An extremely rare severe fear of touching and/or being touched. It is not linked to social anxiety or phobias. Sometimes it is only the fear of touching and/or being touched by the opposite sex, sometimes it is only the same sex, and sometimes both. The reactions vary depending on how much trust the person with haphephobia has with the one he/she is touching/being touch by.
Ex. 1
Kevin: "Did you see Josh completely freak out when his girlfriend kissed him? Wtf was that about? Freak."
Dave: "Shut up. He has haphephobia. He can't help it."
Ex. 2
Some people don't like being touched, but that isn't haphephobia. Haphephobia is when people touch you and your reaction is to freeze up. Your heart beats faster and you near a panic attack. Sometimes the area touched will feel as if it's been burnt and/or start to itch. Sometimes you'll just begin to sweat, runaway, or cry. It's a serious disorder and should be taken seriously. If someone tell you not to touch them, do NOT touch them.
Kevin: "Did you see Josh completely freak out when his girlfriend kissed him? Wtf was that about? Freak."
Dave: "Shut up. He has haphephobia. He can't help it."
Ex. 2
Some people don't like being touched, but that isn't haphephobia. Haphephobia is when people touch you and your reaction is to freeze up. Your heart beats faster and you near a panic attack. Sometimes the area touched will feel as if it's been burnt and/or start to itch. Sometimes you'll just begin to sweat, runaway, or cry. It's a serious disorder and should be taken seriously. If someone tell you not to touch them, do NOT touch them.
by Jamie-Q-All-Over November 23, 2013
A relatively rare (and very real) phobia characterized by an irrational fear of physical contact. People with haphephobia tend to recoil in fear when someone touches them, especially without consent. It doesn't seem horrible, but it's just like all phobias: You don't know how serious it is unless you have one.
There are two major differences that can be used to distinguish between haphephobia and someone who is just very jumpy:
1. Jumping out of your skin because a stranger randomly touched you is normal. Nearly having a heart attack because a close friend or family member accidentally brushed against you is NOT normal.
2. Remember that it's IRRATIONAL. Being receptive to touch because you suffer from allodynia or some other form of skin sensitivity is perfectly normal. But if it happens for seemingly no reason and you know it; THAT is not normal.
There are two major differences that can be used to distinguish between haphephobia and someone who is just very jumpy:
1. Jumping out of your skin because a stranger randomly touched you is normal. Nearly having a heart attack because a close friend or family member accidentally brushed against you is NOT normal.
2. Remember that it's IRRATIONAL. Being receptive to touch because you suffer from allodynia or some other form of skin sensitivity is perfectly normal. But if it happens for seemingly no reason and you know it; THAT is not normal.
"Hey guys. This is my little brother, Steven."
"Aww, he's so cute!"
"Wait -- don't touch him, he-"
"AAAAHHH!"
"...He has haphephobia."
"Aww, he's so cute!"
"Wait -- don't touch him, he-"
"AAAAHHH!"
"...He has haphephobia."
by Someone who kinda exists December 24, 2021
by flintvel October 8, 2013