Overview

Podophobia is defined as the fear of feet. It is derived from the Greek words “podos”, meaning feet and “phobia” meaning fear. The condition may be restricted to the fear of only bare feet, or may even extend to feet covered with socks or shoes.

Definition of podophobia

A phobia is defined as an excessive fear of an object or circumstance.^1,2 It can also be debilitating at times. People with a specific phobia experience high levels of anxiety along with excessive and unreasonable fear when:

• Exposed to the subject of their phobia (known as phobic stimulus)
• The anticipation of exposure to a phobic stimulus and
• Speaking about the feared stimulus¹

As a result, these individuals will try to avoid this stimulus to any extent possible to avoid the anxiety it brings them. Many people are known to have a strong family history of specific phobias, particularly the phobia of needles and blood-injection injuries. Most of these fears may seem irrational to other people even though they cause significant distress to the affected individual.^3,4

Significance of feet in podophobia

You may wonder why the fear is specifically directed to feet, especially since most people have feet or are surrounded by other people’s feet all the time. One possibility is that feet are often perceived as dirty or unclean.

Most of us do not wash our feet as often as we wash our hands. Hence, they tend to be more smelly and are more likely to have infections.  Athlete’s foot is a commonly seen fungal infection. It is not usually dangerous but can cause discomfort, may be resistant to treatment, and may spread to other parts of the body or even other people.⁵ Affected feet can also be worsened by bacterial invasion on top of the fungal infection.

However, there is a difference between perceiving feet to be dirty and podophobia, which is a debilitating fear of feet. 

Causes of podophobia

Identifying a cause for podophobia is challenging since scientists and doctors have not clearly defined it. However, the fear may originate from a variety of factors, such as:⁷

• Associated phobias: People who fear germs or strong odours may avoid feet because feet are often prone to being smelly and more susceptible to infections than hands. This fear of germs is clinically referred to as mysophobia
• Family history: As mentioned before, phobias may have a certain degree of heredity as certain phobias tend to occur commonly in different generations within the family tree. Thus, the genes inherited from the parents may play a role in the phobia a child has. Similarly, a family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions may make an individual prone to have a similar condition
• Trauma: Individuals who may have had a serious injury or infection on their foot or may have seen something similar on someone else, may be more likely to have podophobia as a result of the experience. This may be because of how the human brain makes associations between incidents, objects and memories

Symptoms and reactions

The primary symptom of podophobia is that the individuals afflicted by this condition do their best to avoid situations where they may encounter their or others’ feet. This is especially true for bare feet. They might avoid open shoes and stay away from beaches, pools and shoe stores. 

They may also avoid touching their own feet, or other people’s feet or have their feet touched by someone else. Thus, it might be hard for them to wash their feet, trim their toenails and maintain foot hygiene. Some people may prefer to wear socks or cover their feet all the time.

Someone with podophobia can also have panic attacks if they see, think or talk about feet. A panic attack is characterised by the presence of four or more of a specific set of physical symptoms which accompany a panic attack.³ These symptoms include

• Palpitations (feeling like your heart is racing)
• Pounding heart or increased heart rate
• Sweating, trembling or shaking
• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
• Feelings of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Dizziness, unsteadiness, light-headedness 
• Chills or heat sensations
• Tingling or numbness
• Derealisation (feeling like everything around is not real) 
• Depersonalisation (feeling detached from oneself)
• Fear of losing control or "going crazy" 
• Fear of dying 

Diagnosis of podophobia

The diagnosis of podophobia is not straightforward, as there is no specific test for this condition. If you feel you, or someone you know, has this condition, it is ideal to consult your healthcare provider. You may be asked for a detailed history and questions about your fear, the duration and its impact on your daily life.^1,2 You might have to detail the reactions you have when you see, think of or touch feet.

You may be diagnosed with podophobia if you:

• Can’t function in day-to-day life due to the fear of feet
• Go to great lengths to avoid feet
• Have been facing this for 6 months or longer
• Have panic attacks about feet

Your healthcare provider will also determine if other mental health disorders may be exacerbating your phobia.

Coping strategies and treatment

While strict treatment protocols do not exist for podophobia, certain measures may be advised to you by your healthcare provider.⁶

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

This is a therapy that focuses on identifying unhealthy thoughts about the phobic stimulus, as it teaches the patient to alter their thought process accordingly. It also helps them to identify the symptoms of a panic attack and develop strategies to deal with it. These are called behavioural strategies.

CBT can help you define and understand the possible excessive fears and ideas you may have associated with the object you fear, so that you may react more thoughtfully and respond appropriately to the situation.

Exposure therapy

Another treatment used for phobias is exposure therapy or systematic desensitisation. In this treatment, both the individual and the therapist will work together on building the capacity to deal with stressful situations and stay calm.

This involves practising relaxation skills like meditation, as one gradually faces fear. The exposure is graded from the least fearful to the most and at each stage, relaxation techniques are practised until one no longer experiences an extreme response before moving to the next stage.

Medication

A healthcare practitioner may prescribe medication if the symptoms continue to be severe during treatment and if the symptoms don’t improve with any of the above methods.

Self-help techniques

Attached here is a helpful guide by the National Health Service (NHS) regarding self-help techniques for managing and overcoming phobias. It includes:

• Relaxation techniques like exercises, meditation, mindfulness and techniques to control and regulate  breathing
• Visualisation  of overcoming fears and dealing with situations while using relaxation and breathing techniques
• Joining self-help groups with others who have had similar experiences, sharing their journey and success stories

Summary

Podophobia is an excessive and irrational fear of feet, which can be extremely troublesome and even debilitating to those who suffer from it. While the condition is not fully understood, it is characterised by panic attacks or an extreme discomfort on seeing, touching or thinking about feet. It can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional and there are various techniques available to help those with the condition. If you, or someone you know, is experiencing any symptoms associated with podophobia, please contact your GP/physician immediately.