What is trypophobia and what causes a fear of holes? Symptoms, treatment and celebrity sufferers
TRYPOPHOBIA is the term used to describe those who have an irrational fear of clusters of small holes or bumps.
Believed by some scientists that it’s in our genes to dislike tightly packed shapes, other experts claim that it is learned behaviour.
What is a phobia?
A phobia is described by the as an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.
They are more pronounced than fears and tend to develop when a person has an exaggerated or unrealistic sense of danger regarding a situation or object.
If a phobia sufferer doesn't come into contact with the source of their problem very often it may not affect their life - although in some cases even thinking about the thing they fear can give a person "anticipatory anxiety".
If a phobia becomes very severe, the person suffering may organise their life around avoiding the aspect that’s causing distress.
Some sufferers have reported feeling sick and panicky at the sight of bumps or holes that are grouped together
Symptoms of phobias
Typical symptoms associated with phobias can include:
- Dizziness, trembling and increased heart rate
- Breathlessness
- Nausea
- A sense of unreality
- Fear of dying
- Preoccupation with the fear object
What is trypophobia and what are the symptoms?
The term trypophobia was coined in 2005 by internet users that merged the Greek words for hole and fear.
While it is yet to be officially defined as a condition, a study in has estimated that trypophobia is present in 16 per cent of people.
The academic paper explains that the condition provokes an intense reaction, even though “the stimuli are usually clusters of holes of any variety that are almost always innocuous and seemingly pose no threat.”
The severity of the fear ranges on a case to case basis.
While some find that clusters of holes causes them feel uncomfortable, others have claimed that the sight of the images can make them shake all over in fear.
What is the cause of trypophobia?
While research on the condition is still in its infancy, some experts believe that it is human DNA to feel repelled by the repeated patterns.
Wilkins and Cole set out their theory a study from 2013.
They argued that it is instinctual to associate the shapes with danger, as the brain naturally associates them with disease or wounds.
Professor Matthews has pushed another theory, claiming that it’s likely people are afraid of the images because of priming and conditioning.
Why has the new iPhone triggered the phobia in some?
On September 10, Apple unveiled it's newest iPhone and some fans were not pleased with its latest design.
The smart phone's Pro and Pro Max feature three different camera lenses, which are close to each other.
Many on social media claimed it triggers their trypophobia.
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Is there a cure for trypophobia?
Just like treating other phobias, curing irrational fear often isn’t easy.
Cognitive behaviour therapy can be used to help sufferers change their unproductive thought patterns.
This allows them to distinguish that their intense fear is in their imagination.
Other treatment that is taken on by trypophobics includes behaviour therapy, counselling and hypnosis.
Do any celebrities suffer from trypophobia?
As trypophobia is a newly defined phenomenon, not many celebrities have come forward to claim that they suffer from the unexplainable fear.
Despite this, reality star royalty Kendall Jenner has admitted that she struggles to look at clusters of holes.
Writing on her website, she confessed: “Things that could set me off are pancakes, honeycomb, or lotus heads (the worst!).
"It sounds ridiculous, but so many people actually have it!
"I can't even look at little holes — it gives me the worst anxiety. Who knows what's in there???"