AUTOMYSOPHOBIA Meaning and
Definition
-
Automysophobia is a psychological condition defined as an excessive fear or irrational dread of being dirty, soiled, or contaminated with one's own bodily secretions or waste materials. The term is derived from the Greek words "autos," meaning self, "mysos," meaning filth, and "phobos," meaning fear. Individuals suffering from automysophobia are driven by an intense and persistent anxiety surrounding their own bodily functions, such as sweating, urination, defecation, or other normal physiological processes.
People with automysophobia often experience extreme distress and discomfort, leading them to engage in compulsive rituals or behaviors aimed at avoiding or eliminating any perceived contamination. These rituals may include excessive washing, cleaning, or disinfecting routines, repetitive checking, excessive use of personal protective measures, such as gloves or masks, and avoidance of situations or objects perceived as dirty or unclean.
Automysophobia can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, relationships, and daily functioning. It can lead to social isolation, difficulties in maintaining personal hygiene, and impairments in occupational or academic performance. Left untreated, automysophobia can worsen over time and cause additional mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
Treatment for automysophobia typically involves a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, exposure and response prevention (ERP), and medication, if necessary. CBT helps individuals challenge their irrational thoughts and develop healthier coping strategies, while ERP gradually exposes them to feared situations or triggers in a controlled manner to reduce anxiety and compulsive behaviors. With proper treatment and support, individuals with automysophobia can learn to manage their fears and lead more fulfilling lives.
-
An insane imagining that one is filthy or smells bad.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUTOMYSOPHOBIA
- zutomysophobia
- sutomysophobia
- wutomysophobia
- qutomysophobia
- aytomysophobia
- ahtomysophobia
- ajtomysophobia
- aitomysophobia
- a8tomysophobia
- a7tomysophobia
- auromysophobia
- aufomysophobia
- augomysophobia
- auyomysophobia
- au6omysophobia
- au5omysophobia
- autimysophobia
- autkmysophobia
- autlmysophobia
Etymology of AUTOMYSOPHOBIA
The term "automysophobia" is not found in standard English dictionaries. It appears to be a neologism, meaning a newly coined word or a term used in a specific context or community. Given that it is not a widely recognized word, there is no established etymology for it. However, if we break down the word, we can explore its components:
1. "Auto-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "autos", meaning "self". It often denotes something related to oneself or automaticity.
2. "-mysophobia" is a suffix formed by combining "myso-" and "-phobia". "Myso-" is related to the Greek word "mysos", meaning "uncleanness" or "dirt". "-Phobia" comes from the Greek word "phobos", which translates to "fear" or "aversion".
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
