Fear of buttons (koumpounophobia)

En español: lee sobre este miedo en Fobias.org.

A fear of buttons surprises people who don’t have it. For those who do, it can affect what they wear, what they touch and even what they can look at.

Many people find that with the right help, they can wear, touch and be around buttons without that rush of discomfort.

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Understanding this fear

Koumpounophobia is a fear of buttons, usually the kind found on clothes. People who do not have it are often surprised by it, but for those who do, seeing, touching or even thinking about buttons can bring a strong reaction. For many people the main feeling is disgust rather than fear, a sense of revulsion that is hard to explain to others. It can affect what you wear, what you touch and where you feel comfortable.

It is thought to be uncommon, although people may keep quiet about it because they worry others will laugh. Some people are bothered by every kind of button, while others react to particular types, such as plastic, small, old or loose ones. A published case study of a child with a button phobia highlighted disgust as a key part of the problem, alongside fear. It often starts in childhood, sometimes after a memorable moment involving a button.

Common triggers

Loose buttons hanging by a thread
Piles or jars of buttons
Plastic buttons on shirts and coats
Close up photos of buttons
Buttons falling off or rolling across the floor
Touching someone else’s buttoned clothing
Sewing kits and button displays
Button eyes on toys or in films

Where it shows up

Clothes shops and changing rooms
Your own wardrobe and laundry basket
School or work uniforms with buttons
Craft shops and sewing classes
Hugging people wearing buttoned clothes
Charity shops and second hand stalls
Formal events where shirts and blazers are expected

Symptoms

In your body

Skin crawling or a shiver of revulsion
Feeling sick or gagging
Flinching or tensing when buttons are near
A racing heart
A strong urge to wash your hands after touching a button
Feeling hot or sweaty

In your mind

That is disgusting, I cannot touch it
Worry that a button will touch your skin
Embarrassment that others will think the fear is silly
Unease that lingers until the button is out of sight
Unwanted images of buttons popping into your head

What you might do

Only buying clothes with zips, poppers or no fastenings
Asking others to do up buttons for you
Avoiding hugs with people in buttoned clothes
Washing hands after touching buttons
Looking away from buttons on other people
Avoiding shops or areas where buttons are sold

What causes it

There is no single known cause. Some people remember a childhood moment involving a button, such as putting one in their mouth, nearly choking on one, or being upset by a tin full of them, while others cannot recall how it began. Disgust is a natural reaction that helps us steer clear of things that might be unclean, and in button phobia it seems to latch onto buttons in a way that feels automatic. Embarrassment, and the way others react, can add to it. Avoiding buttons stops the disgust from fading naturally, so the reaction stays as strong as ever.

How it can affect your life

Button phobia can limit what you can wear, which matters at work, school and formal events where shirts, blazers or uniforms are expected. Clothes shopping can be slow and stressful. It can affect close moments, such as hugging a partner or child in a buttoned top, and some people feel too embarrassed to explain why they pull back. Parents of a child with the fear may need to talk to the school about uniform.

Things that can help day to day

Notice whether the main feeling is fear or disgust, as this helps you understand your reaction
Choose clothes with zips or poppers for now, so the fear does not stop you going out
Start by looking at a picture of a button you find only mildly uncomfortable, and breathe slowly until the feeling eases
Explain the fear to people close to you, so they understand rather than tease
If your child has the fear, talk calmly with them and with their school about uniform options

When to get help

It is worth getting help if the fear affects what you can wear for work or school, makes shopping or hugging difficult, or causes you real distress. Your GP is a good first port of call if anxiety is affecting your daily life. If a child’s fear is getting worse or causing problems at school, a parent can speak to the GP or school for support.

How I can help

Adam Cox, clinical hypnotherapist known as the Phobia Guru

If you’ve tried to talk yourself out of this fear and it hasn’t worked, that isn’t a lack of willpower. A phobia is an alarm your mind learned, and logic alone rarely switches it off.

When I work with a fear of buttons, I pay close attention to the disgust as well as the fear, because the two often need different handling. We find the first memory or image that set it off, which can be surprisingly small. Over Zoom, I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how that image feels to you, turning down the revulsion, and then we rehearse seeing and touching buttons in your mind while you stay calm. Many clients find they can wear and handle buttoned clothes again with far less discomfort.

I’ve spent 17 years in clinical practice and helped more than 1,000 people with phobias. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, both with Distinction.

Common questions

Is a fear of buttons a real phobia?

Yes. It is an uncommon specific phobia, but it can cause real distress and affect daily life. It has been described in published case studies.

Why do buttons feel disgusting rather than scary?

For many people with this phobia, disgust is the main reaction. Disgust is the body’s way of keeping us away from things that might be unclean, and in button phobia it seems to latch onto buttons.

Can children have a fear of buttons?

Yes, it often starts in childhood. Calm support at home, and help from a GP or therapist if it is getting in the way of school or dressing, can make a real difference.

Where does it come from?

Often a childhood moment, like choking on a button or a fixation on a loose one. Disgust is often a bigger part of it than fear.

How do sessions work?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to buttons. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Further reading: Simply Psychology: Saavedra and Silverman button phobia study · University of Denver: Case study of a specific phobia for buttons · Wikipedia: Koumpounophobia · NHS: Phobias

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