Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Definition

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Phobia of germs, also calledmysophobiaorgermaphobia, is anintense fearof dirt and/or contamination.

People with mysophobia feel extreme distress andanxietyif they encounter or even think about dirt, germs, andbacteria.They may go to extremes to avoid being “contaminated,” often in ways that disrupt their everyday life.

Learn more about mysophobia in this article, including symptoms, diagnosis, causes, treatment options, and coping methods.

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Person discusses their fear of germs with therapist

Mysophobia refers to an intense, persistent fear of dirt and contamination.It is not a specific disorder in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition(DSM-5). Instead, a phobia of germs is typically understood as a specific phobia within the broaderDSM-5category of anxiety disorders.

Aspecific phobiais a type ofanxiety disorderthat involves an overwhelming, marked fear or anxiety about a certain object or situation.

People with specific phobias often go to excessive lengths to avoid the source of their fear or experience extreme distress when they are confronted with it. They may be aware that their fear is irrational but feel powerless to control it.

Examples of other common specific phobias includeclaustrophobia(fear of tight spaces),acrophobia(fear of heights), andophidiophobia(fear of snakes).

Meanwhile, some people experience an intense fear of germs as an aspect ofobsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD). Some people may have both OCD and a specific phobia of germs.

OCD is a mental health condition that involves both obsessions and compulsions:

For example, someone whose fear of germs is a symptom of OCD may compulsively wash their hands or clean household surfaces to reduce anxiety or try to prevent some dreaded event related to germs.

A List of Common Phobias

When they encounter or think about germs or dirt, people with mysophobia experiencesymptoms of anxietyand panic, such as:

In the face of their fear or anxiety, someone with a phobia of germs may:

If left untreated, the symptoms of mysophobia can have a negative impact on someone’s daily functioning.

For example, someone with an extreme phobia of germs may wash their hands or use hand sanitizer so frequently that their skin becomes cracked and irritated.Others may avoid social events, schools, workplaces, and/or outdoor environments because they’re afraid of catching a virus or coming into contact with dirt.

If you think you may have mysophobia, your healthcare provider can refer you to apsychiatristor other mental health specialist. They can diagnose you with a specific phobia or other mental health condition, such asOCD, using the criteria in theDSM-5.

To meet the criteria for a specific phobia in theDSM-5, your phobia of germs must:

How Common Are Specific Phobias?According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), specific phobias are very common among American adults. Recent estimates suggest that about 12.5% of U.S. adults experience a specific phobia at some point during their lifetime.

How Common Are Specific Phobias?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), specific phobias are very common among American adults. Recent estimates suggest that about 12.5% of U.S. adults experience a specific phobia at some point during their lifetime.

Researchers have identified several possible causes for mysophobia and other specific phobias.These may include:

The following treatments have been found to be effective in treating mysophobia and other specific phobias:

In addition to mental health treatment, here are some ways you can cope with your phobia of germs:

Seek HelpIf you or a loved one are struggling with mysophobia or another mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

Seek Help

If you or a loved one are struggling with mysophobia or another mental health condition, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

How to Overcome Any Phobia

Summary

Phobia of germs (mysophobia) is an overwhelming, persistent fear of dirt and/or contamination. People with mysophobia feel extreme distress when they think about or encounter dirt or bacteria. They often go out of their way to avoid potential contamination in ways that interfere with daily life.

Mysophobia is a specific phobia, which is under the category of anxiety disorders. People with a specific phobia experience overwhelming distress, anxiety, and/orpanicabout a certain object, situation, or activity. Some people experience mysophobia as an aspect of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Specific phobias such as germaphobia have many possible causes, including genetics, environmental factors, brain function, learned behavior, trauma, and comorbid mental health conditions. Treatment for mysophobia typically involves psychotherapy, especially exposure therapy, and/or medication.

A Word From Verywell

Many people with germaphobia and other specific phobias feel ashamed or embarrassed of their symptoms. But there’s no reason to feel alone—phobias are extremely common. Your healthcare provider can help you find treatment options to reduce your anxiety and improve your quality of life.

14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robinson JM, Cameron R, Jorgensen A.Germaphobia! Does our relationship with and knowledge of biodiversity affect our attitudes toward microbes?Front Psychol. 2021;12:678752. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678752Qadir MI, Iqra AY.Questionnaire based study about association between blood oxygen level and mysophobia.Biomed J Sci Tech Res.2019;14(3):1-3.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.NHS.Causes - phobias.Aardema F.COVID-19, obsessive-compulsive disorder and invisible life forms that threaten the self.J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2020;26:100558. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100558American Psychological Association.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.NHS.Symptoms - phobias.Colori S.Exposure therapy.Schizophr Bull. 2018;44(2):229-230. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbv049Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174NHS.Self-help - phobias.

14 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robinson JM, Cameron R, Jorgensen A.Germaphobia! Does our relationship with and knowledge of biodiversity affect our attitudes toward microbes?Front Psychol. 2021;12:678752. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678752Qadir MI, Iqra AY.Questionnaire based study about association between blood oxygen level and mysophobia.Biomed J Sci Tech Res.2019;14(3):1-3.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.NHS.Causes - phobias.Aardema F.COVID-19, obsessive-compulsive disorder and invisible life forms that threaten the self.J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2020;26:100558. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100558American Psychological Association.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.NHS.Symptoms - phobias.Colori S.Exposure therapy.Schizophr Bull. 2018;44(2):229-230. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbv049Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174NHS.Self-help - phobias.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Robinson JM, Cameron R, Jorgensen A.Germaphobia! Does our relationship with and knowledge of biodiversity affect our attitudes toward microbes?Front Psychol. 2021;12:678752. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678752Qadir MI, Iqra AY.Questionnaire based study about association between blood oxygen level and mysophobia.Biomed J Sci Tech Res.2019;14(3):1-3.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.NHS.Causes - phobias.Aardema F.COVID-19, obsessive-compulsive disorder and invisible life forms that threaten the self.J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2020;26:100558. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100558American Psychological Association.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.NHS.Symptoms - phobias.Colori S.Exposure therapy.Schizophr Bull. 2018;44(2):229-230. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbv049Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XGarcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174NHS.Self-help - phobias.

Robinson JM, Cameron R, Jorgensen A.Germaphobia! Does our relationship with and knowledge of biodiversity affect our attitudes toward microbes?Front Psychol. 2021;12:678752. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.678752

Qadir MI, Iqra AY.Questionnaire based study about association between blood oxygen level and mysophobia.Biomed J Sci Tech Res.2019;14(3):1-3.

American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.

National Institute of Mental Health.Specific phobia.

NHS.Causes - phobias.

Aardema F.COVID-19, obsessive-compulsive disorder and invisible life forms that threaten the self.J Obsessive Compuls Relat Disord. 2020;26:100558. doi:10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100558

American Psychological Association.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.

NHS.Symptoms - phobias.

Colori S.Exposure therapy.Schizophr Bull. 2018;44(2):229-230. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbv049

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Garcia R.Neurobiology of fear and specific phobias.Learn Mem. 2017;24(9):462-471. doi:10.1101/lm.044115.116

Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174

NHS.Self-help - phobias.

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