Haphephobia
Haphephobia[1] (also known as aphephobia,[1] haphophobia,[2] hapnophobia, haptephobia,[1] haptophobia,[1][2] thixophobia[1]) 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. Michel Dorais reports that many boys 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]
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 flashes
- 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
- Cholinergic urticaria
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. p. 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.