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The fear of being touched (also known as aphephobia, haphephobia, haphophobia, hapnophobia, haptephobia, haptophobia, thixophobia) is a rare specific phobia that involves the fear of touching or of being touched. It is an acute exaggeration of the normal tendencies to protect one's personal space, expressed as a fear of contamination or of the invasion, and extending even to people whom its sufferers know well. It can, in cases where the fear is fundamentally social, rather than having to do with contamination, be a form of social phobia or social anxiety disorder. In cases where the fundamental fear is more of contamination, either a simple phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder could be the diagnosis.

Sometimes the fear is restricted specifically, or predominantly, to being touched by people of the opposite sex. In women, this is often associated with a fear of sexual assault. Dorais reports that many boys who have been the victims of sexual abuse have a fear of being touched, quoting one victim who describes being touched as something that "burns like fire", causing him to freeze up or to lash out.

See also

• List of phobias

References

1. ^ Charles Harrington Elster (1996). There's a Word for It!. Scribner. p. 160. ISBN 0684824558.
2. ^ John G. Robertson (1991). Robertson's Words for a Modern Age. Senior Scribe Publications. p. 213. ISBN 0963091913.
3. ^ Laurence Urdang, Anne Ryle, Tanya H. Lee (1986). -ologies & -isms. Gale Research Co. p. 557. ISBN 0810311968.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
4. John G. Robertson (2003). An Excess of Phobias and Manias. Senior Scribe Publications. p. 95. ISBN 096309193X.
5. ^ John Birtchnell (1996). How Humans Relate: A New Interpersonal Theory. Psychology Press. p. 142. ISBN 0863774326.
6. Michel Dorais (2002). Don't Tell: The Sexual Abuse of Boys. McGill-Queen's Press — MQUP. p. 84. ISBN 0773522611.

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External links

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• Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Association Non-profit organization, education about social anxiety disorder (social phobia).
• Social Anxiety Anonymous/Social Phobics Anonymous - International not-for-profit organization, free 12 Step support groups

2. Part 2

• Anxiety Disorders Association of America Information for families, clinicians & researchers
• Anxiety Disorders Association of Canada Registered Canadian non-profit organization, promotes prevention, treatment & management of anxiety disorders
• ANXIETY UK (Formerly the National Phobics Society) Nationally registered charity in the UK; provides information, support & understanding
• The Phobic Trust (Of New Zealand) Registered charitable trust in New Zealand; provides information about treatment, education & support to anxiety disorder sufferers
• South African Depression and Anxiety group (National Charity) Counseling, mental health awareness programs: media & public speaking outreach & rural outreach initiatives
• Self help guide (NHS Direct)
• International OCD Foundation (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder & Related Problems) International not-for-profit organization; information & support for sufferers, families & professionals

• Phobias
• Psychology stubs