Rupophobia (Fear of Dirt): What is it? Causes and Symptoms and Treatment

leads the subject who suffers from it to repeat obsessive behaviors and rituals of cleaning on himself or on the environment that surrounds him. Rupophobia induces, for example, to continually wash hands or devote himself to household chores in a profound way and more often than necessary .

If this impulse is not satisfied, the rupophobic subject can manifest a sense of general dissatisfaction that can develop into an anxiety disorder. As with other phobias, rupophobia often involves somatic symptoms, including profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat, nausea and a feeling of lack of oxygen.

Rupophobia can have negative repercussions in the person's daily life, in terms of limitations in social and working life. Fortunately, this disorder can be tackled and overcome with an adequate course of psychotherapy.

"(from the Greek" mysos ", dirty), which more precisely indicates a pathological fear of contact with dirt, to avoid any type of contamination or infection.

Another synonym for rupophobia is "Pilate's syndrome", referring to the "obsession with washing hands.

Less often, the term is used interchangeably with germophobia, which literally means "germ phobia".

or to contaminate.

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