The fear or aversion to the color purple is known as porphyrophobia. This phobia is considered rare and not well documented in medical literature. However, it belongs to a class of phobias known as chromophobia which encompasses irrational fears towards colors in general.
What is Porphyrophobia?
Porphyrophobia comes from the Greek words “porphyra” meaning purple and “phobos” meaning fear or aversion. It is classified as a specific phobia which is an excessive, irrational fear of a specific object or situation. People with porphyrophobia experience anxiety when they encounter the color purple across different contexts such as purple clothes, purple painted walls, purple foods, etc.
The anxiety can range from mild unease to full blown panic attacks. Common symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Trembling
- Feelings of dread
To avoid these unpleasant symptoms, individuals with porphyrophobia go to great lengths to avoid exposure to the color purple. In severe cases, the mere visual sight of the color is enough to trigger symptoms.
What causes porphyrophobia?
Like many other phobias, the causes of porphyrophobia are complex and not well delineated. Possible contributing factors include:
- Genetics – family history of phobias makes a person more predisposed.
- Brain chemistry – those with porphyrophobia may have abnormally low levels of serotonin or anomalies in the amygdala, the fear processing center of the brain.
- Past trauma – negative experiences associated with the color purple.
- Learned behavior – learned from observing the phobic behavior of parents, family members, or others.
Often it is a combination of biological and environmental factors that lead to the development of phobias like porphyrophobia.
Traumatic Experiences
In some cases, phobias can stem from intensely unpleasant or traumatic experiences connected to the object of fear. For example, being violently bullied by peers wearing purple clothing as a child, getting into a car accident and seeing purple everywhere after the impact, or getting severely ill after eating something purple.
The brain associates that stimulus (purple) with the distressing event and creates a fear response to try and protect the body from perceived danger. This becomes an exaggerated, disproportional response over time that interferes with normal functioning.
Observable Learning
Phobias can also be learned behavior. A child with a parent who has porphyrophobia may pick up on their parent’s rigid avoidance and fearful attitude surrounding the color purple. This teaches the child that purple must be threatening in some way resulting in learned phobic behavior.
Who gets porphyrophobia?
Specific phobias like porphyrophobia typically emerge in childhood with a median age onset of 7-9 years old according to studies. They persist if untreated into adulthood. Precise prevalence rates are not known given the limited research. However, it is estimated that about 7-9% of people have specific phobias, making them the most common anxiety disorder.
Women are twice as likely to develop phobias compared to men. The reasons for this gender difference are not well understood but may be partly explained by biological and sociocultural factors. No definitive link has been found between porphyrophobia and personality type, intelligence, socioeconomic status, or cultural background.
Porphyrophobia vs Chromophobia
Porphyrophobia is a more specific type of chromophobia which refers to irrational fear of colors in general. Other examples of chromophobias related to specific colors include:
- Xanthophobia – fear of the color yellow or the word yellow
- Erythrophobia – fear of red or of blushing
- Cyanophobia – fear of the color blue
While porphyrophobia refers only to the color purple, those with chromophobia fear or dislike a range of colors. They may have negative associations with certain colors rooted in some type of past experience or trauma.
Is Porphyrophobia considered a disability?
Like other phobias, porphyrophobia can potentially be disabling if it is severe enough. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) states that a phobia is considered a disability when it:
- Causes significant distress.
- Impairs day-to-day functioning including occupationally and socially.
For example, an interior designer with porphyrophobia may turn down purple-themed projects. A person may decline attending events if they know purple decor will be present. In school, grades may suffer if purple supplies trigger anxiety. Professionally, workplace discrimination is possible if others do not understand the extent of the phobia’s impact.
Therefore, porphyrophobia has the potential to be disabling if it substantially interferes with a person’s quality of life. Like other mental health disabilities, reasonable accommodations at school or work may be needed.
Treatment for porphyrophobia
While not extensively studied, porphyrophobia is generally treated with the same methods used for specific phobias and anxiety disorders. Treatment focuses on slowly exposing the individual to their fears in order to desensitize their anxiety response. The goals are to alter negative thought patterns, resolve trauma if applicable, and enable the person to function without debilitating fear.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The first line treatment approach is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) guided by a licensed mental health professional. This may occur individually, in a group setting, or a combination. Some components of CBT for phobias include:
- Education – Learning accurate information about phobias and the color purple to challenge cognitive distortions.
- Journaling – Tracking thoughts and feelings related to purple encounters.
- Exposure Therapy – Gradually facing feared purple situations in a controlled, systematic way.
- Cognitive Restructuring – Identifying negative automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs about purple and replacing them with more realistic assessments.
During CBT, the therapist also teaches coping strategies for managing anxiety such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and positive self-talk. Exposure is customized to each client’s sensitivity level and paced appropriately to prevent overwhelming distress.
Medications
Select medications may be used to help augment CBT treatment. Antidepressants from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class and benzodiazepines for short-term anxiety relief may be prescribed. However, medication is generally not sufficient as the sole treatment.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy entails inducing a deep state of relaxation and suggestibility. Then, positive affirmations are introduced to counter the fear response. When relaxed, the conscious mind is bypassed allowing subconscious reprogramming of automatic reactions to the color purple.
However, more research is needed on hypnotherapy efficacy for phobias and results vary. It is typically an adjunctive approach combined with CBT or psychotherapy.
Coping strategies for porphyrophobia
In addition to professional treatment, those living with porphyrophobia can engage in self-help strategies to better manage their condition, especially between therapy sessions. Useful tactics include:
- Avoidance – Steering clear of purple exposure until ready to work through sensitivities.
- Preparation – Carrying anti-anxiety medication in case of panic symptoms.
- Distraction – Diverting focus using games, music, conversations if purple appears unexpectedly.
- Calming skills – Using paced breathing, imagery, mantras to soothe anxiety.
- Positive self-talk – Using encouraging inner dialogue to get through moments of panic.
- Support system – Having trusted friends/family help navigate feared situations.
While avoidance provides temporary relief, experts advise facing fears gradually as this leads to more lasting improvement. Support groups can also provide solidarity, advice, and hope that overcoming porphyrophobia is within reach.
Development of porphyrophobia
Porphyrophobia typically develops in childhood, often before age 10. There are a few common pathways that can lead to its development:
Traumatic Experience
A traumatic or highly negative experience associated with the color purple can create fearful memories that lead to an aversion. For example, being involved in a car accident and seeing purple details afterward, becoming very ill after eating something purple, or being bullied or attacked by someone wearing purple.
Observational Learning
Seeing purple being feared by loved ones like parents or siblings, without any direct negative experience. A child picks up on phobic behavior modeled by others around them.
Innate Predisposition
Some children may have a genetic predisposition, likely involving brain chemistry or neural pathways, that primes them for developing phobias. Purple evokes discomfort from a young age without any learned association.
Associated Beliefs
Cultural or societal beliefs about the color purple being sinister, evil, supernatural, or deadly could foster fearful superstitions. Historical associations with dire events can also create unease toward purple.
Often it is a combination of the above factors that leads to acquisition of porphyrophobia in childhood. If not resolved, it persists and generalizes to all purple objects or situations.
Porphyrophobia diagnosis
There are no laboratory tests or medical exams to specifically diagnose porphyrophobia. It is identified based on psychological evaluation by a professional and the diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-5. Key diagnostic criteria include:
- Persistent, intense fear or anxiety about the color purple
- Immediate fear response when exposed to purple things
- Recognizing the fear is excessive or irrational
- Avoiding purple situations or enduring them with distress
- Significant interference in normal life functioning
- Symptoms lasting 6+ months
To assess these criteria, a clinician performs a clinical interview asking about the person’s symptoms, thoughts, behaviors, and medical history. Screening tools for anxiety, trauma, OCD are used. Physical causes like vision problems are ruled out first.
Differential diagnosis distinguishes porphyrophobia from conditions like panic disorder, PTSD, OCD, and psychosis which also have irrational fear components. Sensory issues around color perception may mimic phobias too.
Porphyrophobia vs Purple OCD
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) can involve a preoccupation with colors. Purple OCD is a subtype manifested by intrusive thoughts, recurring mental images, or compulsions focused on the color purple.
While porphyrophobia is specific to the emotion of fear around purple, purple OCD obsessions are not necessarily fear-based. Phobias cause automatic avoidance whereas OCD urges counterproductive compulsions. Purple OCD also features recognizable obsessions and compulsions that feel egodystonic.
How to overcome porphyrophobia
With professional guidance, porphyrophobia can be successfully managed and overcome in most people. Here are some key tips for tackling this phobia:
Get an Evaluation
Consulting a licensed mental health provider can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Having an expert baseline assessment leads to better treatment planning.
Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is the frontline therapeutic approach shown effective for specific phobias. This trains the brain to respond differently to purple and build confidence.
Practice Exposure Techniques
A core CBT technique is gradual, controlled exposure to feared stimuli. Starting in small steps and facing manageable amounts of purple allows desensitization.
Join a Support Group
Support groups for anxiety can provide community, problem-solving strategies, and accountability for facing fears.
Discuss Medication Options
Certain anti-anxiety meds or antidepressants can assist with phobia management, especially when combined with therapy.
Try Relaxation Methods
Stress and anxiety management skills like mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing boost overall coping abilities.
Identify Cognitive Distortions
Keep a log of negative automatic thoughts about purple and shift them to be more objective.
Make Gradual Changes
Slowly incorporate manageable amounts of purple, even photos first, to develop tolerance at your own pace.
With concerted effort using such techniques, significant headway in overcoming purple fear is very possible.
Conclusion
Porphyrophobia is an under-recognized but very real phobia involving irrational fear of the color purple. This condition is considered rare but can severely impact a person’s quality of life without proper treatment. The exact causes are unclear but likely involve a blend of genetic factors and learned environmental associations.
Specialized counseling techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy are effective in helping to overcome phobias. By steadily exposing an individual to their feared stimuli, new neural pathways can be built to rewrite the fear response and develop resilience. With professional support, porphyrophobia can be successfully conquered in most instances.
Those grappling with debilitating reactions to purple should know they are not alone. Help is available to free people from the excessive burden of this phobia and restore hope of reclaiming peace of mind.