We all know or have heard of someone who has fear or phobia of needles and injections. Although it may seem painful and annoying to many of us, when it comes to doing an exam or medical process, there are those who suffer from this fear at a higher level and disproportionate. It is one of the most common phobias and is known as trypanophobia or belonephobia. If you are one of those who are terrified of these types of elements, join us in this new Supercurious article that will tell you how to overcome the fear of needles, syringes and injections.
Belonephobia, fear of needles or injections
Before we talk about syringe phobia, let’s see what a phobia is. A phobia, simply put, is a anxiety disorder that arises as a response to a stimulus that is interpreted as a threat, although objectively it is not. So a phobia is a irrational fear against objects or situations that do not present a real danger, but that the person interprets as such.
Now, trypanophobia is the fear of needles, but there are certain authors who also call it belonephobia, emphasizing that the latter refers to the fear of needles or other sharp items.
Instead, trypanophobia is the fear of injections as such. Although at first it may be thought that belonephobia is justifiable, since it effectively faces a stimulus that can hurt, it is still an irrational disorder or fear, since this affects life of those who suffer from it.
Belonephobia affects approximately 10% of the population. It is usually very common in children, but persists in some adults. In general, this phobia is closely related to hemophobia (fear of blood) and traumatophobia (fear of injuries), but they are two different fears.
As we mentioned, belonephobia is not the fear that we can all feel before something that is going to hurt us. It’s a insurmountable terror what makes our pressure is altered so much so that we fainted. Now we will review the symptoms, causes and treatments for belonephobia, so that we can be clear when it comes to a disorder.
1. Symptoms of belonephobia
In needle phobia the same symptoms are presented as in an anxiety disorder. Thus, you know that it is a phobia when, when facing the stimulus, blood pressure and heart rate rise. This, to then plummet, causing several people to pass out and lose consciousness.
Beyond the physical symptoms that we have just mentioned, there are others that are presented emotionally and alter behavior of the affected person. In these cases, adopt a avoidance behaviorso the person will do everything possible to avoid exposing himself to this situation, regardless of whether this affects her directly. For example, a person with belonephobia may refuse medical treatment that he urgently needs (as in the case of diabetics), as long as you don’t expose yourself to needles or injections.
2. Causes of needle phobia
As in any type of phobia, the fear of needles and injections has different causes that are difficult to determine, since these vary according to the particular case of each person. However, it has been found that in most cases one of the parents also suffered from this phobia. In fact, several scientists claim that a large part of phobias are hereditary.
In addition to its genetic origin, Dr. James G. Hamilton, author of a study on belonephobia, belonephobia could be related to human evolution. This obeys the logic that the one who survives is the one who moves away from the objects that injure and kill, such as needles and injections; so this phobia could be a survival response.
Finally, regarding the causes of this phobia, we speak of trauma or negative experiences, whether they are your own or you perceive, that make that person learn that that stimulus is something dangerous or harmful. This is why discovering the cause of a phobia is an arduous task, since it is necessary for a professional to detect the cause that can often go unnoticed.
3. How to overcome the phobia of needles?
The main way on how to overcome the fear of needles is going with a professional. Ideally, this person will have training in psychology, so they will be able to help you determine the cause of your belonephobia and thus define which treatment is best for you. However, there are some tips of the health personnel that we tell you below:
- Talk to the doctor:When you have to give yourself an injection, it is advisable that you first explain to the doctor or ATS that you are going to prick yourself or draw blood that you suffer from belonephobia. It may have you lie down on a table and calm you down. You can also order a topical anesthetic, like the one dentists sometimes use. This will make you feel calmer in the face of pain.
- Go with a music player: It has been claimed that by wearing headphones and listening to your favorite music you can reduce anxiety What causes your fear of needles? Your senses will focus on this stimulus and forget the presence of the injection.
- do breathing exercises: Deep breath and closing your eyes will send a signal to your body to relax, also by not seeing the needle you can focus on something else.
- chew something: Experts suggest chewing on anything, be it candy or gum. Although we do not realize it, this action provides us with an escape route as it is a distraction for our mind. Other distractions that work are recitefor example, the alphabet backwards or pinch your leg with the other hand. The latter, by producing a small pain, distracts us and masks the puncture.
- Avoid stimulants: It is ideal not to consume, at least in the previous 6 hours, substances that alter us such as coffee. The more relaxed we go, the better.
- Go with someone you trust: Another tip is go on a date with someone you trust, a friend or family member, to hold your hand during the procedure. If they are children, they can bring their favorite toy or any object or person that reinforce your sense of security.
Belonephobia on video
So far our approach to what is belonephobia has come, we hope you have found it useful and curious to discover what this disorder is about. If you suffer from the fear of needles, share it with us in the comments and tell us what trick you have to face your fear. We will be happy to read you 😊
Also, so that you continue discovering the strangest phobias in the world, be sure to read our article: celebrity phobias, you’ll love it!
Beyond Belonephobia, other phobias that may interest you
Now that we have concluded our article on the phobia of injections or snakes, we want to leave you with this selection of phobias. Do you have any of them?
- What is sophophobia, fear of studying
- What is crematophobia, the fear of money
- What is turofobia, the fear of cheese.
- What is Eisoptrophobia, the fear of mirrors.
- What is arachnophobia, the fear of spiders.
- What is glossophobia, the fear of speaking in public.
- What is acrophobia, the fear of heights.
- What is haphephobia, the fear of being touched.
- What is decidophobia, the fear of making decisions.
- What is tanotophobia, the fear of death.
- What is aerophobia, the fear of flying by plane.
- What is ophidiophobia, the fear of snakes.
- What is hemophobia, the fear of blood.
- What is clautrophobia, the fear of closed spaces.
- What is coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.