Chiraptophobia (A complete guide)

This article will give a brief idea about Chiraptophobia. Then it will focus on the causes and symptoms of Chiraptophobia.

Then it will highlight the treatment of Chiraptophobia, both psychotherapies, and medications.

CHIRAPTOPHOBIA:

Chiraptophobia refers to the irrational fear of being touched and is also known as Haphephobia. Phobias are a type of anxiety disorder that can disturb a person’s life miserably.

It includes panic like condition in which a person feels sudden breathlessness, sweating and trembling with a mere thought of being touched or being surrounded by people as then anybody can have a small physical contact

People suffering from Chiraptophobia tries to avoid people at any cost, they isolate themselves and try to be alone most of the times as this gives them a bit of security that their anxiety is under control, but it is not the case.

It increases aloof behavior and invites other disorders like depression or even worse psychosis to develop.

CAUSES OF CHIRAPTOPHOBIA:

There is no particular cause that has been found so far for Chiraptophobia, but environmental factors and genetic factors are responsible for it as it is for almost all other phobias.

If a person’s family history has had some anxiety or phobic disorder or as a matter of fact any mental disorder, it is more likely for the individual to develop Chiraptophobia.

Environmental factors might include childhood trauma or experiences in which the person might have experienced harassment or physical torture that he has not been able to forget it.

There are high chances of developing other disorders as well if the patient has never gotten a cure for PTSD because of the past traumatic event.

SYMPTOMS OF CHIRAPTOPHOBIA:

The symptoms depend on the severity of the phobia and the most common symptom would be panic attacks.

Some of the common symptoms are:

• Severe anxiety with a mere thought of being touched
• Muscle tension, body aches
• Breathlessness, choking sensations
• High blood pressure
• Sweating, nausea, fainting
• Dizziness, restlessness, nervousness
• Lack of concentration
• Avoidance of people and of any social gatherings

There are chances that a person suffering from Chiraptophobia makes a conscious choice to stay away from people and from all the social gatherings as well.

These people are more likely to develop other comorbid disorders like agoraphobia and/or social phobia because of their constant avoidance of people.

TREATMENT FOR CHIRAPTOPHOBIA:

There is no particular treatment has been found for this phobia but a mixture of treatments that have been found helpful for the people suffering from phobia and anxiety can be helpful for Chiraptophobia as well.

It is very difficult to take a patient to the Psychiatrist or the Psychotherapist as these patients try to avoid any contact with the people possible and usually don’t like psychotherapies to be used on them.

Psychotherapies:

• Talk Therapy:

Talk therapy seems very simple and easy but it’s quite opposite. A person is about to talk about his weaknesses, it’s not easy at all.

But it sure does wonders to the client as once he lets out all the emotions, it becomes easy for him to focus on the bright side of life.

• Exposure Therapy:

Although exposure therapy is one of the best therapy for anxiety and phobias, it’s a bit tricky in this case.

In this case, the therapist might start with the imagination of someone touching the client or is in close proximity to the client and then can continue to do it until he becomes okay with the thought.

But nothing more can be done other than this.

• Relaxation Therapy:

Relaxation Therapy, on the other hand, can be very helpful with these patients as it helps in calming down the racing of thoughts.

JPMR helps a person in focusing on his breathing and his one muscle at a time, which helps the client in letting go of the negative thoughts of being forgotten and the focus stays on himself only.

This helps in the long run with acceptance.

• Mindfulness:

Mindfulness might be a good choice for the patients with the fear of being forgotten as the main purpose of mindfulness is to accept everything and being in the present.

It makes sure that a person’s senses are widened and opened. This will again help the client with acceptance.

• CBT:

CBT is one of the best Therapy which focuses and challenges the negative automatic thoughts and it has proven to be helpful with all kinds of anxiety and phobias and it can be helpful with Chiraptophobia as well. 

Medications:

• Antidepressants:

These medicines are not only used for the patients suffering from depression or have a comorbidity of depression, but it also helps with the patients suffering from anxiety and phobias as well.

• Anti-anxiety medicines:

These medicines help the client in controlling the symptoms of anxiety but it cannot cure the phobia.

To get a cure from phobia one has to mix the treatment of medications with psychotherapy.

Although one must not take any medication without consulting with the Doctor.

CONCLUSION:

This blog has briefly been described Chiraptophobia. Then it has focused on the causes and symptoms of Chiraptophobia.

Then it has highlighted the treatment of Chiraptophobia, both psychotherapies, and medications.

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FAQ:

CITATIONS:

psychtimes.com