I think buttons are kind of disgusting. It’s not so much of a fear as it is a revulsion that I have toward buttons. I’ve had this odd disgust for buttons since at least the age of four. I could and can wear clothes with buttons on them, but I prefer not to. Every now and again as a child I would break down in tears and fight my mom if she tried to make me wear clothes with buttons on them. She usually won. That may have helped me in the long run, an early type of aversion therapy even though neither her nor I knew what the exact problem was.

What I really can’t stand is seeing a jar of buttons or a button that has fallen off onto the floor, they simply repulse me. Touching them is the worst punishment possible, and in the event I need to pick one up and throw it in the garbage, I have to wash my hands right away. The nastiest kinds of buttons are the most common, the clear, plastic, four-holed buttons—nary a dress shirt is made without them.

Koumpounophobia and It’s Causes

Koumpounophobia is a fear of buttons, or button phobia. Button phobia falls under the category of specific phobia, varies from person to person in degree and exact nature, and may or may not be initiated by an activating event.

Phobias in general tend to have a hereditary component, and even in the case of an activating event, the individual would have already had a predisposition to phobias. A specific phobia is an intense fear to something that that holds little potential for actual danger. Among the uncommon and unusual phobias, button phobia seems to be one of the more common ones.

What are the Symptoms?

The degree of Koumpounophobia can range from a mild disgust of buttons to a severe repugnance of even having to say or see the word ‘button.’ Some can’t wear any clothes with buttons on them, while others can’t even be around people who are wearing clothes with buttons at all.

The reactions range from outright panic and distress to moderate discomfort and an ill-at-ease feeling in the presence of buttons. Some buttons appear more or less objectionable to different people—I dislike the clear plastic ones the most, but know a man with the same button repugnance as me who thinks the pearl-coated round ones are the worst.

Some have an actual fear of buttons; they might get stuck in their nose or throat and are therefore a choking hazard. Most don’t perceive any real danger from buttons, but the idea that they are dirty and just plain gross and disgusting is extremely prominent.

General symptoms of a phobia include:

• Shortness of breath or smothering sensation
• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Trembling or shaking
• Feeling of choking
• Sweating
• Nausea or stomach distress
• Feeling unsteady, dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
• Feelings of unreality or of being detached from yourself
• Feeling of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Hot or cold flashes

What can be done about Koumpounophobia?

Commonly, when the phobia interferes with daily functioning, seeking medical attention from a mental health professional is the best solution. With phobias in general, experts have found that desensitization therapy is the best remedy for specific phobias.

It works by exposing the phobic person to the object or situation which disturbs them. The time of exposure will increase as they learn to deal with the symptoms. Doing the exercise with a trusted friend or professional is recommended. As they learn to make it through the uncomfortable situation, the idea is that the object or situation of fear will decrease and cease to have control over them. They’ll be able to walk through the irrational thoughts and come out feeling more free and serene on the other side.

In the instance of buttons, desensitization might begin by exposure to a jar of buttons in the room for a few minutes, and increase the time daily as the phobic individual begins to make it through the disgust and fear. Being around others who are wearing buttons and being able to eventually wear clothing with buttons themselves is another route to take.

Other general management techniques:

• Deep breathing or cleansing breaths
• Meditation
• Distraction from the obsessive thought such as singing a favorite song, or reciting a favorite quote or movie scene
• Affirmations

However you decide to address the fear of buttons, whether the fear is yours or someone you love, always remember to practice patience and understanding with yourself and others. If it’s not seriously debilitating, also try to see the humor in the irrational thought. Not taking it so seriously yourself can aid in relaxation, and make the phobic situation less stressful.

-Anne

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As a somewhat high-strung person, I needed something to help me calm down and de-stress in order to handle high-paced environments. As Americans, we tend to be on the go from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep. My day holds no exceptions.

I always associated meditation with eastern religions and a robed guru sitting in the lotus position chanting “OOOMMM.” Although meditation originated in the East, and is rooted in such religions and ways of life as Buddhism, Taoism, and Hinduism, it doesn’t need to be done as a religious or spiritual practice to be useful. Of course it is most helpful with the acknowledgment that we are mind, body and spirit as separate but unified entities. Meditation helps bring attention to these factors, and builds a foundation from which we can find a calm contentedness.

What is meditation?

There are several types of meditation practices, and each religion has specific exercises in mediation that can range anywhere from 4-50 basic types. In western culture, or for non-Buddhists, meditation techniques are used in the search for mental and physical health as well as for Buddhist and non-Buddhist spiritual goals.

The most basic form of meditation is mindfulness of breathing. Focusing on the breath, the meditator learns to acknowledge the amount of thoughts that continuously clutter the mind and add to stress through the struggle to concentrate on single objectives and remain on task.

The idea is that through the practice of mindfulness of breathing, the meditator will learn how to acknowledge the other thoughts that creep in, but then refocus attention onto the inhalation and exhalation of the body, or the job at hand. The struggle of the mind becomes less as the meditator practices the exercise of refocusing attention. Other types of meditation include: contemplation, moving or walking meditation, chanting, and visualization. Types of movement meditation include yoga and Tai chi. Breathing or mindfulness of breathing can also be called stillness meditation.

How to do Breathing Meditation

After you learn the basic breathing technique, you will find that you can meditate anywhere and at any time as the need arises. To begin, set aside 15 minutes a day where you can be comfortable and alone. The morning is ideal as you will start your day in a relaxed and calm state.
1. Wear comfortable clothing and sit in a comfortable position making sure to keep your back straight. A straight back helps keep your mind from becoming sluggish.
2. With your eyes partially closed, breathe in and out naturally paying attention to the feel and sound of your breath. As you become more practiced, you can then employ more specific breathing techniques (See the blog archives for directions on conscious breathing through a three-step process under Prevention through Nutrition).
3. When thoughts come into your mind drawing the focus off of your breath, acknowledge them without judgment, and bring your attention back to your breath.
4. Repeat this process for 15 minutes.

Don’t be surprised if a variety of emotions begin to surface. Some people may even weep. A single emotion such as sadness or nostalgia may surface, or you may feel multiple emotions at once such as anger, sadness and joy. Practice allowing the feelings to surface without judgment, as with the thoughts, and then bringing the focus back to the breath. There are no rules in meditation, so if emotions and thoughts don’t surface, that’s okay too. But if they do, there is a reason for it. The meditation exercise transports these thoughts and feelings from the sub-conscious to the conscious, allowing you to live more deliberately or fully.

When stressful situations arise as the day passes, or if you begin to feel anxious, take a moment to focus on your breath which will help you to de-stress and regain your serenity. Knowing how to meditate can help keep you calmer, and in turn, your blood pressure will remain relatively unaffected by stress and therefore your heart won’t need to work as hard.

-Anne

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With instances of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in the US being higher than anywhere else in the world, I’m in the camp of those who believe that ADHD is over diagnosed and oftentimes misdiagnosed. It is also the most commonly diagnosed childhood mental condition hands down.

Call me cynical, but we live in a drugged up nation where people think pills to be a panacea, a magical drug that solves all their problems with just one swallow. And while a chemical imbalance may need to be addressed with the help of a drug, it’s important to realize lifestyle changes have to be made as well to see results.

Fix a car engine and still treat it rough afterwards will only make you break down again.

Symptoms of ADHD

According to the DSM-IV, the manual psychologists use to diagnose patients, six or more of the following symptoms of inattention must be present for a period of 6 months before a child will be diagnosed with ADHD:

1. Often does not give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.
2. Often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities.
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
4. Often does not follow instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions).
5. Often has trouble organizing activities.
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
7. Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools).
8. Is often easily distracted.
9. Often forgetful in daily activities.

Six or more of the following symptoms of hyperactivity must also be present for a period of 6 months before a child will be diagnosed with ADHD:

1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
2. Often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected.
3. Often runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may feel very restless).
4. Often has trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly.
5. Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”.
6. Often talks excessively.

Looking at the criterion I have to question the level of subjectivity. How do you gauge the inability to organize or inattention? Kids are kids. They don’t like homework. They’re messy. They don’t listen or are easily distracted. How do you gauge normal child behavior against a child who truly has ADHD?

Many also believe ADHD to be a maladaptive cognitive trait rather than an objective disorder, myself included. In short, it means that ADHD is learned and can also be changed via thought. Environmental influences can also spark a change in a child with ADHD.

I’m not advocating to stop the medication of children with ADHD. I do, however, think it very worthwhile and beneficial to reevaluate your child’s lifestyle and make appropriate changes. Pills don’t work on their own.

Home remedies for ADHD

Give your kid a video game. No joke. Studies have shown that kids can focus wonderfully when playing a video game. Why? It’s engaging in a way that homework and books are not. It are findings like this that further cement it for me that ADHD is a maladaptive cognitive trait rather than something 100% genetic.

Reevaluate your child’s diet. We live in a society where prepackaged food is king, which is a shame because it’s often also filled to the brim with sodium and high fructose corn syrup. Some people find that when removing refined sugars and other foods with artificial coloring and favoring, children can focus better. Try it for a month and see what happens. If nothing else, you will be helping your child live a healthier life with food that’s actually good for you.

While looking at your child’s diet, be sure to include the proper amount of raw fruits and veggies. They are filled with essential vitamins and minerals your child needs everyday to support healthy brain function.

No more caffeine. Don’t want you child bouncing off the walls? Then no more pop, vogue energy drinks or coffee tinged beverages. Caffeine visibly affects concentration in adults; it’s probably doing much worse for your child.

Exercise regularly with your child. You don’t have to run out and get a gym membership or anything drastic like that. Go on a bike ride or even a walk after dinner. It gives you time to bond and exercise.

Create a life of structure. If your children are really hyperactive, structure may be the thing they’re craving even if they deny it. Break the activity they’re doing down into smaller, more processable steps they can handle instead of forcing them to tackle a project in its entirety.

Dole out responsibility. This also ties in to a child craving and feeling more at ease with life structure. A good way to give a little responsibility is to assign a couple small chores to do around the house a couple times a week.

–Magdalena

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I used to think slime was gross and nasty. I remember Saturday morning cartoons with the hungry slobbering cat always trying to outsmart the sneaky mouse. Even though it was a cartoon, cat drool always irked me a bit.

Back then, I couldn’t possibly imagine being covered head-to-toe in slime. During our family vacation to Florida, I was going to stop by the Nickelodeon Studios and experience being slimed, but we ran out of time. Looking back on it now, I probably would have had more fun playing with slime than enduring some ho-hum animatronics.

I finally developed a love of slime when my middle school selected me to go to a science fun day at one of our local colleges. Of course, they had a seminar/lab on polymers and how to make slime. As the professor lobbed the bright green goo on the wall and it slowly oozed down, I realized the potential fun factor of something sticky to throw at my brother.

Ick! Fear of Slime

Some people have an intense, morbid fear of slime which is known as blennophobia (also known as myxophobia). Blennophobics may also be afraid of getting slimed (slime being thrown on them). Slime can be any kind of sticky substance or mucous such as slug or snail slime. This phobia is common in those who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and / or schizophrenia.

Interesting and ironic fact: Marc Summers, host of Double Dare (an extremely messy TV show involving slime), has obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hosting Double Dare helped him to deal with his OCD and participate in messy situations.

Symptoms of Blennophobia

• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Shortness of breath
• Heavy breathing
• Sweating

Treatment for Blennophobia

• Acceptance or awareness of the phobia is important in moving forward and overcoming your fear.
• Reassure yourself that everything will be ok when you encounter slime.
• Be confident and open to getting past your fear.
• Think about the gooey stuff and record your reaction.
• Say the word “slime” quietly and then louder and louder in a happy tone.
• Find a picture of slime and write down your thoughts.
• Watch the entire Ghostbusters series.
• When you’re ready, face your fear and make some slime. Stick it in the container and touch it. Throw it against the wall and watch it slink down. Have fun with your slime.

Homemade Slime Recipe

Things you need:

• Borax powder
• Water
• 4 oz. (120 ml) white glue (Elmer’s)
• Teaspoon
• Bowl
• Jar or measuring cup
• Food coloring (optional)
• Measuring cup

Instructions:

1. Pour the glue into the jar.
2. Add ½ cup of water into your jar.
3. Add food coloring. I like the traditional green, but you can add any color. If you don’t want colored slime it will white.
4. In another bowl, mix one cup of water and add 1 teaspoon of borax powder.
5. Slowly stir the glue mixture into the bowl of borax solution.
6. Place the slime into your hands and knead until it feels dry. It’s ok if there is some water in the bowl.
7. Your slime will become firmer and less sticky the more your play with it.
8. Throw it, stretch it, and play with it!
9. To avoid mold, keep your slime in a zip-lock bag in your fridge.

WARNING:

1. Do not eat the slime! It is not toxic, but it isn’t good for you!
2. Soak dried slime with water to remove.

–Nolan

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I’ve always had what I termed a “noise aversion” since as long as I can remember. Loud, sudden noises make me cringe, hunch down and want to get away from the source of the clamor as soon as conceivably possible.

I recall 4th of July parades. During this time of patriotism, all I could think about was the impending clatter to come—roaring sirens and blaring marching bands. I had secretly hoped we’d leave before these parts of the parade marched toward us, or maybe they would just wander off the parade path. I could only dream.

Whenever loud noises occur, I feel shaky, my heart starts to beat rapidly and it’s hard to breathe. Don’t even get me started on noisemakers during New Year’s Eve. I want to hide them all before drunken yahoos wield them about wildly. The noise is so unnerving I can feel the vein in my head throbbing.

I realized later on in life that this was more than just an aversion, but rather ligyrophonia (synonym = phonophobia). Ligyrophobia is the fear of sudden and unexpected loud noises. Anyone can become startled by an unexpected noise, but those with ligyrophobia actively fear the occurrence of loud noises. While my personal fear of loud noises isn’t that bad compared to others, it is still frustrating to deal with.

Symptoms of Ligyrophobia

• Breathlessness
• Nausea
• Excessive sweating
• Dry mouth
• Feeling sick
• Shaking
• Heart palpitations
• Becoming mad or losing control
• An anxiety attack

Treatment for Ligyrophobia

Hypnotherapy can be used to help you overcome your fear by communicating with your subconscious mind. It’s safe, effective and works quickly.

Energy psychology is emotional acupuncture without the needles. It can help you change your behavior and your thought patterns. Energy therapy puts you in control and helps you to release your phobia.

I find that slow breathing helps to me to cope with sudden, jarring sounds.

–Nolan

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