Symptoms: Friends of the Fear
Every case of automysophobia is a little different.
Why? Because the core of the problem – the patterns of thinking, the images, movies, sounds and dialog that are internally associated with dirtiness – are different in each person.
(Note that most cures offered for automysophobia – expecially using drugs and medications – will tackle only the symptoms, not the thinking that is the actual core of the problem).
But while the 'internal representations' as they are called are different from person to person there are a number of symptoms which are common to many automysophobes:
- A feeling of uncontrollable anxiety when you think about or are exposed to dirtiness
- The feeling that you must do everything possible to avoid dirtiness
- The inability to function normally because of your anxiety
- Often, the knowledge that your fears are unreasonable or exaggerated but feeling powerless to control them
Automysophobic symptoms can be mental, emotional and physical. The anxiety and fear can go from mild feelings of apprehension to a full-blown panic attack.
Typically, the closer you are to what you’re afraid of, the greater your fear will be. You can test the severity of your problem with this 2-minute online automysophobia test.
But because the fear is a physical response to patterns of thinking about dirtiness and not the actual dirtiness almost all people with automysophobia can create a very strong reaction just by using their mind.
> For help chaging these patterns of thinking, read this article How to Overcome Automysophobia.
Mental Symptoms
- Obsessive Thoughts
- Difficulty thinking about anything other than the fear
- Really bad images and/or movies of dirtiness
- Feelings of unreality or of being detached from yourself
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of fainting
Emotional Symptoms:
- Anticipatory Anxiety: Persistent worrying about upcoming events that involve dirtiness
- Terror: A persistent and overwhelming fear of the same
- Desire to Flee: An intense instinct to leave the situation (which is tough when its purely in the mind)
While not generally experienced at the same time as automysophobia episode, we find that overall when they think about their past, most clients have elevated levels of one or more of:
- Anger, Sadness, Fear, Hurt & Guilt
Physical Symptoms:
- Dizziness, shaking, palpitations.
- Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
- Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Trembling or shaking
- Feeling of choking
- Sweating
- Nausea or stomach distress
- Feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
- Numbness or tingling sensations
- Hot or cold flashes
Next Action
- Get One on One Help:
The VIP Program for Automysophobia- Get the Home Study Program:
Vanquish Fear & Anxiety for Automysophobia
Or learn more about Automysophobia:
