What is fear of needles? Causes and treatments

Aichmophobia or Belonephobia is known in medicine as a phobia of needles and similar sharp objects. There is also an extreme fear of medical procedures involving injections. Here, let's find out more detailed information with SignsSymptomsList through the article below.

The fear of needles is one of the reasons why many people tend to avoid vaccinations, intravenous fluids, blood collection, and intravenous drugs. However, this syndrome can be controlled with psychotherapy in medicine.

What is needle phobia?

The fear of needles is also known as Trypanophobia or Belonephobia. People with this syndrome will have intense, irrational fears about needles. Because that fear is so great, it has led to cases of patients refusing to receive vaccinations, anesthesia or intravenous fluids and opting for oral medications.

The fear of needles is accompanied by some fears about medical procedures such as fear of blood, hospitals, surgery, and taking drugs. In addition, people with fear of sharp objects (Aichmophobia) can develop fear of needles (Trypanophobia). However, people who are afraid of needles are not necessarily afraid of sharp objects such as scissors, knives, pens, etc.

In 1994 in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ), needle phobia was recognized by him as a phobia. Statistics show that about 16% of the US population faces a fear of needles and 7% of cases refuse to be vaccinated because of fear.

Needle phobia needs to be treated promptly because of its long-term effects on human health. In some cases, this fear can be relieved as you grow up, but doctors recommend treatment because young children need vaccinations and medical intervention when needed.

The syndrome has intense, irrational fears about needles

Causes of needle phobia

Currently, experts have not yet determined the specific cause of phobias and needles. However, a number of factors have been identified to contribute to the identification of excessive fears and phobias about this syndrome:

• Genetics: Fear of needles and fear of blood are closely related to genetic factors. However, according to experts, this syndrome has little to do with biological genetics, but mainly because children learn according to the reactions of parents and relatives. Therefore, if family members suffer from needle phobia, children will also be phobia and fear when they see needles.
• Past events: An irrational fear may be related to events you have experienced in the past such as needle allergy, experiencing a broken needle, etc. Excessive sensitivity to needles leads to extreme fears and phobias.
• Evolution: Sharp objects can cause bleeding, scratches. Therefore, the genetic variation in some people will be able to perceive danger from needles.
• Hypersensitivity to pain: Pain tolerance will vary from person to person and some people are hypersensitive. Those who encounter this condition, are at high risk of having needle phobia, fear of surgery.
• Vagus reflex: This is the most common cause of fainting. Because when you see blood, needles, this reaction begins to be activated. The body will dilate blood vessels leading to low blood pressure or slow heart rate.
• Some other factors: The fear of needles is also related to a number of other factors such as pessimism, anxiety, negativity and over-sensitivity, etc.

Fear of needles can be caused by genetic factors

Manifestations of fear of needles

People with needle phobia will have some of the following symptoms:

• Rarely mention needles or medical procedures.
• Always feel scared, nervous when someone mentions needles.
• Feeling panic and anxiety when thinking about having to vaccinate, draw blood, ...
• Try to avoid situations involving needles such as vaccinations, taking oral medications instead of injections, etc.
• Some people are even afraid to go to hospitals and clinics for fear of seeing needles.

The patient shows signs of trying to dodge every time he injects or takes blood

How to treat the fear of needles?

Needle phobia is treated in the same way as other phobias. In which, psychotherapy and drugs are considered as the main supportive measures. Specifically:

Psychotherapy

This is the most optimal method for people suffering from phobias and anxiety disorders. Therapy helps patients reduce irrational fear and normalize every blood draw, vaccination. In addition, this method can also relieve the mind, build good habits, and at the same time reinforce a more correct perception of needles.

Using drugs

If the patient is too panic, afraid about needles, the doctor will consider taking medicine. In addition, medication is also one of the optimal supportive therapies to help improve  depression or anxiety disorders.

Some medications for people with needle phobia are: tranquilizers, antidepressants, beta-blockers.

Recently, detailed information about needle phobia was compiled and evaluated by SignsSymptomsList. Hopefully through the above article can help you better understand this situation as well as find the most effective method to improve it.