Haphephobia
| Haphephobia | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Haphophobia |
| Specialty | Psychology |
Haphephobia[1] (also known as aphephobia,[1] haphophobia,[2] hapnophobia, haptephobia,[1] haptophobia,[1][2] thixophobia,[1] aphenphosmphobia) is a rare specific phobia that involves the fear of touching or of being touched. This is often associated with a fear of sexual assault. Michell Dorais reports that many who have been the victims of sexual abuse have a fear of being touched, quoting one victim who describes being touched as something that "burns like fire", causing him to freeze up or lash out.[3]
Signs and symptoms
As with other phobias and anxiety conditions, haphephobia may come with anxiety and stress-related symptoms that vary among those that suffer from it. A non-exhaustive list of potential symptoms that those suffering from haphephobia may have includes:[4]
- Chest pain
- Choking sensation
- Cold or hot flushes
- Cholinergic urticaria
- Dissociation
- Dizziness
- Fear of dying
- Fear of loss of control
- Feeling of being trapped
- Heart palpitations
- Hyperventilation
- Nausea
- Sense of impending danger
- Sweating
- Tingling sensations
- Trembling
Popular culture
- In the 1987 teen film Three O'Clock High, the main antagonist Buddy Revell physically assaults anyone who physically touches him.
- In the 1989 manga Berserk, the main character Guts suffers from Haphephobia as a result of being raped as a child.
- In the 2007 film Lars and the Real Girl, the main character Lars Lindstrom describes being touched by others as a burning sensation, and refuses to allow this for most of the film.
- In the 2012 Nintendo tactical rpg Fire Emblem Awakening, the character Libra suffers from Haphephobia as a result of his abusive and neglectful parents.
- In the 2019 game Death Stranding, the main character Sam Porter suffers from Haphephobia (which is referred to in game as aphenphosmphobia) and his condition is shown throughout the game.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Charles Harrington Elster (1996). There's a Word for It!. Scribner. p. 160. ISBN 0684824558.
- ^ a b Laurence Urdang; Anne Ryle; Tanya H. Lee (1986). -ologies & -isms. Gale Research Co. pp. 557. ISBN 0810311968.
- ^ Michel Dorais (2002). Don't Tell: The Sexual Abuse of Boys. McGill-Queen's Press — MQUP. p. 84. ISBN 0773522611.
- ^ "Symptoms". Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA.
- ^ What is aphenphosmphobia in Death Stranding? gamesradar.com, Leon Hurley, 18 december 2019