Aversion to Certain Colors

An Aversion to Green

Confession time: I have a strange aversion to the color green. I always knew I didn’t like it much; or noticed I’d rather not wear anything green; or didn’t decorate the house with it; but just wasn’t aware why.

My poor husband didn’t see it coming. He didn’t notice that I don’t wear green. What men really notice what their wives do or don’t wear anyway; especially early in the marriage? He didn’t think anything of it that I had no green furniture or décor. He thought he was helping when he noticed we needed a new trashcan and went out to buy one. You should have seen his proud face, marching in when that horrible green trash can. I wasn’t cruel, believe me. I just wasn’t happy. I thought, ewww, ugly, and took it back to the store to exchange it for a white one. Later he brought home a plastic laundry basket, green, and I refused to use it. This time he was a little miffed that I exchanged it for a white one. (Those were my only choices, white or green). The following year he brought home a new princess phone… you guessed it, green. That’s when the fight started.

What's Wrong With Me?

He actually yelled at me and asked what was wrong with me, and asked what was wrong with green. For the first time, I began to wonder, what was wrong with me? Am I weird? Am I possessed? What IS wrong with green? It’s not like he bought me a blouse or something and insisted I wear it. It was a laundry basket, a trashcan and a phone for crying out loud. Not having the money for a therapist meant I had to figure it out for myself.

Color Aversion

Mountains? Trees?

I had to dig deep and try remembering every thing that was associated with green. Trips to the mountains; no that’s not it. That still fills me with wonderful memories and good feelings.

Dad's Work Truck

Dad’s work truck was green, but that couldn’t be the problem. I didn’t have any bad memories in Dad’s truck. I was hardly ever taken anywhere in it anyway.

Mom decorated with lavenders and yellows. The kitchen was decorated with greens in the curtains and fruit wall hangings. But nothing that would give me bad feelings or memories.

Not the Right Car But the Right Color

Carsick Trips

This self-assessment took months but I was convinced I needed to get to the bottom of it. What could it be? The school, no. The church, no. Friends, no. Family, no.

It took a while but finally, I remember several summers in a row when we used to take weekend trips to a nearby lake (a two-hour drive) to camp and water ski. I learned to water ski the first summer and really enjoyed my trips there. It was the drive that wasn’t that pleasant. My uncle drove us in his dark green Pontiac with a dark green interior. I was a short kid about 10 years old, and the seats were set low so that I couldn’t even see out of the windows, side or front. Every single trip I got carsick and had to throw up at least once before we arrived. Once I held on as long as I could but ended up letting it GO in the back seat. My uncle was very unhappy with me and yelled at me to let him know next time. After that, we had to pull over every weekend, sometimes twice, to let me puke.

The Power of Color

Makes Me Sick

The only reason I can couple my aversion together with this ongoing incident is that the sight of that green trashcan, laundry basket, and phone made me feel sick to my stomach. I wanted to puke. When I told my husband the story he was very sympathetic and asked why I never told him about this aversion. The reason: I wasn’t really aware of it myself!

I realize this is all psychological, in my head, and now that I can put it together, I feel much better about it. I may buy something green someday… or not. Why risk never wanting to be near it in case I have to puke?

Color Aversion

Just some of the possible reasons you may have an aversion to one color or another. These are by no means comprehensive and, as in my case, there may be some other underlying reason you hate one color over the others.

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That He May Increase….

Red

According to studies people with an aversion to red and too impulsive, too aggressive, or have a problem with people who show these traits. It can also show some hidden fears and oversensitivity to their own aggressive tendencies.

Orange

People who express an aversion to orange have a fear of their own sexual feelings or suppression of their own sexual enjoyment. They may also have an over-sensual, indulgent or materialistic attitude.

Yellow

A person who has an aversion to yellow may be disappointed and bitter in life or their life circumstances. They may show a tendency to avoid or change relationships often and rationalize their own feelings. They may have only superficial relationships and constantly changing activities.

Green

A person having an aversion to green may show more independence and self-reliance importance than family situations. They may prefer to keep a distance with relationships and even sexual relationships.

Blue

People with aversions to blue may be strongly self-reliant, career minded and disciplined. They may have charted out and planned their own career and life with clear direction.

Violet

According to studies, a person who has an aversion for violet may have serious attitudes about life and spiritual things. They may find it difficult to dream, to have fantasies or spiritual life. They may have a tendency to rejection and reject everything or anything that they deem as unnatural or unrealistic.

Black

An aversion to black may come from a fear of the unknown, or fear of the abuse of power. People with this aversion desire to be free from all kinds of dependency, hindrances, and blockages; to be able to throw off shackles.

Color Theory and Color Therapy

I find colors and color theory very interesting. I’m an artist and I use color every day. I paint, sketch, create, decorate with color all the time. I don’t mind putting green into paintings if the scene calls for it but I would rather not live with it, buy a green car or talk on a green phone.

Color therapists believe that certain colors are soothing to the mentally ill and the sick and healing. Blue has been proven to have a very calming effect and that is one reason why surgical garb has converted to blue. A patient could be very on edge knowing they are going under the knife but tend to be calmer seeing the entire surgical staff in a calm blue. Studies show that a person with a fever will naturally have a reduction of fever when placed in a blue room.

No Aversion to Comments Here

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on February 28, 2021:

Devika Primić,

Color is an interesting subject when you consider that they change our moods. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on February 28, 2021:

Denise you are good at what you do Colors must be chosen with careful thought and your insights about color tells me I should think carefully when painting the inside.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on February 28, 2021:

Anrie James,

It would be interesting to go back and see where that dislike of red came from. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Azizul on February 15, 2020:

best

Anrie James from Johannesburg on February 07, 2020:

This was a very interesting read. You've encouraged me to look deeper at my own color aversions. I used to have a strong dislike of red but now I am beginning to feel more comfortable with it. Perhaps it has something to do with practicing to become more assertive.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on August 27, 2019:

Margaret,

Isn't that interesting? It is very similar to my aversion to that darker green. There might be something long ago that makes you hate that color. They say that smells also trigger certain aversion feelings but I think colors are stronger with me. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Margaret on August 27, 2019:

I don't like lime green, I'm ok with other shades of green. My friend turned up in a solid lime green dress and it repulsed me I don't know why my reaction was so strong

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on October 26, 2018:

TB,

I'm with you on that. I believe I dream in colors also. I see whole landscapes and paintings in my dreams and later I'm able to paint them. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

TB on October 26, 2018:

Don't like gray and purple, I literally get nocuous from these colors. But it is not correct that I can not fantasize or dream. I do both a lot.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on January 28, 2018:

MizBejabbers,

Aren't all women a puzzle? Haha. But I don't think you are strange at all. I think we are drawn to certain colors naturally. When my family moved into our first new home when I was a child, my mother simply abhorred the colors on the walls. I think the previous owner had found a sale on paint and painted it all, every room the same color of mustard yellow. My mother thought it looked like baby poop and so it did. She couldn't wait to change the colors. When finally she did the living room all in lavenders. The walls, the couch, the drapes, everything. I think it was a bit of an over kill in lavender to be honest. A nice splash of a contrasting color might have been nice. But I was a kid and who listens to kids? Unfortunately I've never had the last say on painting the walls where I've lived and so I've had to deal with creams and white. Oh well. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Doris James MizBejabbers from Beautiful South on January 27, 2018:

Glad I saw this article, Denise. I don't like most shades of green either. I discovered this many years ago when my husband and I first moved into an apartment with green walls. But I think it was the yucky shades of green paint available back then (1960s). Today I like some the shades of sages and limes that are available. People in my mother's day were told that women who wore red were "cheap", and my mother refused to wear red until her dying day. It's my favorite color, and once I painted my dining room a dark red. I also love lavender, so does that make me an enigma?

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on October 08, 2015:

Chantelle Porter,

I'm so glad you enjoyed the color question. It's funny how we respond to different colors as stimulus. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Chantelle Porter from Ann Arbor on October 08, 2015:

I really don't like yellow but I don't think I'm a bitter person. Maybe I'm kidding myself? Ha ha. Black is my favorite color so maybe so. This was a very interesting article. I really enjoyed it.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on September 13, 2015:

Sharlee01,

Thank you very much. I really don't think of myself as having writing skills at all. I know how to put one word in front of another but I'm not really talented at it. However, I love art and color and craft, so that's what I like to try to communicate. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Sharlee on September 13, 2015:

Interesting from start to finish. You have a wonderful way of keeping a subject fascinating. Wonderful writing skills are apparent.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on August 14, 2015:

Jill,

Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it. I'm addicted to color... except maybe green and even that has its place. I really feel for people like my brother who are colorblind. He can't see red and green. What a poorer world we would have without color, don't you think? Thanks for visiting and commenting

Blessings,

Denise

Jill Spencer from United States on August 14, 2015:

This is a fascinating subject! I'd like to read more about it. Shared & voted up. All the best, Jill

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 05, 2015:

kalinin1158,

You make a very good point. I'm not sure why I was thinking of grey fur on puppies or some tree trunks around here that have a more grey hue than brown or green... not to mention cars. You know how they are... they call it "silver" but it's really grey with sparkles in it. Far from silver in my minds. It's all a matter of perception, isn't it?

Blessings,

Denise

Lana Adler from California on June 05, 2015:

I suppose brown is earthy but grey to me is the color of concrete and sunless sky - two things I don't particularly enjoy.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 05, 2015:

kalinin1158,

So you are not really into earthy things? Brown and grey are very earthy, color of dirt and tree trunks etc. Nothing wrong with that. Although I don't think I'd like a brown car... seems too much like rolling mud....

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 05, 2015:

poetryman6969,

Me TOO, poetry man, ME TOO!

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 04, 2015:

Dolores Monet,

Thanks so much for your comments. I went looking for the worst colors of rooms and phones I could find. Glad it worked for you. lol.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 04, 2015:

heidithorne,

It is so true that not all greens are created equal. I actually like the yellow-green lime shades. The color of the car that I got sick in was a dark blue green. My dad had a very close friend who was color blind. He could only see that one shade of blue green. All others were shades of grey to him. When he bought cars and trucks they were that one shade of green. Unfortunately, he often sold my dad his used trucks and cars... all that shade of green. Ick. My sisters and I got to where we called it Clancy-Green, after my dad's friend. I hated those truck colors.

Blessings,

Denise

Lana Adler from California on June 04, 2015:

I love colors :) I can't really pick a favorite one but I particularly like lavender, turquoise and red. Even picking a fav-3 was hard! I'd like to add yellow, orange and green to that list. So I'm probably averse to...brown and grey? They are the least colorful of colors. Great hub, voted up!

poetryman6969 on June 04, 2015:

A green phone in a green room would give me the willies.

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on June 04, 2015:

When I saw the first pictures on here, I thought, sheesh no wonder she don't like green. Those greens were hideous ! So awful they made me laugh. But the story of your association with the car was so interesting. Though I love green I couldn't live with those shades either.

Heidi Thorne from Chicago Area on June 04, 2015:

And I'm just the opposite... I LOVE green, but not all greens (usually prefer the yellowish tones of it).

Color theory is so fascinating. Thanks for the great info. Voted up, interesting and sharing!

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 03, 2015:

Mel Carriere,

Thank you for your concern. lol. My husband and I did talk it over in length and he understands. He did beg my indulgence if HE wanted to wear green and I'm okay with that. Funny thing is that after 30 years he really doesn't want to wear green... probably because he likes me to come near him now and then... haha.

Blessings,

Denise

Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on June 02, 2015:

Outstanding hub topic. One time I wore a bright red shirt to the San Diego zoo, and no kidding I was getting angry looks from a lot of the animals. The lions in particular were eyeing me angrily, which was somewhat disconcerting. I don't wear red to the zoo anymore.

In spite of that I am fond of all the colors, green in particular. Green is actually my favorite color. My eyes are green. I like nothing better than good old tree hugger green. I've been trying hard to think of one, but I actually can't identify one color in particular that repulses me.

I hope your dear husband finally figured out not to bring home green things. Great hub!

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 02, 2015:

Lee,

I can see how that could be a real turn off to the color yellow. Thanks for sharing and commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on June 02, 2015:

Chriswillman90,

Thank you for the interest and comment. I appreciate that some people may not have any aversion to colors. That's a great thing if possible.

Blessings,

Denise

Lee Cloak on June 02, 2015:

Great article, I do have a big aversion to yellow, when I bought my house everything was yellow inside and out even some of the ceilings, since then I just avoid using yellow paint, thanks for the education, voted up , Lee

Krzysztof Willman from Parlin, New Jersey on June 02, 2015:

Interesting concept with a fascinating background story. I can't think of any colors I avoid, but I have a preference for darker colors besides blue, which is my favorite. Nice hub and captivating.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 29, 2015:

Dana Tate,

I'm so very glad for you that you feel happier now than you did. I find that on top of preferring colors, they can also change your mood. When I'm having a dark day I go to the closet and look for my black tops but if I make myself wear something light and cheery, like pink or blue, I actually feel better the rest of the day. Now isn't that interesting? Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Dana Tate from LOS ANGELES on May 29, 2015:

Interesting article. You know, I don't know if I have any color aversions and quite frankly green happens to be my favorite color. I have noticed that when I was younger I tended to be drawn to dark colors. Now that I'm older I love light colors such as white and sky blue ect; I have diagnosed myself and came to the conclusion that when I was younger I was unhappy a lot and depressed trying to find my way. Now I feel more happier and free.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 25, 2015:

social thoughts,

So true, I'm sure I would have felt sick in your car. LOL. I'm so glad you enjoyed my rant on color. I love color... as an artist I should... and my brother is color blind... something that reminds me every day to enjoy what many people cannot... color.

Blessings,

Denise

social thoughts from New York on May 25, 2015:

I love talking about color. :) Reading this was a pleasure! I found your comments on green to be very interesting. I don't mind green, but the phone was pretty funny! Come to think of it, my first car was dark green, so it wasn't so bad, but it may have been for you! ;)

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 22, 2015:

FlourishAnyway,

Wow, I never heard of that before. I'm so sorry. I can only imagine because red is everywhere, stop signs and lights, grocery store shelves are filled with it because advertisers believe it attracts the attention of the buyer best. That would make even shopping painful. How horrible. I believe we get exhausted grocery shopping not because it is strenuous but because it is color overload to shop... and that's without any sensitivity to red. I hope you are feeling better now.

Blessings,

Denise

Elaina Baker from USA on May 21, 2015:

I love how the pop up ads on this one are connected to mental disorders!

When I temporarily lost my sight in one eye due to MS over 10 years ago, I went through a phase of black and white only vision, then complete darkness in one eye. Then as the sight returned I had a horrible aversion to the color red. It was painful to look at and of course it was Christmastime which made it so much worse. The physical aversion of the color lasted 6-12 months. but the psychological after effects much longer. I am very wary of that painful color which formerly had been my favorite, the eye specialist told me it's a rare neurological eye condition in my case.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 21, 2015:

Theresa Jonathan,

You are very welcome. I hope you can get to the bottom of the disturbance. I know you will feel better once you do. Thanks for commenting.

Blessings,

Denise

Theresa Jonathan from Maseru, Lesotho on May 21, 2015:

I avoid such places by all means. I also noticed that grey color also disturb my mind and feelings. Frankly, this is one subject I am clueless about and need to study. Thank you again for raising this awareness; it is an intriguing subject indeed!

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 21, 2015:

MsDora,

Wonderful, I was hoping that would happen. The study of color is fascinating and who knew it could evoke such emotional responses? Well, apparently the ancient Egyptians among others did... I think we should renew our interest.

Blessings,

Denise

Rachel L Alba from Every Day Cooking and Baking on May 21, 2015:

LOL I guess not.!

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on May 20, 2015:

Interesting insights on color. The color which is making you sick is the very color I love to have around me, though not necessarily on me. You have piqued my interest in the study of color and human responses.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 20, 2015:

Rachel L Alba,

I'm sure it is partly a matter of taste. But getting sick regularly in a green car didn't help matters any. Haha.

Blessings,

Denise

Rachel L Alba from Every Day Cooking and Baking on May 20, 2015:

Hi Denise, Maybe it's just a matter of taste; like some people love spinach, like my daughter; and I can't even stand the smell of it or the looks of it. Maybe you just simply don't like green... This was an interesting hub.

Blessings to you.

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 20, 2015:

Theresa Jonathan,

Are you better now? Do you know the underlying reason that color hit you that way? It can be quite a shock when you are face to face with a subconscious memory/feeling like that.

Blessings,

Denise

Denise McGill (author) from Fresno CA on May 20, 2015:

Marie Flint,

You are absolutely right. It wasn't the color of the car but the motion, the fact that I couldn't see out the windows and the hot day. But somehow I childishly, unconsciously associated that car with that feeling, probably because that was the only time I rode in his car... to go on those long trips. It was so totally unconscious that decades later I wasn't even aware of the reason I didn't like that color at all. Interesting. You are right about meditation and healing powers of color. In fact I feel much better about it even knowing what the problem was in my own mind and memory.

As an artist, I totally love color and paint with all of them freely, I just don't think I want to decorate, live with, or wear that particular shade of green.

Thanks for the comment and helpful suggestions.

Blessings,

Denise

Theresa Jonathan from Maseru, Lesotho on May 20, 2015:

Very interesting Hub. When I discovered these strange feeling about twenty years ago I felt silly, but I knew that the feeling was real. I entered an office painted with burgundy paint; it knocked the breath out of me. I panicked and rushed out. Yes, we are strange in many ways!

Marie Flint from Jacksonville, FL USA on May 20, 2015:

This is a very nice article here, Denise. Color aversion is an interesting topic.

I question, though, whether it was actually the color of your uncle's car that made you sick. More likely stuffiness, warm weather, and a long, long ride did you in--then you associated those things with the color, but the color wasn't the problem at first.

In my spiritual studies, causal colors are recommended: bright yellow, emerald green (very different from the green pictured on the car), royal blue, pink and shades of rose, purple (with gold), violet and white, which symbolizes purity and innocence.