What is germophobia?
Germophobia is the fear of bacteria. However, "germs" broadly refer to any microorganism that causes disease, such as viruses, or parasites. In germaphobia, the fear of germs is persistent enough to affect your daily life. People with this fear may avoid activities that can lead to infection, such as eating in public places, such as food courts, or having sexual contact, etc.
They may also avoid places where germs are high, such as public restrooms, subway tunnels, or buses. Some areas are harder to avoid, such as school or work; in these places, activities such as touching a pen or handling someone can lead to significant anxiety.
Sometimes this anxiety leads to compulsive behavior. People with germophobia may frequently wash their hands, use a shower, or wipe down surfaces. While these repetitive activities can reduce your risk of infection, they can be lengthy and make it difficult to focus on anything else.
Causes and triggers of fear of germs
Like other phobias, germophobia often begins between childhood and adolescence. People believe that Several factors contribute to the development of phobias:
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Negative childhood experience. Many people with germaphobia can recall a specific event or traumatic experience that led to germ-related fears.
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Family history. Phobias may have a genetic link. Having a close family member with a phobia or other anxiety disorder may increase your risk. However, they may not have the same phobia as you.
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Environmental factors. Beliefs and customs about cleanliness or hygiene that you encounter when you are young can influence the development of germophobia.
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Mental factors. Specific changes in brain chemistry and function are believed to play a role in the development of phobias.
Triggers are objects, places, or situations that exacerbate phobia symptoms. Germophobia triggers that cause symptoms may include:
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body fluids such as mucus, saliva
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dirty things and surfaces, such as doorknobs, computer keyboards, or dirty clothes
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places where germs collect, such as airplanes or hospitals
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unhygienic methods or people
The reasons
We all have fears, but phobias are usually viewed as unfounded or exaggerated compared to common fears. The problems and anxiety caused by germophobia are out of proportion to the damage that germs can cause. Someone who has germophobia can take care to avoid infection.
The symptoms of germophobia are the same as those of other specific phobias. In this case, they refer to thoughts and situations involving microbes.
Germophobia's emotional and psychological symptoms include intense dread, anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, persistent obsessive thoughts about exposure to germs and possible illness and other negative consequences, and feelings of powerlessness over the fear of germs.
Sometimes the fear of germs can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder
The physical symptoms of germaphobia are similar to those of other anxiety disorders. They can occur while thinking about germs or in situations where there is a direct encounter with germs. Symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating or chills, shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, dizziness, tingling, shaking or shaking, muscle tension, restlessness, nausea or vomiting, headache, and difficulty relaxing.
Children who are afraid of germs may also experience the above symptoms. Depending on their age, they may have additional symptoms such as twitching, crying or screaming, difficulty sleeping, increased nervousness, or self-esteem issues.
Sometimes the fear of germs can lead to obsessive-compulsive disorder, but problems with germs or disease are not necessarily a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The critical difference is that people with germophobia often use personal care products to reduce germs, while people with OCD also repeatedly resort to using unique care products as a ritual to reduce anxiety.
Overcome germophobia with VR
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If your concerns about germs significantly limit what you do, where you go, and who you see
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If you realize that your fear of germs is irrational but feel powerless to overcome it
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If the routine and rituals you are forced to perform to avoid infection make you feel ashamed or mentally unwell, your fears may have crossed the line and developed into a more severe phobia
It's time to start living a new life! Try the PsyTech VR therapy system, and you will realize how virtual reality can help overcome your fear and phobia of bacteria!
Don't be ashamed of germophobia, start your VR phobia therapy in the comfort of your home! Do you want mental health specialist to be with you during the therapy session? No problem, our system is also available for consultations with doctors using the VR telemedicine system through the provider's platform.
Using our content and scenarios you will be immersed in various types of real-life situations but in VR, with the best 3D graphics that erase borders between reality and the virtual world. These are the screenshots from the actual version of PsyTech VR, have a look at the realism of 3D design in exposure training:
