Mysophobia: Definition, Symptoms, and Treatments

What Is Mysophobia?

Mysophobia meaning: an intense, persistent fear of germs and bacteria that goes well beyond ordinary hygiene habits. To meet the clinical definition, fear has to cause real distress or get in the way of everyday functionality. 

Someone with Mysophobia might struggle in social situations, school, work, or other public activities where they might feel uncomfortable because of potential germs. 

If you hear someone mention, “I always have to wash my hands after using public restrooms; I’m such a germaphobe,” the speaker might misunderstand germaphobia for healthy hygiene habits. Washing your hands after using public restrooms or public transportation is generally a good idea! Doing so isn’t abnormal nor distressing. It is not a phobia. 

However, being unable to ride on public transportation because of your fear of germs, or experiencing distress that limits you from using a public space or service, could be a sign of mysophobia. 

Obsessiveness over germs can look different for people with Mysophobia, depending on the severity of their fear. It may look like: 

• Avoiding places or situations that expose you to germs

• Obsessing over cleanliness, resulting in overuse of cleaning products or cleansing rituals like washing hands. 

• Not touching public door knobs

• Being unable to use public toilets

• Being afraid of going outside because of the possible presence of germs

Mysophobia may hyper-fixate on one or two types of germs or surfaces (like door knobs or shaking people’s hands), or it might be generalized to a fear of getting sick. Mysophobia is also commonly comorbid with other phobias, anxiety, OCD, or agoraphobia (fear of leaving one’s house).

Mysophobia vs. Germophobia. Are they the same thing?

Mysophobia vs. germophobia usually comes down to vocabulary, not diagnosis. Germophobia (sometimes spelled germaphobia) is simply the more common, everyday term for the same condition.  Mental health professionals and medical references use the two names interchangeably to describe the same intense fear of germs and contamination.

Mysophobia is derived from Greek and means fear of uncleanliness. Germaphobe is a casual label people use regardless of whether their fear actually meets diagnosable standards. Because both are essentially the same thing and can both be misused, it’s essential to listen to why someone feels they have mysophobia.

Mysophobia vs OCD

Mysophobia can look a lot like OCD. Short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, OCD is a disorder in which obsessive thoughts result in compulsive behaviors. 

Cleanliness OCD is a very common subset of OCD, in which people hyperfixate on germs and cleanliness and rely on compulsions like repetitive hand washing, ritualistically cleaning surfaces, and other compulsive behaviors that significantly impact their lives.  This pattern is often referred to as contamination OCD, and it’s one of the most frequently reported OCD subtypes.

Is Mysophobia the same as OCD? No, they are different things, although they frequently occur together. 

Mysophobia does not have to involve compulsions, which is necessary for a diagnosis of OCD. Instead, Mysophobia is the intense fear of germs. This often results in obsessions and compulsions, but does not have to. 

Curious if you have OCD? Take this free, online assessment for OCD.

Signs You Have Mysophobia

If you find yourself experiencing intense anxiety or distress in situations involving germs, contamination, or cleanliness, you may be showing signs of mysophobia. Here are some common signs to look out for:

• Excessive hand washing
• Avoiding public places
• Constant cleaning or disinfecting the spaces you are in
• Avoiding touching people out of fear of illness
• Hyper awareness of being sick or spreading sickness to others
• Constantly thinking about germs 

When confronted with your fear you might experience physical symptoms such as:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Trembling
• Panic attacks 

This is not a complete list, and your experience with mysophobia may be different. If you have obsessive tendencies and/or anxious thoughts surrounding germs, talk to a therapist about the possibility of having mysophobia. Mysophobia is a treatable condition with treatment with or without medication, though some clients find medication can also be helpful.

Causes of Mysophobia

There is not one solitary cause of mysophobia. Most experts believe it is caused by several factors, including:

• Genetics: A family history of germaphobia, anxiety, OCD, or depression may increase your risk of mysophobia. 

• Brain structure: Recent research suggests that people with anxious and obsessive tendencies have different brain structures and responsiveness. One large study found that people with OCD had greater activity in the part of the brain that told them they were making an error but less activity in the part of the brain that told them to stop, leading to obsessive and compulsive behavior. 

• Environmental factors: Cultural ideas of cleanliness or being raised in a home that over-stressed the importance of cleanliness may also contribute to the development of mysophobia. Also, the existence of OCD, anxiety, and depression in a person increases the risk of mysophobia. 

Mysophobia in an individual is likely caused by a combination of these factors. Specific phobias as a category are common; The National Institute of Mental Health notes that about 9.1% of adults in the United States had a specific phobia in the past year, and these phobia rates were higher for women. They also add that about 1 in 8 people in the U.S. will experience a specific phobia in their lifetime. Mysophobia is one of the most frequently reported forms of fear of germs. 

Treatment for Mysophobia

There are three ways to treat Mysophobia: psychotherapy, medication, and coping skills. Medication is not as common, but some studies have proven its usefulness when combined with therapy and other coping skills. 

Therapy for Mysophobia

Psychotherapy is where you meet one-on-one with a trained therapist. Modalities that have proven effective at treating mysophobia include:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a common and effective therapy for treating mysophobia. It focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviors related to fear of contamination, helping individuals develop healthier coping strategies.
2. Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing individuals to feared situations involving germs or contamination in a controlled and safe environment. Through repeated exposure, individuals can learn to reduce their anxiety responses over time.
3. Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Mindfulness techniques can help individuals with mysophobia stay present in the moment and manage their fears by focusing on acceptance and non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and sensations.
4. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps individuals accept their fears and discomfort surrounding germs while encouraging them to take committed action towards their values and goals despite their anxiety.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP), a structured form of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, is considered the most effective form of treatment for contamination-related fears, whether they are standalone phobias of germs or alongside OCD. 

Coping Skills

If you have Mysophobia, you’ll likely start meeting with a therapist once or twice a week for an hour or two. When you’re in therapy, you’ll work through the phobia and build coping mechanisms, and when you’re outside of therapy, you’ll refer back to the hard work you do in therapy and the skills you’re learning, and implement those.

Coping skills refer to any behavior that reduces distress and encourages healthy behavior. For example, overindulging in alcohol to avoid feeling stressed about germs is not a coping skill. It is a maladaptive behavior. However, these are some healthy coping skills you can use to decrease distress about germs in your everyday life:

• Box breathing to manage anxiety

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation

• Decreasing caffeine and other stimulants

• Getting enough sleep

• Eating well

• Engaging with your support system 

• Getting regular exercise (even if it mild)

• Practicing mindfulness techniques

• Challenge your negative thoughts with affirmations

• Start facing your anxieties in small, manageable steps

• Celebrate small successes!

Facing your anxiety, a technique called Exposure Therapy, is the most effective way to deal with phobias like Mysophobia and Germaphobia. You can practice mild forms of Exposure Therapy at home like this:

1. Write a list of your fears from most frightening to least. 

2. Choose a fear that is less frightening and safe to engage in. For example, riding public transportation, or hanging out with your young niece.

3. Engage in that behavior. Do not self-soothe for 10 seconds. Simply sit with the feeling of discomfort. Notice what happens, and if things are okay, internalize it. Remember that you did something that was uncomfortable and scary, but harm didn’t come to you.

4. Slowly increase the time you take before you self-soothe. Eventually, you’ll be able to get through the activity completely. From there, work your way up your list of fears.

Medication for Mysophobia

Medication is not often prescribed for individual phobias such as mysophobia. Some research suggests that using anti-anxiety medication to lower levels of anxiety while working on treatment such as exposure therapy can help improve the outcome of treatment. 

Talk to your therapist if you think medication is right for you, and they can refer you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe and manage mental health medication. 

How to find a therapist specializing in Mysophobia

If you want help in your battle against the fear of germs, reach out to Lifebulb. We have therapists who can help you overcome mysophobia and break free from anxiety. Contact our support team to be matched with a therapist near you or browse our list of online therapists to find one that fits your needs.