TRYPOPHOBIA

 Trypophobia is an aversion to the sight of irregular patterns or clusters of small holes or bumps. It is not officially recognized as a mental disorder, but may be diagnosed as a specific phobia if excessive fear and distress occur. People may express only disgust to trypophobic imagery. If the sight of clusters of small holes, circles, or bumps makes you panic, you may suffer from trypophobia.

What Are the Symptoms of Trypophobia?

One study, based on accounts by 200 members of a trypophobia Facebook support group, divided the symptoms into three categories:

1. Cognitive-related reactions, such as uneasiness, anxiety, helplessness, disgust or fear

2. Skin-related reactions, such as goosebumps, itchiness, or feeling your skin crawl

3. Physiological reactions, such as dizziness, trembling, shortness of breath, sweating, body shakes, racing heartbeat, headaches, nausea or vomiting 

What Triggers Symptoms of Trypophobia?

Some trypophobe symptoms are set off by the sight of everyday, harmless items, such as:

Sponges

• - Soap bubbles
• - Swiss cheese
• - Honeycombs
• - Hair follicles
• - Skin pores
• - Showerheads
• - Strawberries
• - Pomegranates
• - Poppy-seed bagels

How Do You Stop a Trypophobic Reaction?

If you’re experiencing acute symptoms of trypophobia, using relaxation techniques can shorten their duration while they are occurring and reduce their frequency and intensity in the future. Deep breathing, for example, can calm your anxiety and fear by slowing down your heart rate and inducing a relaxation response in your body. One simple, effective technique is called box breathing.The technique for this is:

1.Exhale slowly through your nose for a count of four.

2. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four.

3. Exhale slowly through your nose for a count of four.

4. Continue breathing this way for one to five minutes.

By: Oluwapelumi Atanseiye (@pearlumie_)