Mysophobia, also known as germophobia, is a specific phobia that centers on an extreme and irrational fear of germs, dirt, or contamination. People with mysophobia may display abnormal behaviors including excessive hand-washing, avoidance of locations that might contain a high presence of germs, a fear of physical contact, even with loved ones, excessive effort dedicated to cleaning and sanitizing ones environment, taking several showers daily, and sanitizing ones hands after any contact with an unknown surface. The exact causes of mysophobia are unknown, but one common theory known as the Classical Conditioning Model posits that specific phobias are formed when an otherwise neutral event occurs simultaneously with a traumatic one, creating a long-term emotional association between the neutral subject and negative emotions, including fear and anxiety. Mysophobia is associated with a lack of microbial literacy and time spent in nature. It is also frequently associated with anxiety disorders, which may be caused by a history of negative experiences. People with mysophobia may also suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) . The symptoms of mysophobia can vary from person to person, but they usually include obsessions about cleanliness, anxiety and panic about germs or fear of contamination, and physical symptoms of anxiety such as sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth.