Hello, interesting to find this group - up until recently I thought
I was just a little wierd, then when I was doing a 'net search to
look and see if there was any specific clothing maufacturors that
made clothes without buttons, found a couple of very interesting web
sites - the sites were about phobias in general, but there were so
many people who responded to someone admitting to an atypical
reaction to buttons. Neat! Hey, we can't all be wrong, right? Maybe
there is something inherently evil about the little buggers after
all.

Can't say that what I have is a true phobia, more a disgust and/or
hatred. Its been that way for as long as I can remember (my poor
mother) and I am 32 now. Saying, writing or typing the word is also
disturbing. Wearing them is out of the question, and seeing other
people wearing them just makes me want to go up to them and
ask "Why??!", particularly the ones that just don't serve any
purpose.

This is a terrible thing to say, but when I do see people wearing
clothes with buttons, I actually feel sorry for them – I think if
someone is wearing buttons, they are either mentally incompetent and
don't know any better or they can't afford anything else. I
just
can't believe anyone would *choose* to wear them. I am pretty
sure
that one reason I don't like wearing buttons is because I
don't want
other people to think the same about me.

I read on one of the phobia sites someone asking about a cure, but
then going on to say they wouldn't want to be "cured",
because they
couldn't bear to think about themselves walking around afterwards
wearing buttons like there was nothing wrong with them. I whole-
heatedly agree, it would be like being brain-washed! I had never
even thought about seeking treatment for this, because as far as I
am concerned, I am not the one who has the problem!! I guess if it
was a true phobia for me I may feel differently.

Also, it doesn't really impact my day to day life much - although I
do feel it has contributed to the fact that I tend to dress like a
slob – jeans and t-shirts are safe, and pretty much my staple
wardrobe. Fortunately I work at a university where I can blend in
with the students. Heh.

Recently I have tried to make light of the problem by telling some
of my friends about it, but that was a mistake, they make merciless
fun of me. Ah well. When the rest of the world is struck down by a
virulent disease caused by over-exposure to buttons, then they'll
be
sorry ;)