Holes is something we encounter a lot in our daily lives. Think of the holes in your sink. Holes in a beehive and the like, but there are also holes we would rather not encounter. Even though these are very harmless holes. Think of the holes in the back of a toad after the eggs have hatched. Many people find this sight hideous and disgusting.
There are also people who not only find it disgusting, but become genuinely afraid of it.
Trypophobia: fear of holes
Especially the holes of a toad's back, or the holes left by some worms in animals, such as dogs, cause negative feelings for many people, such as:
Almost everyone suffers from these feelings when they see strange holes that are cluttered and where you can't tell if anything lives in those holes.
A number of people are so afraid of these types of holes that they always pay extra attention and really suffer a panic attack if they see one.
Cause of fear of gaps
The reason almost everyone is unhappy about cavities is because it is a biological reaction, rather than a learned one.
If you have an apple tree yourself, you will recognize the feeling of being extra vigilant about holes because other critters also like the apple and eat their way into it.
Research conducted in 2013 shows that people react to images of these kinds of strange holes the same way they react to dangerous animals. Precisely because of this, researchers believe that this is a kind of biological reflex to protect yourself, just as you want to protect yourself from an apple that may have bugs in it if you grow them yourself without using protective means(1).
Thereby, the itching experience when seeing holes is based on skin diseases that also take on round shapes similar to the holes. Because you subconsciously think of chicken pox or measles, you also focus more on the feel of your skin, so you suddenly do notice small irritations.
Actually, it is also not the fear of holes, but the fear of the unknown or danger(2). Just like the fear of deep waters. With the fear of the holes, it is the fear that something lives in them that can make you sick.
If you notice in yourself that you are not afraid of the holes of a beehive, but you are afraid of the holes of a toad whose eggs have just hatched. Know that there are a number of things you can investigate.
After all, every hole has its own danger. For example, you know what's in the holes of a beehive, honey and bee larvae. As a result, people are usually least afraid of those.
Overcoming fear of gaps
Overcoming the fear of holes seems incredibly simple, but one hole is not the other. Therefore, it is important to find out which holes you have a fear of.
For this, you can make a list of things you encounter in everyday life with holes, such as:
- Sponge
- Hole Cheese
- Bread chocolate
- Beehive
- Lotus Head
- Toad with eggs (or just barely more)
- Ostrich Learning
- Octopus suckers
If you've made this list, actually the first step you can take is to turn an unknown hole into a known hole. Why are there holes in a sponge and how dangerous are those holes now?
Then you probably find out that you can grow the sponge through those holes if you want to absorb something with water. You will also find out that you need to replace the sponge in time. Indeed in connection with hygiene.
- At the Brosch chocolates, you find out that the chocolates are made in a special way that makes them have those little holes in them. That there is good hygiene control.
- With the Lotus Head, you find out that it is the seeds that are in the holes and the head drops the seeds into the water.
- In ostrich leather, you find out that the holes are where the ostrich's feathers were in the skin.
This knowledge alone will allow you to look at the sponge with much less fear.
You also conduct this information search for the rest of the list of holes you fear.
Reducing the protective reflex
When you suffer from this fear, your subconscious mind plays an incredibly large role. Therefore, it is important to program your newly acquired knowledge into your subconscious.
You do this by repeating the new knowledge daily until you can look at images with holes or the object itself without difficulty.
For example, you repeat the following facts:
"In the holes of a beehive is honey and larvae."
"In hole cheese there is only air."
"In brittle chocolate there is only air."
"A sponge you can throw away after a day," says the company's CEO, "but you can't throw it away."
"The hole in ostrich leather shows where the spring was."
"The back of a toad with holes shows that there have been eggs in it," says Dr. K. K., a professor of hypnosis.
"I never meet an octopus while swimming."
"An octopus uses suction cups to grab its prey."
Confronting the fear
After repeating these facts during self-hypnosis, you can see if you can confront your fears. Initially, you then make a list from the object with holes you find least scary to the object with holes you find most scary.
Next, you can work with a hypnotherapist to confront your fear. For example, you do this first by visualizing the object, then by looking at a photo or video of the object, and then at the object in real life.
During each step you take, you learn from the hypnotist how to soften your physical reactions to the holes. For example, you consciously relax your muscles, pay attention to your breathing, and pay particular attention to your thoughts.
By not letting your mind fantasize about all the danger of what might be in those holes, but by rationally naming the facts about the holes, you can do an awful lot to avoid the fear reaction.
Staying calm during anxious moments
Some things that can help you during anxious moments to stay calm is by continuing to control your breathing in the first place. Chances are you'll have shorter breaths and breathe more through your chest. Instead, try breathing calmly through your belly. Make sure your breaths are the same length. For example, breathing in on 3 counts and breathing out on 3 counts.
In addition, it is important to relax your muscles. In your mind, go through your entire body to consciously relax the muscles you don't need to use at that moment. After all, you don't want to fall over.
Relax your neck and shoulders and relax your tongue as it presses against your palate.
Notice that you are thinking of all sorts of things and your imagination is running wild with fears? Then focus your attention on the stimuli of your senses. Like the feel of your soles standing on the floor/ground. The warmth of the air around you and the people you are with.
Also, keep repeating fact about the holes.
There are other techniques you can use against anxiety with hypnosis. To find out about these, attend a Hypnosis Institute Netherlands workshop or other event.
View the calendar and sign up.
Sources:
1. https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23982244
2. https://www. cbsnews.com/news/understanding-trypophobia-why-some-people-fear-holes/
