what are we afraid of
Fear is a natural signal that helps people protect themselves. It can alert to danger, prompting a fight or flight response that keeps individuals safe. Some fear is real and tied to actual threats, while other fear mixes with worry about futures that may not materialize. Experts describe two main patterns: a real fear that we can face and master, and a neurotic fear that lingers from thoughts about what could happen, even when no danger is present. In some cases, a phobia appears as an obsessive fear that persists regardless of the actual risk.
The term tryphophobia traces back to Greek roots meaning hole and fear. It became commonly discussed after a 2005 introduction and, later, a 2015 study by Arnold Wilkins and Jeff Cole explored how people react to dense clusters of small objects. The study highlighted discomfort, fear, or anxiety in some individuals when they viewed such patterns.
Researchers also examined online discussions and identified three broad symptom groups among tryphophobes: cognitive that includes disgust and anxiety, skin reactions such as itching and dryness, and physiological responses like nausea, tremors, and breathing changes.
Although tryphophobia does not appear on formal medical classifications, many people experience fear when presented with or watching images of objects with holes. Some experts note that in certain cases people may reinterpret the fear as something else.
A phobia is a relatively controlled way of coping with emotional stress. It can accompany fear or other emotions, sometimes even sexual arousal that remains unresolved. In clinical practice, questions such as how someone is feeling and what they fear often reveal that disgust, not fear, is sometimes the core emotion driving the response.
“Fears look weird and pretentious”
Larisa Ovcharenko, a candidate of psychological sciences and associate professor at Moscow City Pedagogical University, suggests that phobic experiences can be illogical. In tryphophobia the fear may not be directly tied to holes or patterns themselves.
Some researchers point to Jung’s concept of the collective unconscious, proposing that such fears may arise from past experiences shaped by upbringing and attitudes. People can fear the unknown about what might be inside holes or gaps, even when no one knows what happens there. This uncertainty feeds the reaction.
Experts note several avenues for understanding phobias, including evolutionary and anthropological angles. One idea is that early fears of holes or wounds might reflect an instinctual caution about potential harm. This can contribute to a lasting unease with certain visuals. Still, the process is not always easy to interpret, and researchers acknowledge that not every fear fits neatly into a single explanation.
Some professionals emphasize that rational explanations for fears do not always exist. At times the response seems puzzling or unrelated to any clear cause, and some clinicians caution against oversimplifying these reactions.
Fixed phobias can develop after a traumatic event, such as a fear of spiders following a bite or a fear of dogs after an attack. In the case of tryphophobia, the fear is linked to deep patterns of emotion rather than a simple event. The connection is complex and often difficult for both the person and the clinician to untangle.
It is claimed that a phobia is not something a person is born with; rather, it evolves as a person grows. Early nervous and hormonal responses may be genetically influenced, but later emotional patterns form through life experiences. When scary stories are read to a child without balancing context, fear can intensify beyond the content and create lasting associations that feel mysterious or inaccessible.
What do tripophobes feel?
People may react differently based on how they perceive stimuli. Some are triggered by images of honeycombs or nests, while others react to unpleasant sights in nature or urban settings. For some, simply hearing a particular trigger word can provoke a negative reaction.
Discomfort may arise from imagining skin contact with a living creature, such as an insect or larva, leading to a sensation of crawling or biting. This mental image often triggers itching or a sense of hostility that people try to shake off in the moment.
Other common responses include autonomic nervous system changes such as a faster heartbeat, higher blood pressure, nausea, dizziness, excessive sweating, and increased saliva. People may also feel a strong urge to escape, wash away the sensation, or even experience panic or derealization at times.
Responses vary widely. Some individuals notice only heart rate changes or trembling, while others report more intense experiences including vivid, difficult-to-ground perceptions or even temporary hallucinations related to the fear.
Addressing these reactions often requires a tailored approach. Some patients find relief through psychotherapy, while others benefit from a broader treatment plan that may include medication when appropriate. The goal is to understand the underlying patterns and help the person regain a sense of safety and control.
how to deal with fear
Fixed fears can be treated with methods designed for phobias that cause real distress. In tryphophobia, the fear tends to be less about the object itself and more about what the fear attaches to. A clinician may explore the thinking patterns that sustain the fear, sometimes linking them to broader mental health concerns. The aim is to reduce distress and help the person function more freely in daily life.
Diagnosing the range of possible conditions requires careful evaluation, as phobias can be part of larger patterns like mood disorders or panic tendencies. In some cases a person can recover fully with therapy alone, while in other situations a combination of psychotherapy and, if needed, medications can support sustained improvement.
In therapy, a psychologist may guide a patient to access deep associations and identify the true trigger behind the fear. This approach can help separate the fear from other experiences that may be driving it. Sometimes phobias link to more complex conditions, and the therapy focuses on uncovering these deeper connections rather than merely addressing the surface fear.
Experts agree that treatment plans depend on the presence of other conditions or symptoms. When fear is part of a broader issue such as depression or panic, a comprehensive plan is recommended. With the right support, many individuals can overcome fear and resume healthy, confident daily activities.