Papyrophobia: The Fear of Paper

Papyrophobia is defined as a pathological, irrational fear of paper. While one might jump to the conclusion that this fear applies to a blank sheet of paper, it's surprising to learn that Papyrophobia is much more complex.

Individuals coping with Papyrophobia find that their morbid fear of paper can take many forms. Some papyrophobic individuals indeed do fear a blank piece of paper, while others cannot cope with crumpled paper. Other people report that the size of the paper is significant and that their anxiety increases according to how small the piece of paper is. Still others who suffer with Papyrophobia fear the ripping of paper or even wet paper.

Papyrophobia is derived from the word "papyro", meaning papyrus. Papyrus is a water reed that was used originally in Egypt to make paper. The word "papyro" is then combined with the Greek word "phobos", meaning fear.

What Causes Papyrophobia?

While the reasons as to why an individual might become papyrophobic are not clear, that doesn't mean that this phobia is any less painful or real. For the person coping with Papyrophobia, the fear is uncontrollable.

The fact is that the person compromised by Papyrophobia has experienced trauma at some time in their life. This trauma experience is then associated with paper and thus, the phobia develops. Thereafter, every time the individual coping with Papyrophobia is confronted with their fear, a fight or flight response will be elicited.

Whatever the cause, the papyrophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that can be completely disruptive of their daily functioning.

What Are the Symptoms of Papyrophobia?

The symptoms of Papyrophobia vary from person to person. Some people, when confronted with their fear, may feel uncomfortable, become nauseated or begin to perspire. Other people may be so severely impacted by this phobia, that they experience crippling anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Papyrophobia can include:

• A Dry Mouth
• Gasping or Shortness of Breath
• Muscle Tension
• Trembling
• Hyperventilating
• Increased Heartbeat
• Feeling Out of Control
• Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape
• Overwhelming Feeling of Anticipated Disaster

How Is Papyrophobia Diagnosed?

The majority of cases of Papyrophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual coping with this phobia realizes that their fear is irrational and has severely impacted their ability to function.

The papyrophobic person may then schedule an appointment with their doctor in order to discuss their phobia. Rarely will the doctor make a diagnosis of Papyrophobia based on that initial discussion. Typically, after ruling out any physical reasons for the phobia, the doctor will refer the person to a mental health professional for further evaluation and assessment.

How Is Papyrophobia Treated?

When the fear of paper becomes so overwhelming as to interfere with an individual's ability to function, there are a number of ways to treat Papyrophobia. These can include:

• Talking to the primary physician who can refer the person to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.
• Traditional "talk" therapy that will assist the individual in learning to identify and control the triggers to their phobia.
• Self-help techniques.
• Hypnotherapy.
• Support groups with other people coping with this phobia.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.
• Relaxation techniques.
• In extreme cases of Papyrophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Papyrophobia is an intense, irrational fear of paper. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely disrupt an individual's ability to maintain daily functioning. Unchecked, Papyrophobia can become a debilitating condition that touches every aspect of a person's life.