Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jessica Nunn
Biology 1010
4B
5/6/17
Mysophobia
bacillophobia and bacteriophobia directly refer to the fear of bacteria and microbes in general.
Mysophobia term was established and termed by Dr. William ALexander Hammond in
1879. Which began by the description and shown of a person repeatedly washing ones hands or
self. This of course, just as any phobia, can differ in extremes. Each case being unique in many
ways.
Phobias of any kind are considered anxiety disorders. This is also compiled into the same
class as post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and many others. All of which are based
upon fear. All research on any type of phobia or disorder is studied among animal observation.
Mysophobia is largely considered but also debated as under obsessive compulsive disorder
(OCD).
Mysophbia can be debated as only a symptom of OCD. Examples of this are, a person
who has anxiety or stress over common activities in fear of being infected or encounter germs.
compulsion would be described as so. Both of which can be determined correctly with the
consideration of the specific situation of mysophobia. If a person cleans compulsively because of
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behavior of showing actual fear of germs. They feel at risk to germs constantly.
signs of which a person has reached the point of mysophobia. The signs and questions so ask
Do you wash your hands so many times every day that your skin cracks and bleeds?
Are you unable to work or attend school, go to family gatherings, and other events due to
There are a few options for treatment when it comes to Mysophobia. These top three
treatments are medication, physcotherapy, and exposure therapy. All of which show great
improvement to patients. Medication can assist in calming anxiety and OCD related to
mysophobia. This can assist slowly building to recovery. Physcotherapy is a personal physical
discussion therapy. This allows the patient to uncover the underlying cause for their diagnosis.
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patient to uncover the underlying cause for their diagnosis. This could range anywhere from
trauma, major life occurrences, or other issues reinforcing the fear of germs and contamination.
Lastly, exposure therapy would be showing the patient how to function around daily life that
may trigger exposure reactions. This can be an appropriate way to learn to function in these
disorder as well. This is all depending on the circumstances on the person and their signs.
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References
http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/mysophobia-fear-germs-phobia-1024127
http://www.fearof.net/fear-of-germs-phobia-mysophobia/
https://www.verywell.com/being-a-germaphobe-can-be-an-ocd-symptom-2510487
http://luxury.rehabs.com/phobias/mysophobia/