What Is Fear Of Itching

The fear of itching is known as Acarophobia. This fear can also include a phobia about any insects that might cause itching in human beings.


Why Do People Fear Itching?

If you have a phobia about itching, you may harbor some memories of past infections or other problems that caused you to feel terribly itchy and uncomfortable.

Prior experiences with itching can include things like headlice, scabies, and other such infestations. These conditions can be stubborn, embarrassing, and quite stressful. They are also extremely contagious.


Cleanliness May Become An Obsession

Hygiene may become a prime focus for people with this phobia. They may have an inordinate need to protect themselves from itching disorders, which can include venereal diseases. Safe sex and cleanliness will be important for the person who suffers from Acarophobia.

Protecting yourself from insect bites will also be a priority. Bug sprays, candles that repel mosquitoes, and other such products will be used to deter insect bites and any resulting discomfort. Camping and other outdoor activities may be avoided, as they usually take place in environments where bug bites will happen. In some cases, people with Acarophobia will choose to live out most of their lives indoors.


This Phobia Can Take Its Toll On Many Areas Of Daily Life

Career and relationships can both be impacted by this phobia. Since nature is rife with things can cause itching, such as insects, poison ivy and oak, and other irritants, people who fear itching will choose vocations that do not require contact with the outdoors. They may also refrain from entering into relationships with people who enjoy the outdoors, even if they are very compatible as friends or lovers.

In worst cases, the fear of itching may be a component of obsessive-compulsive disorders, where inordinate and illogical rituals are used as a means of self-defense against things that are feared. Anyone who repeats certain behaviors and becomes obsessed with rituals of protection may be suffering from elements of OCD. This can be a slippery slope, and therapy should be considered before things get out of control.


Allergies Are A Trigger

Sometimes, allergies are a strong trigger for the fear of itching. Allergens can run the gamut from perfumes, foods (dairy, wheat and corn often cause some degree of itching in the allergic), and even fabrics. Some people avoid fabrics like pure wools because they itch and irritate against bare skin.

Treatments such as anti-histamines and other allergy medications can provide some ongoing relief, stopping the cycle of itching and rashes. When someone is able to manage their symptoms and move forward, they may feel less anxiety about performing activities outdoors, or about using certain products and eating certain foods.


Rashes And Other Conditions Can Cause Stress

Chronic conditions like psoriasis and eczema can trigger this phobia. The discomfort they bring can , when severe enough, be sufficient to cause depression and emotional upheaval. As well as the discomfort of being itchy, the bright, red rashes and unsightliness of chronic skin conditions can provoke a phobia response in the afflicted.

If this phobia is based on a traumatic experience, some element of post-traumatic stress disorder may be at play, making the phobia more difficult to treat. Flashbacks to the stressful event can render the person with Acarphobia frightened, upset, and almost paralyzed by anxiety. The physical and emotional symptoms of extreme and persistent anxiety often manifest themselves in the form of panic attacks.

Panic attacks have a wide range of symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, terror, a sense of doom, and intense fear. Numbness of the arms and a feeling of unreality can accompany a classic panic attack.


Treatment

Treatment for this phobia should include psychotherapy that can help to get at the root of fears. If the phobia began due to a stressful event in the past, talking to a qualified therapist can help to release tension. In some cases, simply discussing fears with a sensitive, caring person can make a huge difference. Holding fears inside and bottling them up can hurt the person with Acarophobia.


Source: fearofstuff.com