Aichmophobia, or the fear of needles, is a common phobia that can be caused by trauma or inherited reflex. Treatment options include desensitization therapy, psychiatric drugs, hypnosis, and talk therapy. Patients should inform medical providers of their phobia to make procedures more comfortable.
Aichmophobia is the fear of needles. This very common phobia is also known as trypanophonia, enetophobia or simply needle phobia and affects a very large segment of the population. Some people choose not to seek treatment for their phobia, simply coping when they are exposed to needles for various procedures, while others choose to seek aichmophobia help from a psychological professional. For people who want to beat this phobia, there are a number of treatment options that can be used.
Many phobias arise in response to some kind of trauma and aichmophobia is no exception, but it can also be caused by an inherited reflex. Some people seem to be naturally jittery or jittery around needles, whether or not they’ve been traumatized, and this phobia can also be linked to a fear of restraint or control issues. In other cases, a trauma such as a painful injection or needle accident causes the development of aichmophobia.
Because this phobia is so prevalent, many people view it with acceptance, especially medical professionals, who are very used to dealing with needle phobias. In people who developed aichmophobia in response to trauma, symptoms such as trembling, fainting, shortness of breath, nausea, dry mouth, and sweating may occur when a needle is pulled out. In people with a hereditary reflex, exposure to needles can lead to fainting or severe panic attacks.
Individuals with aichmophobia tend to avoid circumstances in which they will be exposed to needles. This can lead to problems, as people may be reluctant to seek medical treatment because they are afraid of needles that might get used. Finding an understanding doctor can help people cope with mild aichmophobia, especially when this phobia is accompanied by a fear of medical procedures in general. Other patients may prefer to seek treatment so they can take control of their phobia.
Treatment of aichmophobia is usually done with desensitization, a series of therapeutic sessions in which the patient is exposed to needles under the supervision of a psychologist. The intensity of each experience will be increased, until the patient is comfortable with injections and blood draws. Psychiatric drugs can be used to manage severe aichmophobic responses, and patients may also benefit from hypnosis, talk therapy, and other therapeutic treatments.
Patients with aichmophobia should not be afraid to inform medical providers. Doctors and nurses want to be aware of the problem so they can take precautions to make a procedure involving a needle more comfortable for the patient.
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