h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know two people who are petrified of buttons - those small round items with holes in em, used to fasten clothing together.

One is particularly frightened of unattached buttons, the other is scared stiff of those white buttons you get on shirts. The presence of these items can even induce nausea. Is this a recognised phobia or do I just have wierd friends?

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Weird friends.

I have the same phobia. Can't find it catigorissed in any phobia listing. Who elso has this?

My son has had a button phobia since he was around 2 years old. We can't pin point a particular incident that triggered the phobia. He refuses to wear buttons and if I or his dad wear buttons he acts stragely towards us. He has just started school and getting him into the uniform has been a terrible struggle every morning due to the buttons on the shirt or polo shirt.
Buttons on trousers seem fine and on other people other than his parents.
Does anyone know if this is a real phobia and if so how can we help him?

I have it too.

I have had a button phobia since I was a child. I have no idea what triggered the phobia but it started when I was about 7 years of age. I am now 43 and still feel very uncomfortable wearing clothes with buttons. This phobia has caused a lot of stress in my life, the mere thought of wearing a shirt would make me panic. Lately, I have confronted this problem throught forced exposure, and this has helped. The one thing that helped the most, was being able to discuss my feelings with someone I trusted.

My advice to any parent who has a child with this phobia is not to just hope their child will grow out of it, but try to help their child.

I also felt a great sense of relief when I discovered that there are other people who have this phobia and so therefore I was not alone.

Our Daughter also has this "button phobia".
Like your son, when I (her dad) or my wife wear buttons she is very reluctant to go near us and will completely change her character around us.
However, around other people e.g. nursey teachers, she seems to accept the buttons on them.
She has had this phobia since she was 2 and she is now almost 4.
It does not seem to have lessened at all as she has grown up.
We would appreciate any advice or any information regarding this phobia as it is now getting to the point where we are thinking that we need to seek some kind of professional advice to help both us and her.

Our email address is:

[email protected]

Thank you

Hello

I've been reading these threads about about a button 'phobia' - unfortunately I don't have any answers myself, as our son also has the same problem. He will not wear any shirt with buttons, and will cover up the button on his trousers with a shirt hanging out, as if he were ashamed of it. He says that people 'will see'. He's had this since he was about 2 or so. It has also extended out to include turtleneck shirts, but we've been working hard to help him feel better about wearing these. We're not sure if this is the right thing to do, but it seems to be working so far.

As far as button sgo, we even thought of buying a collection of buttons and making crafts with them to get him comfortable with buttons before having them on his clothing, but he won't even touch them.

This is very odd, and as others on this list have mentioned, we are unable to find help.

Could this be related to any kind of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Eric

I too have this phobia but have had it all my life, my parents do not know what tiggered the phobia off nor do I. I feel lucky that my case isnt so bad, I could handle wearing a school shirt (just) but never felt comfortable and didnt like to touch them. Im fine with trousers such as jeans but its buttons that have fabric woven through them.

I dont think it has ruined my life I just choose to not wear clothes that have them on. My family and friends thinks it fine, but it does shock people when they first find out I have it

L xx