Mar 17, 2025
Mysophobia, also known as germophobia, is the intense fear of germs and bacteria. The term “germaphobe” has been modernized to mean anyone who has an aversion to germs. For example, someone might say “Oh I always have to wash my hands after going out in public, I’m such a germaphobe.”
But this is not the correct use of the term “germaphobe”. True Mysophobia implies having a phobia of germs, contamination, and bacteria. It is debilitating and limits life functionality or joy.
This article will go over the signs and symptoms of mysophobia, causes of it, and how to treat it, as well as its correlation with OCD.
What is mysophobia?
Mysophobia is the fear of germs and bacteria. The fear must be so bad that it causes intense distress or limits a person’s ability to function. It may limit enjoyment or functionality with social relationships, school, work, or other activities.
Mysophobia’s obsessiveness over germs can look different to everyone. It may look like:
- Avoiding places or situations that expose you to germs
- Obsessing over cleanliness, resulting in overuse of cleaning products or cleansing rituals like washing hands.
- Not touching public door knobs
- Being unable to use public toilets
- Being afraid of going outside because of the possible presence of germs
Mysophobia may hyper-fixate on one or two types of germs or surfaces (like door knobs or shaking people’s hands) or it might be generalized to fear of getting sick. Mysophobia is also commonly co-morbid with other phobias, anxiety, OCD, or agoraphobia (fear of leaving one’s house).
Signs You Have Mysophobia
If you find yourself experiencing intense anxiety or distress in situations involving germs, contamination, or cleanliness, you may be showing signs of mysophobia. Here are some common signs to look out for:
- Excessive Hand Washing: Frequent and prolonged hand-washing, often accompanied by the fear of germs or contamination.
- Avoidance of Public Places: A strong aversion or avoidance of public spaces, especially those perceived as unclean or contaminated.
- Constant Cleaning or Disinfecting: Engaging in repetitive cleaning rituals or disinfecting items excessively to reduce perceived contamination.
- Fear of Touch: Avoiding physical contact or touch from others due to fears of contamination.
- Anxiety Surrounding Illness: Constant worry about getting sick or spreading germs to others, leading to heightened anxiety levels.
- Obsessive Thoughts: Persistent, intrusive thoughts about germs, contamination, or cleanliness that interfere with daily functioning.
- Physical Symptoms: Experiencing physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, or nausea when faced with situations involving germs.
This is not a complete list, and your experience with mysophobia may be different. If you have obsessive tendencies and/or anxious thoughts surrounding germs, talk to a therapist about the risk of having mysophobia. Mysophobia is a treatable condition with treatment. Medication can sometimes also be helpful.
Causes of Mysophobia
There is not one solitary cause of mysophobia. Most experts believe it is caused by a number of factors, including:
- Genetics: A family history of germaphobia, anxiety, OCD, or depression may increase your risk of mysophobia.
- Brain structure: some research suggests that people with anxious and obsessive tendencies have different brain structures and responsiveness. One large study found that people with OCD had greater activity in the part of the brain that told them they were making an error but less activity in the part of the brain that told them to stop, leading to obsessive and compulsive behavior.
- Environmental factors: Cultural ideas of cleanliness or being raised in a home that over-stressed the importance of cleanliness may also contribute to the development of mysophobia. Also, the existence of OCD, anxiety, and depression in a person increases the risk of mysophobia.
Mysophobia in an individual is likely caused by a combination of these factors.
Mysophobia vs OCD
Mysophobia sounds a lot like OCD. OCD, short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is a disorder in which obsessive thoughts result in compulsive behaviors. Cleanliness OCD is a very common subset of OCD, in which people hyperfixate on germs and cleanliness and rely on compulsions like repetitive hand washing, ritualistically cleaning surfaces, and other compulsive behaviors that significantly impact their life.
Is Mysophobia the same as OCD? No, they are different things, although they frequently occur together. Mysophobia does not have to involve compulsions, which is necessary for a diagnosis of OCD. Instead, Mysophobia is the intense fear of germs. This often results in obsessions and compulsions, but does not have to.
Curious if you have OCD? Take this free, online assessment for OCD.
Treatment for Mysophobia
There are three ways to treat Mysophobia: psychotherapy, medication, and coping skills. Medication is not as common, but some studies have proven its usefulness when combined with therapy and other coping skills.
Therapy
Psychotherapy is where you meet one-on-one with a trained therapist. Modalities that have proven effective at treating mysophobia include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a common and effective therapy for treating mysophobia. It focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviors related to fear of contamination, helping individuals develop healthier coping strategies.
- Exposure Therapy: Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing individuals to feared situations involving germs or contamination in a controlled and safe environment. Through repeated exposure, individuals can learn to reduce their anxiety responses over time.
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy: Mindfulness techniques can help individuals with mysophobia stay present in the moment and manage their fears by focusing on acceptance and non-judgmental awareness of their thoughts and sensations.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): ACT helps individuals accept their fears and discomfort surrounding germs while encouraging them to take committed action towards their values and goals despite their anxiety.
Medication
Medication is not often prescribed for individual phobias such as mysophobia. Some research suggests that using anti-anxiety medication to lower levels of anxiety while working on treatment such as exposure therapy can help improve the outcome of treatment.
Talk to your therapist if you think medication is right for you, and they can refer you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe and manage mental health medication.
Coping Skills
You’ll likely meet with a therapist once or twice a week for an hour or two. How do you cope with mysophobia outside of those hours? Good coping mechanisms can help!
Coping skills are any behavior that reduces distress and encourages healthy behavior. For example, over indulging in alcohol to avoid feeling stress about germs is not a coping skill. It is a maladaptive behavior. However, these are some healthy coping skills you can use to decrease distress about germs in your everyday life:
- Deep breathing exercises to manage anxiety
- Decreasing caffeine and other stimulants
- Getting enough sleep
- Engaging with your support system
- Getting regular exercise (even if it mild)
- Practicing mindfulness techniques
- Challenge your negative thoughts with affirmations
- Celebrate small successes!
If you want help in your battle against the fear of germs, reach out to Lifebulb. We have therapists who can help you overcome mysophobia and break free from anxiety. Contact our support team to be matched with a therapist near you or browse our list of online therapists to find one that fits your needs.
