Ablutophobia is a specific phobia in which sufferers have an irrational fear of bathing or washing. It can affect children and adults and is more common in women than men.

The bathroom is a vital part of life for medical and social reasons. Bathing is a pleasant daily routine for most of us. For people with ablutophobia, however, it can be scary.

According to the British Columbia Anxiety Disorders Association, children tend to develop specific phobias, such as ablutophobia, between the ages of 7 and 11. Specific phobias are twice as common in girls as in boys, affecting approximately 16% of adolescents and 5% of the youngest children.

Symptoms

The lack of a bathroom can have important consequences. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that washing your body, hair, and face regularly, along with frequent hand washing, is a great way to prevent the spread of diseases and conditions, including diarrhea. chronic and lice.

The symptoms of ablutophobia are very different from the typical behavior of a grumpy child who does not want to bathe or adults who are not too demanding with their grooming habits.

The most common symptom of ablutophobia is fear. This fear is not based on any realistic dangers associated with the bathroom. The fear is also persistent, which means it lasts for a long time, usually more than 6 months.

Physical symptoms associated with ablutophobia include: fast heartbeat, labored breathing, feeling weak or dizzy, heart pounding, being suddenly very hot or very cold, shortness of breath, tremors, dizziness, sudden sweating, dry mouth, or nausea.

In addition to the fear that people with ablutophobia experience, they may also feel disconnected from reality and from their bodies. They may be afraid of: having a nervous breakdown, fainting, losing control, or dying.

Often one of the ways that patients try to cope with distress is to avoid the situation that triggers it. For people with ablutophobia, that means trying to avoid bathing and washing, which can lead to different problems with health, well-being, and social acceptance.

Consequences

People who avoid bathing due to ablutophobia may end up having problems at work or school and may become socially isolated and depressed.

Your self-image and self-esteem can suffer. Children with ablutophobia may face an increased risk of bullying, particularly as they approach adolescence.

There is a risk that some people will try to deal with their fear of drugs or alcohol, which can lead to chemical dependency problems.

Causes

Environmental factors

Many think that genetics may contribute to the development of the condition, along with environmental factors and individual developmental experiences. For example, if someone in the family has a toilet phobia and a child develops the same behavior pattern, it could be because there is a genetic link. Or it could be because the child has seen the behavior modeled by a key family figure.

Trauma

Some people may develop ablutophobia after a frightening or traumatic experience when bathing or drinking water, involving drowning or an abusive family situation. It is also possible for people to develop a specific phobia, such as ablutophobia, after learning of some tragic or dangerous event associated with the trigger. An example would be a news story about someone who was injured in a freak bathtub accident.

Treatment

Therapy and medication have been found to be effective in treating people with this condition. The first step will usually be to see a doctor to verify that no medical problem is causing the problem.

It is vital that children with ablutophobia receive treatment. Without treatment, there is a chance that your phobia will not go away and may get worse.