Germaphobia (mysophobia) is a fear of germs. People living with germaphobia often go to great lengths to avoid situations they think might impact their health negatively or even get them dirty. As carefree as they might seem, many teens struggle with mysophobia, too—especially those who live through public health issues like the COVID-19 pandemic. Mysophobia could be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which can cause serious distress.
If your teen is avoiding going out with friends, enjoying their time in new places, or constantly trying to keep themselves or their environment sanitized, it’s time to find help. Family First adolescent OCD treatment and other programming for teens 13–18 and their families at our South Florida center. Call 888.904.5947 to get help now.
What Is Germaphobia?
The excessive fear of germs and contamination is a specific phobia, a type of anxiety disorder.1 Specific phobias are irrational fears of things that aren’t as dangerous as the reaction they trigger. While germs and viruses can certainly be dangerous, they can cause distress and reactions that interfere with life.
Does your teen have germaphobia? They might if you notice:
- Excessive hand washing – Frequent washing of hands, sometimes to the point of causing skin damage.
- Avoidance behaviors – Avoiding public places, physical contact, or any situation perceived as unclean.
- Compulsive cleaning – Spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning and sanitizing personal spaces and belongings.
- Anxiety and distress – Feeling significant anxiety when exposed to situations that trigger their fear of germs.
Obsessive, intrusive thoughts about germs and the compulsive drive to try and sanitize things are also common signs of OCD. However, not everyone with OCD is germaphobic, and not every germaphobic person has OCD.
Obsessive Thoughts, Compulsive Actions
There’s a popular stereotype that people with OCD constantly wash their hands and perform ritualistic cleaning. This isn’t completely untrue, but it’s not as black and white as it’s portrayed. Many people living with OCD do, in fact, have a fear of germs that triggers the obsessive/compulsive cycle. However, there are other common triggers, like fear of losing control, intrusive taboo thoughts, or a desire to have things perfectly in order.
One study from 2011 showed that 22% of people living with OCD also had a specific phobia.2 This high rate of co-occurrence shows that there is a strong link between the two conditions, but it doesn’t impact everyone. For some living with germaphobia, they may just experience severe anxiety and avoidance symptoms that don’t trigger compulsive actions.
How You Can Help Your Teen
It doesn’t matter if your teen has severe anxiety, OCD, or both resulting from a fear of germs; help is available. They don’t have to be paralyzed by fear of being contaminated or be locked into rituals to try and stay sanitary.
Validate Their Feelings
You might not see what the big deal is about a little dirt or germs, but for someone living with germaphobia, it can cause intense anxiety and distress. Listen to your teen and offer compassionate support instead of dismissing their fears. Validating their feelings can help them feel understood and less alone in their struggle.
Evidence-Based Therapies
Finding professional help is the next step. Therapists often use the cognitive-behavioral model, which offers a range of therapies that can help teens manage their fears and break the cycle. Exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy is especially effective for people living with OCD. It involves helping individuals gradually confront their fears in a controlled environment without resorting to compulsive behaviors. Your teen can learn how to manage their anxiety without avoiding situations or constantly cleaning and washing their hands.
Learn About and Encourage Healthy Coping Mechanisms
When your teen is in treatment, engage in family therapy and education to learn about healthy coping mechanisms. You can support your teen by helping them develop strategies for managing their fear of germs, like deep breathing exercises or mindfulness techniques. Encouraging and reinforcing these skills at home can help your teen stay on track in their recovery journey.
Support Your Teen by Calling Family First
We can help your teen and family find a path forward. Our treatment programs are specifically designed to help teens 13–18 explore their mental health while empowering them to gain control over their fears. During treatment, we’ll work closely with you as a guardian to help educate you about your teen’s condition and teach skills to manage their germaphobia.
Call 888.904.5947 or contact us online now to find support for your teen at our center in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.
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