Features of the disorder
The scientific name for fear of needles is trypanophobia. People are often afraid of injections because they hurt, but they still endure them because it is important for recovery.
With a phobia, a person experiences irrational fear; he perceives everything that happens in an exaggerated form. It begins to seem to him that the injection will lead to serious complications, painful shock and other problems. Such fears cannot be rationally explained.
Sometimes a person experiences anxiety not from the injection itself, fear appears at the sight of the needle. It seems to the patient that it will easily break and remain in the body. Impressionable people are susceptible to heightened perception of information. Once they hear about cases of air embolism, they begin to fear that this will happen to them. Trypanophobia is not an innate quality; it can occur at different ages.
The real reason for fear
Fear of mice and rats - what is the name of the phobia?
In fact, few people are afraid of an injection. Some people do not like the consequences of the injection: bruises, bumps, abscesses. Others fear that the needle will break and remain in the body.
People may develop a fear of syringes due to fear of contracting hepatitis or HIV. Using disposable tools does not prevent a person with trypanophobia from experiencing irrational fear.
Fear of needles may be associated with other phobias
In rare cases, a person with pathological fear fears the very moment of skin puncture. If the injection involves intravenous administration of the drug, then the trypanophobe is afraid of air getting in. Embolism can cause death, but for this the air volume must be 150 ml.
Any rational explanation is denied by the trypanophobe. He cannot control pathological fear. Without complete comprehensive treatment, the phobia will interfere with leading a normal lifestyle.
Fear of injections: manifestations of phobia
Russian experts in the field of psychiatry conducted a survey of more than 50 patients with trypanophobia. The survey revealed what exactly causes them fear. Below we present the results of this survey - we list the main objects of fear of injections.
- The effect of piercing body tissue.
The patient is afraid of the possible sensation of pain, piercing of the skin, veins, muscles and other body tissues. He is also afraid that the syringe needle may be dull, and the doctor may be inept, with a “heavy hand,” which will cause long-term pain during the procedure. This explains why people in the post-Soviet space are so afraid of injections. After all, syringes used to be made of glass and were used many times. Frequent sterilization actually made the needles dull and caused pain. Currently, although disposable syringes and needles are used, not all of them are thin enough and of high quality. Ideally, any medical facility should be equipped with syringes and needles from reputable manufacturers that produce the highest quality products. However, in reality this is not always possible to achieve.
- Fear of air getting through the syringe, fear of instant death from this.
People who do not have medical qualifications are not always able to knock air bubbles out of the syringe. Trypanophobes are terrified that air will enter their tissues and cause instant death.
However, they should have known that air ingestion is truly dangerous when it enters the venous system in large quantities. Once in the muscle, a small air bubble will instantly dissolve into the blood and tissues and will not cause any harm to the life and health of the patient. This means that subcutaneous and intramuscular injections do not pose any danger at all. The injection into a vein is given by professional doctors. This is quite difficult for amateurs to do.
- Fear of hematoma or tumor formation at the injection site.
Indeed, if the syringe is not inserted deeply enough, if pre-treatment of the injection site and personal hygiene are not observed, or if an injection is made with a non-sterile syringe, a hemtoma or swelling may form. It is also possible to develop an abscess if the wound becomes infected. A hematoma can form due to incorrect, inept insertion of a syringe, or careless puncture of a vein. However, serious and life-threatening consequences of the injections are unlikely. Of course, in order to avoid the above unpleasant consequences, it is better that the injection is performed by a qualified physician in compliance with all rules and regulations.
- Fear that the syringe needle will touch bone tissue or break, getting stuck in the tissue.
It is important to understand that the injection is usually performed in certain areas of the human body. They were not chosen by chance: it is in these places that touching the bone during the injection is excluded. But a low-quality syringe (for example, a cheap copy from a Chinese manufacturer) can really break. This is why it is important not to skimp on medicines: it is better to buy high-quality syringes and contact only trusted doctors in a good clinic.
- Fear of needles as a consequence or cause of other phobic disorders.
Trypanophobia does not always develop alone. It is often accompanied by other phobic disorders, such as:
- Germaphobia is the fear of viruses and infections.
- Mysophobia is the fear of becoming infected and getting sick.
- Syphilophobia is a phobia of contracting syphilis.
- Speedophobia is the fear of acquiring HIV infection.
- Fear of side effects after vaccination.
Symptoms
Fear of water - as it is scientifically called
Fear of injections can manifest itself in different forms. In severe cases, a person cannot stand pictures and videos of syringes. Just the sight of them makes you feel a panic attack.
Important! Trypanophobia develops gradually and is mild at the initial stage.
The first signs of needle phobia appear before a medical procedure. A person begins to stress himself out, worry and imagine terrible pictures of complications. It is accompanied by intrusive images that only increase anxiety. A panic attack in an adult manifests itself in the form of rapid heartbeat, increased sweating, dizziness, and nausea.
Needle phobia is accompanied by sudden changes in mood. Before the manipulation, the person becomes irritable, aggressive or whiny. Emotions become especially intense when you are in a medical facility.
In the initial form of trypanophobia, the patient experiences temporary difficulties concentrating. He is completely consumed by thoughts about the upcoming injections, this does not allow him to work fully.
In severe cases, the patient experiences a fear of any needles: sewing, medical. He experiences a feeling of panic if he sees scenes with injections in films.
In the hospital, a trypanophobe may lose control of himself and behave inappropriately: screaming, crying, trying to run away, or fainting. His blood pressure will rise sharply, or he will experience asthma attacks.
Fear of injections can be called one of the most dangerous, since not all medications can be replaced by forms that exclude injections.
Fear of injections seriously complicates treatment
Some people may only be afraid of IVs because they involve thick and hollow needles. You have to lie under a drip for a long time, during which time there is a risk of getting an air embolism.
Sometimes a person is afraid that the needle will go right through the vein. In this case, he experiences tremors, sweating increases, and the vein becomes less noticeable.
Treatment of trypanophobia
To overcome the fear of injections, it is not always necessary to consult a psychologist. In a mild form, this disorder can be cured on your own, without resorting to the help of professional psychologists or using antidepressants.
If the disorder is severe, and obsessive thoughts are constant and significantly worsen the quality of life, you should consult a specialist.
In general, drug treatment for trypanophobia comes down to taking mild sedatives and herbal remedies. Following the recommendations below can successfully combat the fear of injections.
- Do not supervise medical personnel during the injection.
- Distract yourself during the injection with something pleasant: listen to music through headphones, watch a funny video, meditate.
- “Wedge with wedge” technique: try to cover the emotion of fear from an injection with other, stronger fears. Watch fascinating videos about real cases of people meeting ghosts, aliens, and how some become victims of predators. Experiencing intense emotions towards more dangerous objects of fear will distract you from your needle phobia. Compared to them, your fear will simply look unworthy of attention.
- Humor and laughter are the best therapy! A good sense of humor and smiling can level out many fears. After all, positive emotions cause an increase in the level of serotonin in the brain, and there is a powerful production of endorphins - the hormones of happiness. High levels of these hormones in the blood significantly reduce anxiety and make a person less sensitive to pain. In an experiment conducted on 30 patients with tryptophobia, it was found that 15 minutes of laughter and positive emotions reduced anxiety by an average of 60%.
- All sorts of “energy” practices also have a beneficial effect on the tryptophobe’s psyche. Acupuncture techniques, relaxing energy massage, yoga, and martial arts significantly reduce general anxiety and help establish a harmonious and positive emotional background.
Using the above methods and taking light sedatives will allow you to recover from the fear of injections and perceive the process absolutely calmly, without emotions.
We really hope that the above techniques will help you overcome your fear of injections. And detailed information about trypanophobia will help you avoid the development of anxiety in you and your loved ones. If you liked the article, please leave a comment or click “repost” at the bottom of the page. We will be happy to help other people fight phobias!
Reasons for appearance
Fear of insects and bugs - what is the name of the phobia?
To successfully treat fear of needles and accompanying phobias, it is necessary to correctly determine the factor that contributed to the emergence of pathological fear.
Important! In some cases, this requires long-term therapy with a psychotherapist.
In a child, trypanophobia may appear after medical procedures. Rude nurses or painful injections contribute to negativity. Some parents actively intimidate their children by threatening to send them to the hospital.
Adults in such a situation talk exaggeratedly about terrible and painful manipulations. As a result, children perceive going to the doctor as a punishment. Due to age, the child perceives threats literally and transfers his fear into adulthood.
Fear of needles appears after complications occur. Neglecting the rules of skin treatment or an unfortunate combination of circumstances leads to the appearance of abscesses or bumps. As a result, a person has to deal with the consequences of injections for a long time.
Due to anemia, each blood draw may be accompanied by unpleasant symptoms. Then the patient begins to fear any such manipulations in advance.
For IVs, thick hollow games are used, which are very unpleasant to insert. After such a course of treatment, a person may develop trypanophobia.
There is also a social reason for the appearance of pathological fear - this is the incompetence of the person who gives the injections. For example, popular injections to maintain beauty are often done by people without medical education. Their manipulations can be rough, painful and dangerous.
Trypanophobia develops against the background of other disorders. Hypochondriacs and suspicious people are more prone to exaggeration than others. For them, ordinary medical manipulation may look like a serious intervention in the body.
In rare cases, pathological fear appears after anaphylactic shock. It is impossible to predict the occurrence of a severe allergic reaction to a medicine. After the first attack, a person begins to be afraid of any injections.
What is the fear of needles called?
The fear of needles and syringes, according to biologists, did not appear out of the blue in many people, and the fear itself is associated precisely with genetic memory. The fear of needles is based on ancient fears of the bites of poisonous snakes, reptiles and insects. Many people suffering from a phobia do not know what the fear of needles is called and, accordingly, do not understand how it can be treated.
The fear of syringes and the insertion of the needle itself has a name - trypanophobia. According to many experts, many people received this fear precisely from childhood, when poor-quality medical care, lack of proper treatment of patients, and doctors’ negligence in their work flourished.
The fear is not as safe as it seems, as the phobia causes people to avoid any treatment that involves injections. Even in a life-threatening situation, a trypanophobe will refuse until the last minute from injections and drawing blood from veins or fingers.
Attention! Trypanophobia should not be confused with iatrophobia, which manifests itself in the form of fear of hospitals, doctors, tests and treatment.
In the post-Soviet space and in Russia, thick metal needles and reusable syringes have been used in medicine for a long time, and therefore almost a quarter of the population suffers from trypanophobia. It is noteworthy that when in countries where disposable syringes with thin needles appeared, the number of people with this fear decreased.
Ways to fight
Trypanophobia is very difficult to get rid of. An integrated approach is required, which consists of medical and psychotherapeutic assistance.
Treatment should begin immediately, especially if fear appears in the child.
As drug therapy, tranquilizers, sedatives, and B vitamins are prescribed. All this helps reduce the level of anxiety, restlessness and restore the normal functioning of the central nervous system.
Important! Medicines, dosages and duration of treatment are prescribed only by the attending physician.
In parallel with drug treatment, psychotherapeutic treatment should be carried out. Together with a specialist, the patient tries to identify the factor that contributed to the appearance of trypanophobia. This is important for proper treatment, since rethinking the traumatic situation will help get rid of the phobia.
Help a child
Parents do not always understand what needs to be done with their child in a given situation. If he complains about something scary, you need to listen carefully. Sometimes acting out scenes with toys, where the baby acts as a doctor, helps.
It is advisable that the therapy be conducted by a child psychologist. Using various projective techniques, he will identify the cause of the appearance of pathological fear. Art therapy, fairytale therapy and sometimes psychodrama are used as treatment.
Parents should create a favorable emotional environment at home. Nothing should irritate the child, frighten him, or cause him to experience mood swings. Be sure to follow a daily routine, since adequate sleep and nutrition ensure the correct functioning of the nervous system.
You should not try to change your child with threats. It is impossible to rationally explain to him how not to be afraid of injections. Aggression from adults will cause even greater negativism.
Self-help techniques
In some cases, a person does not have the opportunity to undergo long-term courses of psychotherapy. Then he can use some tricks that will help him cope with a panic attack.
Regular breathing exercises help reduce anxiety levels
As soon as anxiety begins to take hold of the patient, he needs to begin to breathe deeply and slowly. At this time, it is important to forcibly switch thoughts to something neutral. For example, on declension of irregular English verbs or multiplication of three-digit numbers in the mind.
If panic sets in during an appointment with a doctor, then you should not look at the injection. It's better to turn away or close your face. When placing an IV, you need to distract yourself from what is happening: read a book or list something in your mind.
You can come up with a reward system for completing medical procedures. For example, for each injection you can buy a cake or a cute souvenir. Such rewards help to switch from negative perceptions.
Taking mild sedatives may help, but such a drug should only be prescribed by the attending physician.
It is impossible to say unequivocally how to stop being afraid of injections. Each case requires an individual approach; treatment can take up to several years. Such a phobia can seriously complicate life; a person with it will not go to the doctor. As a result, he will miss the onset of a serious illness. Therefore, it is important to treat trypanophobia right away.
