Wearing clothes that are comfortable and flattering makes us happy. Clothes reflect the personality of the person wearing them. But there are some people who fear wearing clothes. We may have thought that fear of no wearing anything would be a phobia but the fear of wearing clothes is real. Going out nude is a fear in its own. We have probably heard of many phobias like Electrophobia (fear of electricity), Aerophobia (fear of air travel), Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) and many more. The fear of clothing is called Vestiphobia. This fear can eventually lead to fear of no escape known as Claustrophobia. Wearing tight clothes can be a reason for this phobia.

This phobia can arise due to allergy to some kind of fabric in clothes. People with Vestiphobia wear oversized loose clothes or no clothing at all.

What are the causes of Vestiphobia?

Traumatic events happening in the life of a person can trigger this fear. Most commonly this phobia is common in military soldiers who associate their heavy clothes, boots and bullet-proof jackets with unpleasant incidents they had in the past.

Upbringing can also be a factor that can lead to Vestiphobia. Children who are raised by people with a sense of unreliability or fright related to clothing are more likely to experience Vestiphobia.

Genetics can play an important role in phobias. Mostly ancestors pass down the fearful genes to their progeny making them sensitive to clothing. However, there is little evidence of this.

If fears are left unchecked they can develop into phobias. Both women and men can experience this fear if they are asked to wear tight fitting jeans and shirts. Actually, the fear is not clothing but being pressed from all sides. Therefore, a sufferer of Vestiphobia feel as if there is no way to escape when wearing tight clothes.

Symptoms of Vestiphobia

Vestiphobics try to avoid social interactions. Panicking is the strongest sense in people with Vestiphobia. However, the symptoms felt by each individual vary depending on how severe the problem is. Mostly people with phobias try to avoid coming in contact with things that trigger their fear. They not only abstain from the triggering objects but the thoughts of those things also. Our brain has the ability to create reactions in response to situations even when the person is not in that situation.

Physical Symptoms

The fear of clothing falls under the category of anxiety disorders. So the symptoms are very much similar to that in anxiety. Panic attacks can cause symptoms like screaming, fainting, air hunger, feeling of being strangled, crying, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dry mouth, high blood pressure, hyperventilation, dizziness, confusion and trembling.

Physiological Symptoms

In more severe situations a Vestiphobic can experience physiological symptoms also. Like the fear of losing control, shame, mood swings, hopelessness, guilt, anger, fear of dying and dread, irritability, and feeling difficulty in focusing.

It is possible that a Vestiphobic experience shaking one day but then excessive sweating the other day.

How to overcome Vestiphobia

So what are the cures for Vestiphobia. The most common treatment for Vestiphobia is Hypnotherapy. As the fear is related to clothing so it interferes with day-to-day life. This therapy proved effective in altering the subconscious mind to minimize the fear.

Doctors also prescribe medicine to overcome the fear but these medicines can cause severe side effects. However, medication is not always recorded for treating phobias. Medicines are short-term solutions and can never be taken without doctor advice. Medications are temporary solutions for suppressing the fear.

 The best treatment for Vestiphobia is attending Talking Therapy sessions on a continuous basis. These therapies can remove some or all fears of Vestiphobic. These sessions can take several months but their effects are long lasting and permanent.

Do you know anyone with fear of clothing? Let us know in the comments below.