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What do you call a person who hates hugs?

Haphephobia is more than just cringing inwardly when someone gives you an unwanted hug or invades your personal space on the subway. Instead, it's an often-paralyzing fear that can have a devastating effect on your life if untreated.

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Overview People with haphephobia have a fear of being touched. With haphephobia, human touch can be overpowering and even painful. In some cases, the fear is specific to only one gender, while in other cases the fear relates to all people. Haphephobia may also be referred to as thixophobia or aphephobia. Symptoms Haphephobia is more than just cringing inwardly when someone gives you an unwanted hug or invades your personal space on the subway. Instead, it’s an often-paralyzing fear that can have a devastating effect on your life if untreated. This feeling of paralysis is what separates someone who is merely uncomfortable with touch from someone who has a true phobia. In the case of haphephobia, there’s often a physical reaction to touch that may include: panic attacks

hives

fainting

nausea

heart palpitations

hyperventilation In some cases, the fear can become so intense that you develop agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder where a person avoids places and situations that cause anxiety. In the case of people with haphephobia, they may avoid situations that could lead to being touched. Diagnosis Haphephobia is similar to other specific phobias, though it’s among the rarer ones. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 10 million adults have a phobia of some kind. It’s unknown how many people experience haphephobia. Haphephobia is diagnosed with the same criteria that the new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders outlines for diagnosing any specific phobia. The following criteria must be met to be diagnosed with a phobia: The person demonstrates an excessive or irrational fear of the situation (in this case, human touch). Exposure to the situation causes an immediate anxiety response or panic attack. The person knows that the fear is excessive and irrational. The situation is actively avoided when possible. Avoidance or anxiety interferes with the person’s ability to function in normal, day-to-day activities. What causes haphephobia? There isn’t one known cause of haphephobia. Some researchers believe people are born with it or that a change in brain function may play a role. Others believe it’s caused by traumatic past experiences. It may be more likely to develop in those who have experienced sexual assault or another trauma. Read on to learn more about phobias. How to cope with haphephobia There’s no one “cure” for haphephobia, but there are treatment options that can help you manage your condition. Online therapy options Read our review of the best online therapy options to find the right fit for you. Exposure therapy In this form of treatment, you’re slowly exposed to the feared situation — in this case, touch. With a trained therapist, you can create a safe environment in which you can slowly allow yourself to become more comfortable with your fears. Repeated positive experiences through exposure may slowly change your negative emotions toward touch. Medications Bruce Cameron, a licensed counselor in Dallas, Texas who treats people experiencing haphephobia, says people with haphephobia often also have anxiety or depression. Treating those overlying conditions with antidepressants or benzodiazepines for anxiety is helpful in some cases. Behavioral therapies Cognitive behavioral therapy, including dialectical behavioral therapy or hypnosis, can sometimes help people gain control over fears and phobias.

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How does a boy feel while kissing?

You can feel his heart race. You'll probably also notice that he's blushing or breathing a little more heavily. A passionate makeout session releases adrenaline–not only does it kick up his heart rate, but it also boosts his energy.

This article was co-authored by Eddy Baller and by wikiHow staff writer, Madeleine Flamiano . Eddy Baller is a Dating Coach based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Coaching since 2011, Eddy specializes in confidence building, advanced social skills and relationships. He runs his own dating consulting and coaching service named Conquer and Win, the only BBB accredited dating coaching business in Vancouver. Conquer and Win helps men worldwide have the love lives they deserve. His work has been featured in The Art of Manliness, LifeHack, and POF among others. This article has been viewed 107,215 times.

Article Summary

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The best way to know if a guy enjoyed a kiss is to ask him, but there are lots of other clues you can look for. For instance, if you feel his heart racing or notice him blushing or breathing heavily while you lock lips, that probably means he’s feeling excited. During the kiss, he might also pull you closer, run his hands through your hair, or caress your face, arms, or shoulders. When you pull away, pay attention to how he looks at you. You might see him smiling, making intense eye contact, or looking at your lips. If he leans in for another kiss, that’s also a great sign. He might also keep touching you or start kissing you in other places, like your neck, ears, or shoulders. Some guys might tell you just how much they enjoyed the kiss. For instance, he might say something like, “Wow, that was incredible,” or “I love kissing you.”

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