Common Signs and Symptoms of Trypanophobia
Trypanophobia is a fear of hypodermic needles and injections. Children are usually scared because they’re not used to objects penetrating their skin. By the time children grow up, they develop a tolerance for needles.
What Causes Trypanophobia?
Doctors can’t contemplate the reasons why some people develop these phobias and others don’t. Some factors that increase the chances of developing this phobia are:
- Relatives who have the phobia; may suggest a learned behavior from others.
- Childhood fear that developed after the age of 10
- Traumatizing life experiences by a similar object or a situation
- Changes in brain chemistry
- Learning about bad experiences from family and friends
- A sensitive temperament
Certain aspects of needs can trigger this phobia, such as:
- Oversensitivity towards pain can be genetic and trigger anxiety, increased heart rate, blood pressure during medical procedures involving needles and injections.
- Fear of getting restrained is often confused with Trypanophobia since hands or arms are restrained while patients get injected.
- A bad memory, such as a painful blood draw or an injection, can be triggered by hearing or seeing a needle or an injection.
Symptoms of Trypanophobia
Trypanophobia negatively affects a person’s life. These symptoms can be intense and may trigger behavioral changes. Symptoms of this phobia are:
- Fainting
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Elevated heart rate
- Avoiding or neglecting medical assistance
- Dizziness
- High blood pressure
- Feeling violent
Diagnosis
Extreme fear of injections can interfere with your medical treatments. That is why it’s necessary to get the phobia diagnosed and treated by a therapist. Doctors perform a medical exam to rule out any illness, and therapists ask questions related to your health history and talk about your symptoms.
Complications
Trypanophobia can trigger stressful episodes that may cause panic attacks. As a result, people end up avoiding medical procedures that involve needles or injections. It is harmful if you have a time-sensitive medical condition that may require immediate medical assistance.
Treatment
The primary focus of the treatment is to recognize the underlying cause of your phobia. So, the treatment plan may vary patient-to-patient.
Most of the diagnosed patients are recommended psychotherapy as a part of their treatment plan. They could recommend any psychotherapy that could include:
- Exposure Therapy: This part of psychotherapy is similar to cognatic behavioral therapy (CBT) because it also focuses on improving your physical and mental response to your fears of needles. Your therapist will help you address your fears and triggers.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This therapy helps you explore your fear during therapy appointments and teaches techniques to cope with it. These therapy sessions can involve seeing pictures of needles and eventually holding one in your hand, imagining getting injected with a needle.
- Medication: Medication is necessary when a person is stressed out and exhibits non-cooperative behavior to their therapy. Sedatives and antianxiety drugs relax the mind and body to reduce their symptoms.
If you’re looking to get your blood drawn but hesitating due to phobias. You can schedule an appointment with Phlebotomy On Wheels. We provide mobile Laboratory Services Maryland at reasonable rates. You can have all your laboratory work done in the comfort of your home. Visit our website for more information, or contact us now to schedule a visit.