Trypophobia: Intense fear of holes, resulting in itching and uneasiness.

Trypophobia: Intense fear of holes, resulting in itching and uneasiness.

While admiring this lovely image of lotus seed pods, I stumbled across this strange phobia, also triggered by “crumpets, pumice, cavities in teeth, the Ampullae of Lorenzini in sharks, holes in concrete, bug tunnels in wood, enlarged pores of the skin, Aero Bars, holes in walls caused by bullets, bone marrow, wasps’ nest, honeycomb, bubbles in dough, ant holes, veins in meat, clusters of holes”. One cannot make this stuff up. It’s in Urban Dictionary 🙂

Did you know that 1 in 10 people suffers from a phobia? Do you have one?

• For more strange phobias, check out: http://georgielowery.hubpages.com/hub/Trypophobia

• Photo: “Alien Pods” by Hawaiian Sea on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/area53/5250769454/

• Lotus By Rabindranath Tagore http://allpoetry.com/poem/8516495-Lotus-by-Rabindranath_Tagore

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102 Responses to Trypophobia: Intense fear of holes, resulting in itching and uneasiness.

  1. Pam Adger says:

    I don’t like storm drains nor bridges. 

  2. Kay Solo says:

    I don’t think I necessarily have this fear, but I’ve heard of it, and many of the photos creep me out. >_>

  3. Cockroaches. Ugh. I am pretty ungirly with most things, I am fine with snakes, mice, rats, scorpions, centipedes, but show me a cockroach and I will squeal like a girl and run!

  4. Rajini Rao says:

    Pam Adger , those are two separate phobia, unless they both relate to rushing water.

    Daniel Koeker , does this photo creep you out too? I came across lotus seed videos with warnings for  Trypophobics to stay away.

  5. Kay Solo says:

    Rajini Rao A little bit, haha. Nothing major, I just get a weird, uncomfortable feeling from this sort of thing. Like this! http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m9mfzplTxo1rcxcpbo1_500.jpg

  6. Rajini Rao says:

    Whew, good to know Daniel Koeker ..that image in your link is creepy!

    Pam Adger , whoa! That was some mommy toad. Glad I didn’t have to go that far in my maternal duties 🙂

  7. Rajini Rao says:

    Here’s a variation of the Tagore poem, Kimberly Elaine . I thought it was sweet: http://allpoetry.com/poem/8712155-Tagore_s_Lotus__English_Sonnet_-by-maa

    Fear of crowds = agoraphobia, if I recall.

  8. Pam Adger  That was … I’m not sure. A pretty unusual adaptation? I guess marsupials could sorta dig it…

  9. Rajini Rao says:

    Buddhini Samarasinghe , is there a formal term for fear of roaches?

    Andreas Katifes , I found this: ophidiophobia (fear of snakes). It is a cool term, even if it is a particularly creepy phobia.

  10. Pam Adger says:

    Amy Knepper My daughter has that…the people in costume thing….

  11. Rajini Rao says:

    LOL, Jeff Brown . Dig deep in your psyche and find a real one 🙂

    Amy Knepper , you could call it Pavophobia since Pavo is the genus for peacocks. I’m pretty sure I have Disneyphobia too 🙂

  12. Mathematics, physics and chemistry phobia. 😉

  13. Rajini Rao says:

    Yash Kommula , I found you atelophobia- the fear of not being perfect. Tough! 🙂

  14. Rajini Rao says:

    Hmmm…..are you a STEMophobe, Denis Labelle ? You should circle ScienceSunday and follow our gag posts for non-scary fun 🙂

  15. love this post – and I think you’ve helped me identify an object I photographed a while back 🙂

  16. Rajini Rao says:

    That is disproportionately lovely, Feisal Kamil !

  17. Rajini Rao says:

    Did you post that pix, Allison Sekuler ?

  18. Tom Lee says:

    What is it called a phobia of being associated or interacting with stunningly beautiful women? 🙂

  19. Jamie White says:

    Spiders, Gosh I hate spiders! I don’t like anything that crawls. For what ever reason Dolls too, any kind of doll I feel like they watch me and I always think I see them move!

  20. 🙂 and stats are probably rising with this post LOL  http://www.statisticbrain.com/fear-phobia-statistics/

  21. Rajini Rao says:

    Jamie White , did you know there is actually a term for fear of dolls, it even has its own Wiki page O_o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pediophobia

  22. Rajini Rao says:

    Thanks for the informative link, Cheryl Ann MacDonald . Why is the fear of death not closer to 100%? 😛

  23. Wesley Yeoh says:

    crumpet-phobia? how very british!

  24. Rajini Rao  There are a few of us out here who respect, but do not fear death.

  25. Rajini Rao says:

    Wesley Yeoh , at least I know what that is! What is an Aero Bar? Ampullae of Lorenzini! 🙂

  26. Rajini Rao says:

    I thought of children too, Feisal Kamil ..disturbingly the term pedophilia came to mind.

    Bryce Alexander , good point. Still, the fear of public speaking was greater than the fear of death (74% vs. 68%)?

  27. Good question….think it might relate to Depression 🙂 (These stats change)  also might relate to people believing that death is a way out of lifes suffering. I really would have to do a more in depth review for the numerous other reasons, but I am not surprised it is lower on the list. Most people are not afraid to die (I can retrieve stats if you like) but the pain and suffering that is associated with dying. 

  28. Rajini Rao says:

    Eek, I could not get past 0:18 sec on that clip Feisal Kamil ! Definitely not recommended for Buddhini 🙂

    I wonder if phobias are induced to cure unnatural philias, Cheryl Ann MacDonald ? Although that does seem like cruel and unusual punishment.

  29. Interesting post …never knew there is such kind of phobia

  30. Well Feisal Kamil I watched 23 secs on the clip.

     Rajini Rao has psychology be really able to do that…or maybe I am misunderstanding. (It would be considered punishment and not even close to negative reinforcement) Punishment has already been proven not to work at all. What works best for phobia’s  are the CBT

    techniques. 

    We haven’t done very well yet with the philias 🙂

  31. Rajini Rao says:

    You are made of stronger stuff than I am, Cheryl Ann MacDonald , lasting 5 seconds longer!

    What are the CBT techniques? For curing phobias, you mean? Thanks!

  32. Rajini Rao says:

    You may be right, Feisal..other than pedophilia, trying to think of other harmful ones.

  33. Rajini Rao says:

    Wait..I take that back. There is necrophilia and other weird perversions, Feisal Kamil : http://goo.gl/O6vVN

  34. Not sure Feisal Kamil we have to talk about the individual philias (pedophilia has been totally explored….and in the past quite brutally by medicine (castration) and by psychologists (electric shock)…neither works (including most talk therapies)

    Other philia’s like ??? ….can’t really say.

  35. Rajini Rao says:

    Tom Lee , there is a name for the fear of beautiful women: Caligynephobia!  I’m told that former band members never get it 🙂

  36. TOSS THEM IN A PIT!!!ONEONEONE

  37. Rajini Rao says:

    Awarding myself a demerit, Feisal Kamil 🙂

    Cheryl Ann MacDonald , pedophilia conferences were in the news recently, something that drew a lot of public censure. http://goo.gl/Lse3W

  38. What is the name of this phobia “fear of being kissed, jumped on and licked, by a friendly dog.”  True case story. 🙂

  39. Rajini Rao Why the censure….and no I missed this one? Oh maybe they censured because of the hoopla around Penn State?

  40. Deeksha Tare says:

    Rajini Rao ! Are you awake?

  41. Jamie White says:

    Rajini Rao cool info thanks!

  42. Rajini Rao says:

    I added the link to my comment, Cheryl Ann MacDonald . It made the rounds on G+ too. I had no idea what to make of it..too out of my field. People were outraged.

    Fear of dogs, friendly or otherwise, is cynophobia 🙂

  43. Rajini Rao says:

    Happy Diwali, Deeksha Tare . Yes, I’m awake and the post is active..jump in 🙂

  44. Jim Carver says:

    Fear of too many posts could be multicommentsphobia . ha

  45. Rajini Rao says:

    Haha, that would surely trigger mutophilia, would it not Jim Carver ?

  46. Jim Carver says:

    Yep, and you beat me to the punch. 🙂

  47. Ha Feisal Kamil the necrophillia people have a psychotic component along with antisocial components (against the law)

    Again working on very poor success rates in this psychiatry / psychology field.

    Rajini Rao CBT systematic desenstization is pretty mild and works well with a motivated person. A brief overview http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_desensitization

    I just saw your link Rajini Rao about it being in the news (groups like this have been around for years…. “pedophillia is a cultural belief system” and they are fighting for rights (haha) 

  48. Rajini Rao – I can’t remember for sure, but I don’t think so…  I was going to post it for #MysteryMonday  one week, but I wasn’t sure what it was so I don’t think I did since it’s never good to post a #MysteryMonday  pic that even the photographer can’t identify. I’ll see if I can find it and send you a limited link to see if you know for certain what it is 🙂

  49. Norman M. says:

    Repeated patterns of organic (life) items may be disturbing to some.

  50. Thanks for the diagnosis 🙂 cynophobia ….i just might use this one on em :))  as we are working on hysteria (like ahhhh cooties)

  51. Rajini Rao says:

    Oh no, cootie phobia 🙂

    Did you know the origin of the word hysteria had to do with women? The movie Hysteria is hilarious, highly recommend it Cheryl Ann MacDonald . HYSTERIA Trailer 2012 Movie – Official [HD]

  52. Deeksha Tare says:

    I don’t have a phobia per se but I am averted to repliles…

    Creepy!

  53. Jim Carver says:

    Don’t confuse cynophobia with cyanophobia which is the fear of green and blue. You might turn red.

  54. Rajini Rao says:

    Does erythrophobia combine with cyanophobia to make melanophobia, Jim Carver ?

  55. Jim Carver says:

    I think it would, unless it was the Big Bang and then everything would have to be pink. So they say anyway…

  56. Yes 🙂 hysteria = women = hysterectomy.  I have not seen the movie but will now ….thanks. (Wait should a test be performed to see if this man has a uterus 🙂 before i proceed.)

  57. Rajini Rao says:

    Hysteria is very funny and all in good taste Cheryl Ann MacDonald Doesn’t hurt to look at Hugh Dancy either 🙂

  58. Yea, well I see bullet holes in the walls I get the phobia of being shot.

  59. Nothing uncommon with my arachnophobia especially when it comes to something like this guy http://bit.ly/SIEmKO... I don’t want to be cured !!!  🙂

  60. Rajini Rao says:

    But only the male Sydney funnel-web spiders are venomous, John Christopher ! Is that not empowering? You could make short work of Eve 😉

  61. Right, and I can tell it is a female by …checking her eyelashes no doubt Rajini Rao 🙂

  62. Rajini Rao nice spoof (I just watched the trailer & am now  trying to find it on Netflix)  Believe it Not this was a treatment back in the Freud days. 🙂  Ahh women

    What professions you ask 😉  MD’s, neurologists.  Psychologists back in the 60’s just labeled this a treatment too.  (Really Bad no no now)

  63. Rajini Rao says:

    Don’t go too close, John Christopher    🙂

  64. I must say, though, the holes in this image are kind of creepy-looking to me.

  65. Jim Carver says:

    Gnotic Pasta I think that goes back to agoraphobia, feeling like you could be trapped. I have a little of that too but manageable. and of course claustrophobia is somewhat related. 

  66. Jim Carver says:

    I had this girlfriend one time that had ’em all, even some never before thought of…her biggest one was nonalcoholaphobia though. The fear of running out of booze. 😉

  67. Very interesting- I’m sure I have some type of Social phobia. I wish I could be more specific. There is something that my partner and I joke about. If she holds my hand for too long, my fingers feel a bit claustrophobic. I have to pull away and wiggle them so they feel free again.

  68. initially i thought i had no phobia, when i recollected my memories i realized, after a bad experience i had gradually become fearful towards waterfalls and boulders, they send a shiver down my spine ! when i visit one making me extra vigilant  

  69. wind-up monkeys with cymbals

  70. Rajini Rao says:

    Isn’t there a windup monkey with cymbals in the opening scene of the Phantom of the Opera? 🙂

  71. Rajini Rao says:

    Marc Ponomareff , DO NOT WATCH THIS 😀

    Masquerade Monkey Music Box

  72. oh no, touched the link by mistake & watched it- 😀

  73. Rajini Rao says:

    Just dispatched a Ponomareffobia, next one up is a Kamilophilia 🙂

  74. Rajini Rao says:

    Democide: Death by Government. O_O, watch out, Feisal. It’s catching too…there is a disease called AGP (anti-gubmint phobia) rapidly spreading in the US. 

  75. Interesting about the phobias.  I never would have guessed!

  76. Rajini Rao says:

    Better to have a philia than a phobia, Kathleen Gick 🙂

  77. Or worst of all, philophobia. %^)

  78. Thanks Rajini Rao . I thought I was the only one feeling nauseous when watching certain irregular patterns.

  79. KQED SCIENCE says:

    We have a phobia of people who don’t love science. 🙂

  80. Hahaha YES Feisal Kamil 😛 Alties give me the heebie jeebies 😀

  81. Personally don’t have a phobia of anything, but I have a few misias (from gk. ‘miso’: hate or disgust for). I think probably altiemisia describes how I feel about alties – I’m definitely not scared of them, but they do make me want to sharpen my wits for battle. Probably how vampire hunters feel about vampires.

  82. I didn’t have this phobia before, but I think I do now!

  83. There is a natural organic homeopathic cure for Altiemisia you know. But shhh, Western Medicine doesn’t want you to know, and Big Pharma is hiding the truth from you!

  84. I have these phobia.. didn’t know the name.. Please put a Trypophobics-alert next time 😥

  85. The poem by Tagore is great but my favourite one is Jana Gana Mana….and  guess I suffer from nomophobia fear of loosing phones 🙂

  86. Rajini Rao says:

    Sudhanshu Pathania , I wonder if there is a phobia for scratching those shiny surfaces of smart phones (that’s what I have). As for Tagore, the lyrics of our national anthem are truly lovely..filled with the grandeur and diversity of India (not of wars, thankfully).

  87. Rajini Rao says:

    I CAN HEAR FROM ALL THE WAY OVER HERE, Feisal Kamil 😀

  88. Chad Haney says:

    I TOTALLY AGREE Feisal Kamil I AM REALLY NICE.

  89. Chad Haney says:

    WHAT’S UP FEISAL! Did you see my Morgan Freeman post?

  90. thanks ! U hv stopped the example list.. Rajini Rao 

  91. I avoid churches because they are holly

  92. Rajini Rao says:

    Haha, good pun Daniel Brookshier .

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