Trypophobia

Triggers, especially in the case of phobias, can be the presence or visual imagery of the object or situation that prompt an intense reaction from an individual because of their phobia. In trypophobia, the triggers are of certain shapes or patterns such as:

• Lotus seed pods
• Honeycombs 
• Eyes of insects
• Spotted skin
• Bubbles
• Strawberries
• Pomegranates 
• Condensation on leaves

The above mentioned objects or naturally occurring patterns are some of the common triggers among people that produce feelings of fear, anxiety or other such emotions.

The symptoms of trypophobia are similar to that of other specific phobias. People with this condition often react with fear and disgust to their triggers, while some other symptoms include :

• Goosebumps
• Nausea
• Itching
• Panic
• Formication (feeling of insects crawling on you)
• Distress
• Visual discomfort

There have been many causes linked to trypophobia and why it elicits such a response from individuals. Possible factors link the condition to being an evolutionary response to dangerous animals and their visual traits. 

Examples of this can be seen through the findings of a 2017 case study published in 2017 which suggests that people may not have a conscious fear of venomous snakes, but it may be their appearance that generates such feelings of fear. 

A 2018 survey published in the journal Cognition and Emotion presents that trypophobia may be an evolutionary response to diseases and parasites in the human body. The researchers explain that this condition may be to alert the body of ectoparasites and other pathogens. 

Other explanations suggest that trypophobia may be a visual response to perceptual distortions and the physical characteristics of the pattern rather than an evolutionary response. 

Trypophobia is often linked to other diseases such as GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) and MDD (major depressive disorder). A study from 2017 found a strong link between trypophobia and the other conditions mentioned above; people who have trypophobia tend to be highly empathetic and more vulnerable to anxiety and depression as well. There have also been links between trypophobia and social anxiety disorder.

There are certain preventive measures individuals can take that can help them lessen their response and anxiety due to their trypophobia. These include:

• Drinking less caffeine-rich drinks like coffee and other substances that may worsen anxiety. Caffeine isn’t advised to be consumed by those who have conditions relating to stress and anxiety.
• Good sleeping habits. A disturbed sleep or chronic sleeping disorders are known to make feelings of anxiety and similar other mental conditions worse.
• Reach out to an immediate support group such as friends and family. 
• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet rich with nutrients.

Trypophobia isn’t a widely known condition as yet, especially in countries like India, which may make diagnosis difficult, but it is advised to visit a psychiatrist who would ask for your experiences specific to this fear and conduct further tests.

As trypophobia isn’t officially recognised as a medical condition, there is no specific treatment for it either. However, there are certain techniques and practices that are often used to manage excessive reactions to the triggers. Some common treatments include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: CBT, as it is commonly known, combines few different behavioural therapy techniques to help you manage your feelings of anxiety and panic and prevent future events where you may feel overwhelmed.
• Counselling: Regulation counselling with licensed practitioners can prove to be beneficial, as the therapists can help you understand your reactions that can help you prevent future events.
• Certain sedatives can also help reduce feelings of anxiety and panic.
• Deep breathing exercises and yoga are known to help people relax and control their emotions better. (Read more: Meditation for stress relief)
• Physical activity is widely recommended to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, or any other conditions affecting your mind.
• Exposure therapy: This practice involves gradually easing the patient to images or visuals of objects, things or patterns in this case, that they usually fear. This may be an alternative way to ease the patient's problems, but it can help them learn to cope with their feelings and ultimately confront them until symptoms begin to subside.
• Self-help groups have also been considered to be beneficial for people with phobias, as it helps to meet others with similar or slightly different fears, be able to relate to others' difficulties and thus be able to normalise the situation while becoming a part of a larger group of people that relate to you.

To conclude, trypophobia is described as a phobia to the visual stimulus of clusters, small holes and pores in certain patterns that have shown to provoke feelings of fear and disgust among individuals. While there is not much research that has been done on the disease, there are ways to manage the triggers and symptoms, and further investigations at the hands of trained professionals can help you prevent future incidents or manage them better.