Can You Develop Trypophobia Later in Life?

Can You Develop Trypophobia Later in Life?

You’re scrolling through your feed, and suddenly, a photo of a lotus seed pod or honeycomb pops up. Your stomach turns. Your skin crawls. You feel nauseated or even anxious, like you need to throw your phone across the room. If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing trypophobia—an intense aversion to clusters of small holes or repetitive patterns. While not officially recognized as a diagnosable condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), many people report significant emotional and physical reactions to these images. But here’s something interesting: a growing number of adults say they never had this fear before—and now, they can’t unsee it. So, can you develop trypophobia later in life? And what might that say about your mental health or even substance use?

The short answer is yes. You can absolutely develop trypophobia later in life, and the reasons why are often linked to broader psychological shifts. Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Our environment, stress levels, and even experiences with trauma can shape the way we respond to stimuli. Some people report that their aversion started after a particularly stressful period, such as a divorce, job loss, or traumatic event. Others say it emerged after recovering from addiction or during a period of sobriety when their emotions felt heightened and raw. While the cause of trypophobia isn’t fully understood, there are theories that it’s rooted in evolutionary survival instincts. Clusters of holes may resemble skin diseases, parasites, or other biological threats, and our brains instinctively react with fear or disgust.

What’s especially fascinating is how trypophobia intersects with anxiety and addiction. Individuals with anxiety disorders are more likely to report heightened sensitivity to triggering images, including those associated with trypophobia. The visual cues can activate the amygdala, the brain’s fear center, leading to intense emotional responses. For someone in recovery from substance or alcohol use, this type of emotional reactivity can be even more pronounced. Addiction is often a form of emotional numbing. Whether it’s alcohol, opioids, or stimulants, substances tend to suppress uncomfortable feelings. Once the fog clears and the body starts adjusting to sobriety, the emotions come rushing back—including fear, discomfort, and trauma-related responses like trypophobia.

There’s also the consideration of how our brains heal. When someone quits using drugs or alcohol, the brain undergoes a sort of recalibration. Neurotransmitter levels begin to stabilize, and the nervous system becomes more reactive. This can bring suppressed phobias or emotional triggers to the surface. If you’ve recently gotten sober and suddenly find yourself unsettled by images that never used to bother you, it’s not your imagination. It might be your brain and body processing sensations that were once dulled by substance use. Mental health and addiction recovery often bring these hidden sensitivities to light.

Let’s not forget the power of suggestion, either. In the age of social media, it only takes one viral image or TikTok trend to implant a phobia into someone’s mind. The hashtag #trypophobia has been used millions of times online, and the more you’re exposed to these images, the more likely your brain is to develop a conditioned response. This doesn’t mean you’re weak or broken—it just means your brain is doing what it’s designed to do: adapt. For people with a history of trauma or substance abuse, these adaptations can become exaggerated. The mind, already in a state of heightened alertness, clings to anything that feels threatening or distressing. Unfortunately, that sometimes includes images as seemingly harmless as a close-up of a strawberry or sponge.

Trypophobia isn’t just a quirky internet term—it’s a real response rooted in mental health. If it’s disrupting your life or making everyday experiences uncomfortable, it’s worth discussing with a therapist, especially if you’re also navigating addiction recovery or battling anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy can help desensitize the brain and reduce the emotional charge of these images. In some cases, underlying issues like PTSD or generalized anxiety may be contributing to the problem and can be effectively treated with a combination of therapy and, when appropriate, medication.

If you’re in recovery and noticing new or intensified phobias like trypophobia, don’t panic. It’s actually a sign that your nervous system is waking up, reengaging with the world without the numbing buffer of substances. This can feel overwhelming, but it’s also a powerful milestone. You’re becoming aware, present, and connected to your emotions again. And while trypophobia might feel like an annoying side effect of this process, it’s also a reminder of how deeply addiction can alter our perception—and how healing can bring both discomfort and clarity.

In the end, developing trypophobia later in life isn’t a sign that something is wrong with you. It’s often a symptom of a system that’s been overloaded for too long. Whether from stress, trauma, or addiction, your brain has had to protect you—and now that it no longer has to be on guard all the time, it’s learning how to feel again. That includes the unpleasant stuff. And that’s okay. Healing isn’t always pretty. Sometimes, it looks like cringing at a photo of a pomegranate. But the important thing is that you’re feeling again. And that means you're alive, you're sober, and you're healing.

If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health issues, please give us a call today at 833-479-0797.