Do I Have Trypophobia?

Take this quiz to test your fear of holes.

What do sponges, insect eyes, and scabs have in common? If you answered, “Those things all make me feel queasy,” you might just have trypophobia, or an aversion to clusters of small holes or patterns.

Answer these 12 quick questions, and we’ll tell you whether or not you suffer from trypophobia. Don’t worry, there aren’t any gross images here—but if you have trypophobia, some of these descriptions might put you off. Take the quiz to find out!

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Questions Overview

1. How do you feel about honeycomb in beehives?
  1. I like bees, or I don’t feel any particular way about beehives.
  2. They’re unpleasant because they contain swarms of pests.
  3. They’re revolting because they’re full of holes.
  4. I’m not sure.
2. Which concept is the most revolting to you?
  1. Wading through a sewer.
  2. Squeezing a sponge covered in fuzzy mold.
  3. Touching a hand covered in little holes.
  4. I’m not sure.
3. Of these options, which fruit has the worst appearance?
  1. A browned banana.
  2. A strawberry covered in seeds.
  3. An opened pomegranate.
  4. I’m not sure.
4. Choose a list of things:
  1. A coral reef, bubbling pancake batter, dew on a window.
  2. Melting snow, tattered or holey cloth, a knot in a wood board.
  3. A clear glass mirror, a flat landscape, a flawless sheet of ice.
  4. I’m not sure.
5. Choose a fabric:
  1. Lace.
  2. Cotton.
  3. Silk.
  4. I’m not sure.
6. How comfortable are you thinking about clusters of holes?
  1. Totally fine.
  2. Sometimes it makes me feel uneasy.
  3. I’d rather think about anything else.
  4. I’m not sure.
7. Has an image or thought about a cluster of holes ever disrupted your day?
  1. Never, I see them and move on.
  2. They give me a bad feeling, but it passes.
  3. I’ve had my day ruined by these kinds of images.
  4. I’m not sure.
8. You’re offered a free stay in a cool hotel, but some wallpaper is polka-dotted and you can’t change it. You:
  1. Take it. A free hotel is a free hotel, and what’s so bad about polka dots?
  2. I might accept it, but I’d stay out of the polka-dotted room. They make me uncomfortable.
  3. Pass. I can’t stand the sight of all those dots.
  4. I’m not sure.
9. How would you feel about looking through a microscope at cells, with all of their tiny, circular structures?
  1. Totally comfortable.
  2. It makes me feel off or a little uncomfortable.
  3. I hate it.
  4. I’m not sure.
10. Describe your reaction to visible skin pores (or, the tiny holes in people’s skin):
  1. They’re totally natural and normal—they don’t bother me.
  2. They’re natural, but I don’t like to think about them.
  3. I’d do anything to get rid of my pores. The sight of them disgusts me…
  4. I’m not sure.
11. You’re in a room with a mural of the surface of the moon and all of its craters. You:
  1. Admire the mural. It’s pretty, and makes me feel calm.
  2. Turn away from the mural or leave the room. It makes me feel weird.
  3. Leave the room. The mural makes me feel physically or mentally unwell, especially the craters…
  4. I’m not sure.
12. You know yourself best. Choose a statement you agree with:
  1. I don’t believe I have trypophobia.
  2. I might have trypophobia, or my trypophobia is moderate.
  3. I believe I have severe trypophobia.
  4. I’m not sure.

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That said, it\u2019s important to understand that trypophobia is a real problem for many people\u2014as many as 1 in 6. You probably know someone who has it, so keep your mind open to others\u2019 experiences and offer your support if they want it.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Understand-People"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Give-Emotional-Support"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Understand People","id":1851660,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Understand-People","image":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Interrogate-Someone-Step-14.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Interrogate-Someone-Step-14.jpg","alt":"How to Understand People"},{"title":"How to Give Emotional Support: 13 Proven Techniques","id":935051,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Give-Emotional-Support","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Give-Emotional-Support-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Give-Emotional-Support-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Give Emotional Support: 13 Proven Techniques"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You may have moderate or manageable trypophobia.","meaning":"You may have some trypophobia triggers, and if it were up to you, you\u2019d probably never see them. But when you do come across a trigger, it gives you a brief sense of disgust before you move on with your day, and the revulsion you felt becomes just an unpleasant memory. It\u2019s not always easy, but you manage, and your trypophobia rarely gets in the way of living your life the way you want to live it.

Here\u2019s a tip: when you do encounter a trigger, try a quick round of meditation to clear it from your mind. Close your eyes and imagine something pleasant, like a smooth, plush blanket, and breathe deeply\u2014in for 10 seconds, then out for 10 seconds\u2014until you feel calm and collected.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-a-Phobia"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Overcome a Phobia","id":151414,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-a-Phobia","image":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Overcome-Your-Fears-Through-Visualization-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Overcome-Your-Fears-Through-Visualization-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Overcome a Phobia"},{"title":"How to Overcome Trypophobia","id":4783566,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Overcome Trypophobia"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"You may have severe trypophobia.","meaning":"Phobias become an issue when they get in the way of living your life and enjoying yourself. With severe trypophobia, you might bend over backwards to avoid your triggers, and when you encounter a trigger it can really put a damper on the rest of your day, altering your mindset, mood, or even mental wellness until you\u2019re able to shake it off. It\u2019s not easy, we know, and if it were up to you, you\u2019d never encounter anything that sets off your trypophobia, but you deserve major kudos for navigating your day-to-day life like you do.

If you do find that you struggle managing your reactions to trypophobic thoughts or images, it may be a good idea to visit a therapist or psychologist to talk through your experiences. They can help you to better understand why and how you react the way you do, and come up with strategies for managing those reactions and your trypophobia in general.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Overcome Trypophobia","id":4783566,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Overcome Trypophobia"},{"title":"How to Choose a Therapist","id":45124,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Choose-a-Therapist","image":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Stop-Alcohol-Cravings-Step-3-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Choose a Therapist"}],"minimum":0},{"text":"We don\u2019t have enough info!","meaning":"It looks like you answered \"I'm not sure\" for every question. We'll need more information to determine whether or not you have trypophobia. Take the quiz again for a new result!","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-a-Phobia"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Overcome Trypophobia","id":4783566,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-Trypophobia","image":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/ec\/Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Overcome-Trypophobia-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Overcome Trypophobia"},{"title":"How to Overcome a Phobia","id":151414,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Overcome-a-Phobia","image":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/Overcome-Your-Fears-Through-Visualization-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Overcome-Your-Fears-Through-Visualization-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","alt":"How to Overcome a Phobia"}],"minimum":0}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Introvert<\/picture>","alt":"Introvert or Extrovert Quiz"},{"title":"Type A B C D Personality Test","id":13714623,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Type-A-B-C-D-Personality-Test","image":"\"Type<\/picture>","alt":"Type A B C D Personality Test"},{"title":"What Is My Mental Age Quiz","id":13933939,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Mental-Age-Test","image":"\"Mental<\/picture>","alt":"What Is My Mental Age Quiz"}],"number":1},{"text":"I want to know more about my emotions.","result":"Sure thing! Take one of these quizzes to learn more about yourself:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"What Human Emotion Am I Quiz","id":13428156,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/What-Human-Emotion-Am-I-Quiz","image":"\"What<\/picture>","alt":"What Human Emotion Am I Quiz"},{"title":"Temperament Test: What Is My True Personality?","id":13698677,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Temperaments-Test","image":"\"Temperaments<\/picture>","alt":"Temperament Test: What Is My True Personality?"},{"title":"Attachment Style Quiz","id":14028169,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Relationships\/Attachment-Style-Quiz","image":"\"Attachment<\/picture>","alt":"Attachment Style Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>


About Trypophobia

What is Trypophobia? Trypophobia (trip-uh-FOE-bee-uh) is a revulsion to things like clusters of holes, repeating patterns, or small and intricate structures. Think honeycombs, pockmarked skin, or sponges. Crucially, it’s not always necessarily an actual fear, but rather it often manifests as disgust or aversion.

What are some common trypophobia triggers?

  • Coral
  • Seed pods or sunflowers
  • Soap bubble clusters
  • Strawberries
  • Many-eyed insects
  • Water condensation
  • Scales or reptile skins

What are some common trypophobia symptoms?

  • Nausea
  • Trembling
  • Excess sweating
  • Accelerated breathing and heart rate
  • Dry mouth or trouble swallowing
  • Chills or pallid skin

Why do some people have trypophobia? We can’t say exactly what causes trypophobia, but some speculate it may be a natural response to danger, or what a person associates with danger. One study in 2018 found that participants’ brain activity often reacted the same to images of trypophobic triggers as to images of dangerous animals. Another theory suggests it’s an evolutionary response to things like illness and disease, as some symptoms of certain diseases include things like skin rash with clusters of holes, or swarming insects like fleas that may carry disease. Yet another theory says that trypophobia has to do with how images with lots of holes are processed in the brain, which may cause discomfort. Regardless, it’s estimated that about 1 in 6 people have some degree of trypophobia, making it a fairly common phobia.

What can I do to manage my trypophobia? The most effective way to manage trypophobia is to avoid your triggers wherever possible. Of course, that’s not always realistic, so if you do find yourself with symptoms, try a deep breathing exercise to help you calm your mind and body: breathe in for 10 seconds, then out for 10 seconds, until the sensation passes. While you do, distract your mind by thinking of things that you find pleasant—small animals, a freshly-planed block of wood, a soft comforter.

If your trypophobia is severe or debilitating, consider seeing a psychologist to discuss your experiences and symptoms, and come up with more intensive strategies to manage your reactions, or even to overcome your revulsion.


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  • Jeremy C.

    May 29

    "This wonderful quiz helped me recognize and overcome my fears. Thanks wikiHow!"
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