How common is fear of being touched?

Answer 1

Fear of being touched is more common than people think — it’s just not talked about much.

There’s even a term for an intense version of it: haphephobia (a strong fear of physical touch). But many people experience it on a spectrum, not as a full phobia.

It can show up as:

Flinching when someone reaches out

Discomfort with hugs or casual touch

Anxiety in crowded spaces

Feeling tense when someone stands too close

How common is it?

There aren’t perfect numbers, but discomfort with touch is fairly widespread — especially among people who have:

Experienced trauma or boundary violations

Social anxiety

Sensory processing sensitivity

Cultural or upbringing differences around physical affection

It’s also important to separate:

Not liking touch (preference)

Feeling anxious about touch (fear response)

Not everyone who avoids touch is afraid — some just prefer more space.

If the fear is intense, causes panic, or interferes with relationships, therapy (especially trauma-informed therapy or gradual exposure work) can really help.

You’re not strange if you feel this way. Touch is deeply connected to safety. If your nervous system doesn’t feel safe, it reacts.

And that reaction can be understood and worked through.

Answer 2

• The phobia (fear) of being touched by men is 'androphobia.' Fear on men can be caused from a trauma stemming anywhere from an individual's childhood to a few years back. It causes a great deal of stress for the sufferer and they should seek psychological counseling to get to the root of the problem.

Answer 3

not very common.

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