or hugged their child. Perhaps the person coping with Haphephobia watched others respond negatively when touched and simply learned to imitate that response.

Whatever the cause, the haphephobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that is completely disruptive to their ability to function on a daily basis.

What Are the Symptoms of Haphephobia?

The symptoms of Haphephobia are individual and will vary. Some people, when confronted with their fear of touch, may feel slightly uncomfortable, begin to perspire or feel nauseated. At the opposite end of the spectrum, other people are so severely impacted by this phobia, that they can experience crippling anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Haphephobia can include:

* Heart Palpitations

* Dry Mouth

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Muscle Tension

* Numbness

* Hyperventilation

* Feeling Dizzy

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped

* Intense Feeling of Disaster

How Is Haphephobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Haphephobia are self-diagnosed. The person realizes that their fear of touch, or of being touched, is irrational and is severely compromising their ability to function.

The haphephobic person may discuss their phobia with the primary physician. Rarely would the doctor diagnosis Haphephobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any physical reasons for the phobia, the doctor will refer the individual to a mental health professional for more comprehensive assessment and evaluation.

How Is Haphephobia Treated?

When the fear of touch and of being touched becomes so intense as to disrupt a person's ability to function, there are a number of different ways to treat Haphephobia.

These can include:

* A referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

* Traditional "talk" therapy that will teach the person to recognize and control their phobia.

* Exposure Therapy.

* Hypnotherapy.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Self-help techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.

* Support groups with others coping with this specific phobia.

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or visualization.

* In extreme cases of Haphephobia, anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed.

Haphephobia is an intense, irrational fear of being touched or of touching others. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to stop a person's ability to function on a daily basis. Unchecked, Haphephobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with the individual's personal life, their social life and job responsibilities. Untreated, Haphephobia can impact every aspect of a person's life.