Fear Of Slime

The fear of slime is known as Blennophobia. When someone suffers intense and persistent anxiety about icky, gooey, oozing slime, they will do anything to avoid the source of their phobia.

Reasons For Blennophobia

Slime can be man-made or natural – however, its many forms tend to share certain qualities, such as a viscous, sticky texture, and a certain transparency. Slime is often used in television programs and films, as a method of provoking a reaction of disgust from viewers or participants.

People who are afraid of slime may fear its appearance and feel. They will be likely to perceive slime as unsanitary and hazardous to their health.

Killer slime from space in the 1968 Sci-fi flick, The Green Slime.

Slime In Mass Media

Slime is a popular special effect in films, where it often mutates into other, even more off-putting, forms. In the campy sci-fi thriller, The Green Slime (1968), slime from space turns into monsters with single tentacles and a desire to eradicate human life on Earth.

The thick, oozing entity also makes more lighthearted appearances, most notably on Nickelodeon’s popular children’s program, You Can’t Do That On Television . This show always featured a segment where a guest star or other cast member was “slimed” with a huge quantity of gooey, bright-green slime. Uttering the fateful words, “I don’t know” would be the trigger for the sliming.

various "slimings" from You Can't Do That On Television

Although this show is no longer on the air, it was extremely popular in its day, and it may have triggered Blennophobia in some viewers.

Toys such as the 70’s classic, Slime (and its counterpart, Slime With Worms) were sold in little tubs. This “toy” was a viscous, mucous-green jelly that could be stretched and stuck onto other children.

Slime in its signature green tub

Slime clung to the hands, and had a distinctive, chemical scent. For many children who were taunted with handfuls of Slime, the product was deeply unappealing.

The types of slime we’ve discussed here are obviously the product of human imagination and they are clearly man made. There are, however, natural forms of slime, and they can be extremely upsetting for those with Blennophobia.

People with this phobia may have a certain type of slime that frightens them the most. They may also be able to differentiate between “Hollywood” slime, and slime in nature. Sometimes, the natural version will seem much more unsafe and repulsive.

Slime In Nature

Snails are one of the most well-known sources of natural slime. They produce copious amounts of the substance, considering their size. The slime is innocuous and harmless, but it will trigger a panic reaction in those with Blennophobia.

You will also be most unlikely to order escargots in a restaurant if you suffer from the fear of slime. The idea of eating these creatures, even cleansed of their slime and cooked, will be truly nauseating. Then again, many people who have no phobias at all also find the idea of eating snails quite a disgusting one.

Symptoms And Treatment

The symptoms of most phobias are very similar to those experienced during a panic attack. Often, the person who sees or touches slime will feel sick to their stomach, suffer from racing heartbeat and numbness in the arms, and feel anxious or depressed. Care with be taken to avoid any areas where slime is present.

People who wish to seek help for their phobia often consider therapy, either traditional or alternative. Talking to someone about fears and symptoms can create a “safe” haven from the phobia. It can be healing to express negative emotions instead of letting them build inside the mind. Sometimes, people with phobias feel trapped and alone. They may suffer from compulsions and other side effects, in order to manage their fears. Getting help can be the first step to a brighter future.

The fear of slime is also referred to as:

• Slime Fear
• Phobia of Slime
• Slime Phobia

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