Fear of Zippers or Jumaphobia

The Fear of Zippers a Real Phobia?

Jumaphobia per the urban dictionary means the fear of zippers. Do some people actually suffer from an excessive fear of zippers? Well yes, although quite rare some do suffer from an excessive fear of zippers. There are three phases to zipper fear:

1. The fear of using zippers
2. The fear of hearing zippers
3. The fear of seeing or looking at zippers

The fear of using zippers may stem from a bad experience with zippers, for men you what we mean. The users is in a hurry and zips up too fast and catches a certain very sensitive male body part on the zipper. An excellent example is a scene from the movie Something About Mary, the zipper scene, or also known as “franks and beans”. Most men will wince at the thought of this mishap and with good reason. Almost every male has had an earlier issue with a zipper. For some this may have caused a deep-rooted fear that has manifested into a full phobia.

In other examples a zipper might have been stuck open and caused great embarrassment while in public causing the same gradual buildup of fear.
The fear of hearing zippers, this may be a simple case of disgust. The sound of zipper may bring back a deep painful memory or very simply a person just does not like the sound to a point of fear and disgust.

A Phobia of Fear or Disgust?

The fear of seeing a zipper, the form and shape of a zipper may cause extreme disgust which can lead to fear and development of a phobia.

Symptoms of Jumaphobia

Although Jumaphobia is not considered a serious or life altering phobia it may come with some of the standard physical or psychological symptoms.

Physical Symptoms

1. Dizziness
2. Sweating
3. Heart Palpitations
4. Muscle Tension
5. Headaches
6. Nausea Or Diarrhea
7. Dry mouth
8. Shortness of breath
9. Disgust

Psychological Symptoms

1. Refusing be around people or clothing with zippers
2. Fear of objects that resemble zippers
3. A dread of clothes shopping or trying on items
4. Nightmares
5. Feeling of fear or nervousness when around zippers

Treating Jumaphobia

As we stated the fear of zippers may not be a serious life changing phobia and the treatment will be proportional with the issue.
Talk Therapy will be helpful, discussing your fear and how it effects your life can be very relieving and productive.
Exposure Therapy may be the best suited treatment for this type of excessive fear. Dealing with your fear by coping directly with the item that scares you.
A professional therapist may be a good option, or you can try self-help and slowly work zippers into your life. Exposing yourself to zippers will eventually help train your mind that the fear is unfounded and does not need to be a factor in your life.

Related fear and phobias are Koumpounophobia – The Fear of Buttons and Fear of Cotton Balls – Sidonglobophobia.