Haphephobia (also known as aphephobia, haphophobia, hapnophobia, haptephobia, haptophobia, thixophobia, aphenphosmphobia) is a

specific phobia Specific phobia is an anxiety disorder, characterized by an extreme, unreasonable, and irrational fear associated with a specific object, situation, or concept which poses little or no actual danger. Specific phobia can lead to avoidance of the o ...

that involves the fear of touching or of being touched.

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: *

Chest pain Chest pain is pain or discomfort in the chest, typically the front of the chest. It may be described as sharp, dull, pressure, heaviness or squeezing. Associated symptoms may include pain in the shoulder, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw, along with n ...

* Choking sensation *Cold or hot flushes *

Cholinergic urticaria Cholinergic urticaria (CholU, CU) is a form of hives (urticaria) that is triggered by an elevation in body temperature, breaking a sweat, or exposure to heat. It is also sometimes called exercise-induced urticaria or heat hives. The condition is ...

* Dissociation *

Dizziness Dizziness is an imprecise term that can refer to a sense of disorientation in space, vertigo, or lightheadedness. It can also refer to Balance disorder, disequilibrium or a non-specific feeling, such as giddiness or foolishness. Dizziness is a ...

*Fear of dying *Fear of loss of control *Feeling of being trapped *

Heart palpitations Palpitations occur when a person becomes aware of their heartbeat. The heartbeat may feel hard, fast, or uneven in their chest. Symptoms include a very fast or irregular heartbeat. Palpitations are a sensory symptom. They are often described as ...

Hyperventilation Hyperventilation is irregular breathing that occurs when the rate or tidal volume of breathing eliminates more carbon dioxide than the body can produce. This leads to hypocapnia, a reduced concentration of carbon dioxide dissolved in the blo ...

Nausea Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. It can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the throat. Over 30 d ...

*Sense of impending danger *

Sweating Perspiration, also known as sweat, is the fluid secreted by sweat glands in the skin of mammals. Two types of sweat glands can be found in humans: eccrine glands and apocrine glands. The eccrine sweat glands are distributed over much of the ...

*Tingling and shivering sensations *Trembling

Popular culture

*In the 1987 teen film ''

Three O'Clock High ''Three O'Clock High'' is a 1987 American teen comedy film directed by Phil Joanou. The script, about a meek high schooler who is forced into a fight with an unstable new transfer student, is based on the high school experiences of screenwriters ...

'', the main antagonist Buddy Revell physically assaults anyone who physically touches him. *In the 1989 manga ''

Berserk Berserk (meaning "very angry" or "out of control") may refer to: * ''Berserk'' (manga), a Japanese manga series by Kentaro Miura ** ''Berserk'' (1997 TV series), the first anime television series adaptation of the manga series ** ''Berserk'' (2 ...

'', 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 ''Lars and the Real Girl'' is a 2007 American comedy-drama film written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Craig Gillespie. The film stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Kelli Garner, and Patricia Clarkson. Its plot follows Lars, ...

'', 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 2007 manga ''

Freezing Freezing is a phase transition in which a liquid turns into a solid when its temperature is lowered below its freezing point. For most substances, the melting and freezing points are the same temperature; however, certain substances possess dif ...

'', the main heroine has this phobia due to her traumatic background. This is a very notable case of it. *In the 2012 Nintendo tactical RPG ''

Fire Emblem Awakening ''Fire Emblem Awakening'' is a 2012 tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. It is an installment of the ''Fire Emblem'' series, and the first to be developed for the Nintendo 3 ...

'', the character Libra suffers from haphephobia as a result of his abusive and neglectful parents. * In the 2011 erotic novel ''

Fifty Shades of Grey ''Fifty Shades of Grey'' is a 2011 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It became the first instalment in the ''Fifty Shades'' novel series that follows the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, ...

'', Christian Grey suffers from haphephobia as a result of childhood abuse (including cigarette burns inflicted on his upper body) and neglect. *In the 2013 trilogy '' All For The Game'', one of the main characters, Andrew Minyard, suffers from haphephobia due to his abusive childhood spent in foster care. Throughout the series, his condition and his mentality regarding it are explored. *In the 2015 novel ''Echoes'' by Laura Tisdall, the main character, Mallory Park, suffers from haphephobia, and wears gloves as a result. *In the 2015 film '' Our Brand Is Crisis'', the protagonist, played by

Sandra Bullock Sandra Annette Bullock (; born July 26, 1964) is an American actress and film producer. The List of highest-paid film actors, highest-paid actress of 2010 and 2014, Sandra Bullock filmography, Bullock's filmography spans both comedy and drama, ...

, suffers from the condition. *In the 2015 TV series ''

Mr. Robot ''Mr. Robot'' is an American drama thriller television series created by Sam Esmail for USA Network. It stars Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker with social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and dissoci ...

'', protagonist Elliot Alderson is strongly implied to suffer from haphephobia, frequently avoiding the touch of others. *In the 2015 novel ''

Six of Crows ''Six of Crows'' is a fantasy novel written by the Israeli–American author Leigh Bardugo and published by Henry Holt and Co. in 2015. The story follows a thieving crew and is primarily set in the city of Ketterdam, which is loosely inspire ...

'', protagonist Kaz Brekker suffers from this condition, causing him to wear gloves and take other measures in order to avoid skin contact. His struggles with haphephobia and attempts to overcome it are explored as a subplot throughout the duology. *In the

Jack Reacher Jack Reacher is the protagonist of a series of crime thriller novels by British author Lee Child, a 2012 film adaptation, its 2016 sequel, and a television series on Amazon Prime Video. In the stories, Jack Reacher was a major in the U.S. ...

novel ''

Night School A night school is an adult learning school that holds classes in the evening or at night to accommodate people who work during the day. A community college or university may hold night school classes that admit undergraduates. Italy The scuol ...

'' it is revealed his former Sergeant Neagley has haphephobia. * In the 2019 game ''

Death Stranding ''Death Stranding'' is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Kojima Productions and originally published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is the first game from director Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions after their split from Konam ...

'', the main character Sam Porter suffers from haphephobia (which is referred to in-game as aphenphosmphobia) and his condition is shown throughout the game. * In Chinese drama series '' Cute Bodygaurd'', the main lead Gu Rong suffers from haphephobia and only goes easy with Su Jingjing. * In the 2016 Indonesian novel ''Jakarta Sebelum Pagi,'' one of the main characters, Abel suffers from haphephobia and ligyrophobia. * In the 2024 Indian Telugu film

Gaami ''Gaami'' () is a 2024 Indian Telugu-language epic adventure thriller film written and directed by debutant Vidyadhar Kagita. The film features Vishwak Sen, Chandini Chowdary, Abhinaya, Harika Pedada and Mohammad Samad in primary roles. Initia ...

, the main character suffers from haphephobia and the story revolves around his quest to find the cure.

References

{{Reflist Situational phobias pt:Anexo:Lista de fobias#H

Signs and symptoms

Popular culture

See also

References