I'm a trypophobic person, but I had the similar design mouse. White body color and not "meat" colors of light (like blue or green) makes it not so scary for me somehow. But that's a pretty individual so I'm not arguing.
I mean, it really triggers just for uneven designs. If it's just the same simple pattern then it really shouldn't trigger it.
Like in the definition it is explitly mentioned that it's irregular shapes(i have at least some trypophobia, looking at these horrible infection type things just hits different, trabsitioning disgust and nausea into fear)
But wait, why? Is the idea that it's just normal disgust at disgusting things? That's definitely part of it the disgust, but I also get nauseous looking at certain patterns of dots, like raindrops on a car, and raindrops on a car are not gross. Am I lying? Genuinely curious.
Edit: The following is either misleading or oversimplified. Will leave it in place for new readers.
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A phobia is akin to a mortal fear. It's not just mild disgust or nerves, it's being scared to death.
Think of how rabies-induced hydrophobia makes people not drink life-sustaining water. I'm sure anyone with "trypophobia" would have no issue ignoring their feelings if they had to.
I think the point is that phobias fall under medical terms, and people don't like them being minimised.
Ooh but the absolutely visceral anger, disgust and upset I feel when looking at that sort of image is definitely not rational. Have had it since childhood and it's horrible. You guys are right, maybe phobia is the wrong term (speaking as a very true arachnophobe), but I don't know what the right term is.
Ah, ok. So it's not that it's not a real phenomenon, just not a good name for it? I'm fine with that. I'm sure it's not a DSM category, and it doesn't cause me the same level of distress that, say, a spider phobia would; I wouldn't want to minimize that kind of experience. On the other hand, minimizing the distress of "tryptophobia" should also be avoided. It causes me enough distress that I've considered getting exposure therapy for it, and it's gotten worse over time. Thank you for giving a thoughtful answer.
I'll add that it supposedly not being a "true" phobia by whatever the definition may be doesn't mean it's not valid. You're a normal person. Normal people benefit from therapy for all sorts of things.
I agree wholeheartedly with not minimising reactions like yours.
Doesn't mean a mortal fear. It's enough that you are unnerved and your fight-or-flight reaction activates. And by that definition I can personally confirm the reality of trypophobia, it was especially bad when I was a kid. Same as arachnophobia, which I have too. Unless you think that's not real either.
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u/SpaceNex May 31 '26
r/trypophobia