ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Woman’s terrifying fear of HOLES leaves her squirming

This woman’s unexpected phobia can crop up anywhere, any time! - by that's life!
  • 07 Jun 2017
Woman’s terrifying fear of HOLES leaves her squirming

For as long as she can remember, Kudzai Dube was afraid of holes.

‘Not plug holes or doughnut holes, but groups of holes, clustered together,’ she explains to that’s life!

Seeing them would make her feel extremely uncomfortable.

’I felt goosebumps cover my arms and I wanted to cry.’

One time her brother, Tererai, called her to the computer to show her something.

‘It was a photo of a woman, but someone had photoshopped lots of small holes on to her body. It was as if her skin was made of honeycomb.’

He apparently thought it was amazing, but she couldn’t bear to look at it and burst into tears.

Doing some Googling, she soon discovered she had a rather common phobia - trypophobia. Triggered when the person sees clusters of holes or bumps.

‘A perfect example of a trigger is a lotus pod, because of the holes on its surface. Trypophobes are also scared of sponges and even crumpets,’ Kudzai explains.

scrappynhappy View Profile
73 likes - View Post on Instagram
I can't decide if this is really gross or really cool...thoughts? #lotuspod from @stalksandstemsbrisbane

‘If I can’t get the image of something holey out of my head, I have to jump in the shower to feel better.

'I even get the creeps if I see bubbly chocolate bars.’

Crumpets, sponges, and even rough-looking rocks can terrify her - which is difficult as Kudzai is studying to be a geologist.

‘I can’t help it – they’re so creepy and I just can’t shake off the anxious feeling. I never know when I’ll come across a trigger and I don’t think I’ll ever be cured.’

Trypophobia

  • Trypophobia is described as an intense or irrational fear of clusters of bumps or holes.
  • Between 10 and 20 per cent of the population are believed to be affected by it.
  • People with severe trypophobia can be frightened by something an innocent as a showerhead or a pancake with air bubbles, making daily life tricky.
  • Some poisonous animals, such as the blue-ringed octopus, have circle patterns or pock-marks on their skin. It’s thought trypophobia could be linked to a natural instinct to be wary of things with similar markings.

This and more real Aussie stories in the latest issue of that's life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

I turn people into art!

I turn people into art!

Holly the heart hero

Holly the heart hero

30-year heartbreak  - who killed Kerry Turner?

30-year heartbreak - who killed Kerry Turner?

My runny nose was cancer

My runny nose was cancer

{headline}

{headline}

I was paralysed at the beach

I was paralysed at the beach

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

Horror at the servo - I was abducted and raped

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

My husband forgot I was his wife so we wed twice

{headline}

{headline}

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Empty nesters... so we adopted SEVEN kids!

Back from the brink!

Back from the brink!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

A cockatoo proposed to me!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

Brave Ellie - 420 days in hospital for a new heart!

I woke up with no hands and feet

I woke up with no hands and feet

How chalk found me love!

How chalk found me love!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

Gone for 13 minutes – then my boy came back to life!

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!