Phobias do not cease to amaze us and there is no shortage of those who take it as an excuse to joke. But phobias are not a joke and they can complicate the life of the person who suffers from them. On this occasion, we discover what ablutophobia or fear of washing is and how this problem can be overcome.
What is ablutophobia?
For many people, the shower is a pleasant moment of the day in which you enjoy the water cleaning your body. For others, the bath is one of the most precious moments and they use it to relax and feel happier. But there are people unable to see the benefits of these routines and they are those who suffer from ablutophobia.
Ablutophobia is the fear of washing. Fear of showering, bathing, or simply washing hands. If obsessive-compulsive hand washing disorder is quite common, people with ablutophobia represent the opposite pole. It is not difficult to imagine the consequences that such can cause on a personal, social and work level.
Ablutophobia symptoms
Because we are talking about phobic and the behavior is the usual in these cases. If you are terrified of washing yourself, you avoid the situation. And personal hygiene is not something you can avoid for a long time without serious consequences for your physical and emotional health.
The person who suffers from ablutophobia experiences the same symptoms in the situation of showering, bathing or washing. Fear, of course, but also palpitations, dizziness, nausea, choking sensation or mental confusion.
Over time, avoiding the situation that causes panic undermines the self-esteem of the person with ablutophobia. And the lack of hygiene can cause physical problems in addition to the damage it entails when it comes to social relationships and at work.
Causes of ablutophobia
But where does this irrational fear of washing come from? Like all phobias, many causes can be found. The most common reason is having lived through a traumatic experience related to the situation. In this case, an accident in the shower, being about to drown during a bath in childhood or even having received tragic news while washing your hands are occasions that can generate the phobia.
It is what is known as conditioning and consists of associating a situation with a traumatic event. Another of the most common reasons forte arise is suffering from an anxiety disorder. Fears do not always have a logical reason, especially when they come hand in hand with anxiety.
Treatment of ablutophobia
It is important that at the first symptoms of suffering from a phobia, psychological help is requested. Going to a professional will guarantee you to quickly and in a healthy way and it will be the psychologist who decides which therapy to use depending on the degree of the phobia and the patient’s personality.
Most phobias are overcome with cognitive behavioral therapy, in which the person with ablutophobia acquires the necessary tools to deal with progressive exposure to the situation that produces the phobia. Because they are so related to anxiety, the treatment of phobias is usually accompanied by Mindfulness or relaxation techniques.