If the fear of bacteria and viruses causes you to spend all day scrubbing the house, you may be suffering from contamination anxiety. People with a fear of contamination are afraid of dirt because it contains bacteria that can infect you and make you sick. Fear of dirt has characteristics of a phobia due to the great fear of dirt, but is often also seen as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. About 1% of the population suffers from fear of contamination in varying degrees and it is mainly women who suffer from it.
Contents
- Fear of contamination is a fear of dirt and contamination
- What causes fear of contamination?
- Consequences of fear of contamination
- Fear of contamination can usually be treated
Fear of contamination is a fear of dirt and contamination
Most people understand that there are good and bad bacteria. We need some bacteria, others less so, but not all of them are harmful. For people with a fear of contamination, this distinction is no longer present. All bacteria and viruses are scary, sickening and therefore dangerous and should be banished from the house through constant cleaning. But fear of contamination is also often seen as an obsessive-compulsive disorder. One of the most visible manifestations of contamination is constant hand washing or other cleaning rituals.
People with a fear of contamination know that the fear of dirt and contamination is unfounded, but they cannot control it. Only constant cleaning keeps anxiety at bay. Fear of contamination is difficult to reconcile with a social life. Washing hands, opening doors, turning off taps and shaking hands is often an impossible task. The danger of social isolation is always lurking. Try explaining to your friends that even shaking hands is not possible!
What causes fear of contamination?
It is not clear exactly what causes fear of contamination. Sometimes a hereditary predisposition is pointed out. People with family members who are prone to anxiety disorders or depression seem to be more likely to suffer from fear of contamination. Sometimes just reading a scary book or a gruesome movie or TV series is enough. Traumatic experiences or simply an unpleasant experience with dirt can be the basis for extreme anxiety.
Consequences of fear of contamination
People with a fear of contamination will go to great lengths to avoid a dirty encounter. But what if that doesn’t work? A severe panic attack is often the result. Dizziness, severe shaking, increased heart rate and shortness of breath can all be symptoms of a panic attack.
Often there are various compulsive actions:
- washing regularly, especially washing hands a lot, is almost characteristic
- has ‘own’ objects that no one else is allowed to use, which can range from a hairbrush to food
- does not enter public areas, toilets, etc. in an office are contaminated areas
- a fixed ritual in cleaning that should not be disturbed
- prefers social isolation rather than contact with ‘infected’ people or animals
- can’t touch anything without protection
The severity of the fear of contamination varies. Sometimes patients are only a bit tense in potentially dangerous situations, while others have a panic attack. Most patients suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, which causes them to keep washing their hands or having to take a shower. In the most serious cases, patients choose, more or less forced, for social isolation.
Fear of contamination can usually be treated
Contagion anxiety can be treated with therapy and medication. The treatment usually consists of a combination. Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be the most obvious therapy because it is also used to treat other phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorders. This may mean that a patient is confronted with the alleged danger in small steps. This therapy can sometimes produce results within a few months. In some cases this therapy is supported by medication. An appointment with a doctor will be a first step in the right direction.