Koumpounophobia: Fear of buttons
The fear of buttons on clothing, known as button phobia or koumpounophobia, is an irrational phobia which is, perhaps surprisingly, a fairly common fear.
Most people who suffer from this phobia are convinced that they are the only ones in the world to suffer from such a strange fear, and they are often teased or taunted by others who do not understand or believe that they are telling the truth.
Irrational fears may be evoked due to traumatic happenings in early childhood, however, most people who do suffer from button phobia seem to admit that they have been afraid of buttons for as long as they can remember. For some people, the fear can also extend to all button-like objects, such as small coins, sequins and other small discs.
Types of buttons
Some people find that plastic buttons are worse than metal ones (like the ones on jeans) or that buttons with four holes are more fear or panic-inducing than those with two.
Degrees of severity
There are several degrees of severity to the phobia, ranging from cringing when others wear buttons and chosing not to wear buttons yourself to not wanting to breathe next to buttons in fear of inhaling one or washing your hands with soap for an extended period of time after any (accidental) contact with buttons. In some people, the sight of buttons may induce vomiting.
Some patients have found that hypnotherapy has been of help to overcome or make their button-suffering less severe.
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I always worried that i had this random phobia that no one else had too until i found out that one of my new uni friends has the same phobia. I never told anyone i had a fear of buttons until i got to uni and i felt more comfortable telling people. my parents just thought i had a serious hatred of them. My sister poked fun at me for it when i told her earlier this year. i’m slowly getting better around them without any kind of help professionally because of my fear of doctors. i can now wear clothes with buttons on as long as i don’t have to do them up or achknowledge that they’re there. jean buttons don’t bother me either. i still can’t shake the fear when it comes to buttons not attached to clothing though. I am so glad that i’m not alone with this phobia.
Nice to see that I am not alone. I am a 47 years old Costa Rican. My disgust for buttons became evident the first day of school: I destroyed the shirt and went under the bed. I want to vomit is a see a buttom, specially if it in the floor or hanging from a thread. If I know there is a button sitting somewhere in the room where I am, I cannot have peace. I also hate small coins, actually I throw them away or give them to my wife. I use shirts, but cannot use or support to see those that use buttons for a “decorative” purpose. The strange thing is that my mother and a cousin have the same phobia., probably an ancestor choked with one. Thanks
I also suffer from this phobia, I can wear clothes with button attached but if they fall off…… Its an awful phobia, I’m 41 and its as bad now as ever.
Its also nice to know that I’m not the only one, I’ve always been the odd one out.
Long may zips rule
I have this phobia! Ever since I can remember I have had it! Everbody at school teases me and tries to put buttons on my skin and I really feel that I am going to cry! I have to wash my hands if I ever happen to touch one. Plastic buttons are by for the worst!
Its awesome to see many people with the same phobia as me! I also think its genetic because my uncle has the same problem!
I thought I was the only one who was afraid. It’s good to now that there are others out there that share the same fear which doesn’t make it seem so silly!! Its annoying that most schools make it compulsory to wear a uniform, which include a polo shirt or shirt!
Glad to know there are others out there!
I found a button in my cereal. A button s real button button button button button button. Fart.
Have been afraid if buttons for as long as I can remember. My dad wears shirts all the time but I have grown to live with seeing them on other people. Only my family knows and I don’t want to tell anyone else. All through school I’ve had to wear a shirt but I have never taken off my jumper, always had a top under and never done up my top button. I keep on ny jumper because as long as they’re covered, it’s okay. I don’t mind a tin of them but if ones loose I hate it. I am like others and start to feel nervous or like my stomach is churning.
I have had problems with buttons & safety pins for many years, in fact anything in the haberdashery line I want to vomit.It did happen in a shop near gravesend 40 years ago I knocked myself onto a card of pearl buttons aargh,,, and was violently sick in the shop, very embarrasing. Ionly wear T shirts & anything with zips. Ihad to wear a shirt last year, so I wore latex gloves to do the button thing, glad when it was all over.Itdoes not improve.
I’m sorry this comment may be likely far out of context, yet my girl busted our spare pc (I know.), I’m searching for a laptop support service provider that is reputable in Palm Beach County.I have been nabbed by a firm in the past and am shopping for one I can count on.I estimate I discovered one looks suitable.Maybe someone else at this site might have had an past experience or can point me to one like this? It’s called A Plus Computer Support 2300 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. #101 West Palm Beach, FL, 33409 (561) 283-4034. Great watching out!
OMG I finally have a name for it! And I am not alone! I don’t necessarily “fear” them. I dislike them alot and they gross me out. Jeans type metal is fine but those clear plastic ones or those green army buttons ughhhh. I have had this since I was a child. I know from at least the 3rd grade and I know this because I have a photo of me in a button up shirt and I remember I was so upset my mother made me wear it. I won’t touch them and if I do I like scrape my fingers with my nails or on my jeans or something just to make the feeling go away. I will not wear anything with buttons and haven’t since I was a small child. I have never bought anything with buttons for my four kids or my three grandkids. If they come over with something with buttons on it … I have to get someone else to take it off of them. If no one is around I use a dishtowel so that my fingers don’t touch the button. My kids pretty much know not to dress their babies in anything with buttons when bringing the kids over. Oh and those pants that have the clear button sewn on the inside? I remove it …asap. They gross me out … all buttons gross me out. I am glad I am not alone, so many people don’t understand and I just don’t tell people =)
my dad has button phobia,. it’s something he kept quiet as we were growing up,. guess he figured we’d have too much fun with it!?,. anyway,. He is absolutely repulsed by them,. especially detached ones with cotton hanging on them,. it makes his skin crawl, & his stomach churn!,. i, myself, think it’s funny,. i’m sorry,. but i just cant help it!,. The funny thing is,., it must be a gene thing, cause my nephew also has it,. we first figured it out when he was 2 or 3,. if he touched a button,. or even brushed against a jacket or shirt, with buttons,. he’d cringe & brush himself, like it was a spider or something. i guess when we started seeing this reaction in my nephew,. we started asking dad more about it. my nephew is now 18,& handles it very well,. i think it’s helped both dad & my nephew, by laughing about it,. I was at a market today, dad was there,. a lady had made necklaces out of buttons, i rubbed one on dads arm.. he acted like it was a filthy tissue or something!,. anyway,. just thought i’d share,. just find it interesting that it runs in our family!,. sure glad it skipped a generation though!
It’s right what you say, I feel I am the only one with this phobia, but it’s a comfort to know there are others out there. The earlier comment said they don’t mind a tin of them, I wouldn’t go near a tin of them! But I do find loose ones worse, if I noticed one on the floor, I would rid of it with a newspaper or something, as if I was picking up a spider (I love spiders by the way!) I cannot touch them and they make me cringe and the hairs on my back stand up. I can’t even stand the word, my brother used to taunt me when we were young by saying the word over and over the word annoyingly. As you can see, I can’t even bring myself to type the word and see it in front of me. I’d like to get to the bottom of it and establish why I have this phobia, you say it may go back to childhood but in my case I cannot see where.
What’s worse is, I’m a Cockney and and cannot understand how the Pearly kings and queens can wear clothes coverd in them!
this is sooo true.. i have this fear for a very long time.. and im happy that i read your posts guys.. so thankful that i am not alone.
This is like a breath of fresh air, knowing im not alone! IV got used to people laughing at my phobia and I don’t mind. IV been like this for as long as I can remember. I once ad a jumper with decorative buttons on when i was a child and i covered them all up with badges so i couldn’t see them. My phobia is certain types of buttons and i find it hard to eat or breath near people who have them on. I can feel sick at times especially if someone has a button on their clothes which is sewn on with different coloured cotton and i sometimes can only say the word through gritted teeth. My husband is great and very understanding and will only buy clothes without buttons or check im ok with them first.