Squeamishness typically refers to feelings of faintness, repulsion,
disgust
Disgust (Middle French: ''desgouster'', from Latin ''gustus'', "taste") is an emotional response of rejection or revulsion to something potentially contagious or something considered offensive, distasteful, or unpleasant. In ''The Expression o ...
, or physical illness brought on by exposure to certain external stimuli.
Causes
Anything can cause someone to feel squeamish. Some examples of common triggers are the sight of blood or other bodily fluids, witnessing a human endure pain, the sight of insects, strong smells, and general ideas such as war, hospitals, or death. While these are common triggers, there are no limits to what stimuli can cause this reaction as it is based on the subjective observations of the person experiencing it. The feeling can also be triggered by traumatic experiences from the past. People can feel squeamish while witnessing, thinking of, or speaking about any particularly unpleasant topic. Often squeamishness is associated with medical phobia, as some of the most common triggers include sites or experiences one may encounter during a medical emergency.
Symptoms
Symptoms of squeamishness may include dizziness,
lightheadedness
Lightheadedness is a common and typically unpleasant sensation of dizziness or a feeling that one may faint. The sensation of lightheadedness can be short-lived, prolonged, or, rarely, recurring. In addition to dizziness, the individual may feel ...
,
nausea
Nausea is a diffuse sensation of unease and discomfort, sometimes perceived as an urge to vomit. While not painful, it can be a debilitating symptom if prolonged and has been described as placing discomfort on the chest, abdomen, or back of the ...
,
shaking
Shake may refer to:
* Handshake
* Milkshake
* Tremor
* Shakes (wood), cracks in timber
* Shake (shingle), a wooden shingle made from split logs
Shake, The Shakes, Shaking, or Shakin' may refer to:
Geography
* Shake, Zimbabwe
* Shake, another na ...
, and
pallor
Pallor is a pale color of the skin that can be caused by illness, emotional shock or stress, stimulant use, or anemia, and is the result of a reduced amount of oxyhaemoglobin and may also be visible as pallor of the conjunctivae of the eyes on ...
.
In extreme instances it can also cause vomiting and
fainting
Syncope, commonly known as fainting, or passing out, is a loss of consciousness and muscle strength characterized by a fast onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery. It is caused by a decrease in blood flow to the brain, typically from ...
.
References
External links
Discussion of the unclear etymology of ''squeamish''
Symptoms and signs of mental disorders
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