Hemophobia: Description, Causes and Treatment

Human blood carries a great meaning, without it human life is impossible. The main component of the body is hidden from prying eyes and can only be seen in extreme cases - when there are any troubles. Most likely, therefore, among people there are those who are afraid of the sight of blood before the panic.

People experiencing fear of the sight of bloodare called hemophobes. Two words: hemophobia and hematophobia translated from Greek as “the fear of blood” (αἷμα - “blood” and φβος - “fear”). This pathology belongs to the obsessive states.

Historians say that Nicholas II experienced hemophobia due to the fact that his heir Alexei was sick with hemophilia (bleeding disorders). The boy had severe bleeding, and this horrified all family members for many reasons.

It is for the same reasons that people in most cases experience a fear of blood. Fear causes her appearance, since all people understand that the main component of the human body just does not appear on the body. It is the result of an injury, a cut or a very bad wound. And the realization that this situation threatens the loss of health and even life, clearly leads to, if not to panic, then to very great fear.

Therefore, people are often afraid when they take blood from a vein. Not because it hurts, but because it is unpleasant. Own blood can cause panic fear only for the reason that it is own. That is why people are afraid to be tested and donated.

People have always been afraid of the sight of blood. This fear comes from time immemorial. Even then, a person learned a lesson well: if blood began to flow, it means that a critical moment had come that could provoke death.

Hemophobia arises from nowhere, but why it arises is another question. There are several causes of irrational fear.

• Due to the fact that the parent or both parents suffered from phobic disorders. Such a predisposition appears as a result of a genetic factor, and the probability of transmitting an obsessive state is 25%.

This statement was proved by scientists in the course of numerous studies. They also proved that a phobia in most cases manifests itself in the following periods of human life: puberty, midlife crisis, late maturity, and in women also during menopause. Children can be transferred from parents a certain response to stress, worldview, level of impressionability, anxiety, feeling of fear. If adults in the house are afraid of the type of blood, then the baby will start to adopt this condition and grow hemophobia.

• Social media factors can be a cause. Particularly susceptible to obsessive states are those individuals who quickly perceive any stress, experience strong emotions (mostly negative). If a suspicious person gets a severe wound, he will remember the negative point for a long time and the bleeding associated with it.

• Biochemical predisposition is only a hypothesis. However, she says that the phobia occurs as a result of excessive production of hormones or serotonin, or melanin, or adrenaline. At the sight of blood, adrenaline can be released, and this will entail the development of an obsessive state for many reasons.

And to this group of predispositions can be attributed to various dependencies: alcohol, narcotic, smoking. Substances entering the body due to bad habits, suppress the production of the necessary hormones. And it contributes to the development of mental disorders.

• Even the appearance of phobias contributes to excessive activity, because of what occurs the overworkability of the body. And if at this point a person sees severe bleeding, his reaction may be unpredictable.

• Too much information can trigger fear. For example, when a person has studied a large amount of materials related to the fact that most serious and incurable diseases are transmitted through blood. First of all, it is an infection with AIDS. After the impressionable individual learns that this disease can be infected through blood transfusions or through a used syringe, he will begin to fear someone else's blood.

• Hemophobia is particularly susceptible of the fair sex. Due to the fact that women often have bleeding associated with gynecological problems, they begin to experience irrational fear. And if medical assistance was rendered poorly, then this disorder takes on a persistent character.

• People who got into a car accident may also experience phobic disorders. It all depends on how much blood a person lost after the tragedy. And if his life hung in the balance because of the severe loss of blood, then psychological disorders can turn into a full-fledged disease.

• Watching horror movies with a bloody plot, an impressionable person can get phobic disorder.

• One condition is fixed in the consciousness: complete loss of blood is death. Through an open wound, an infection can enter the blood vessels and cause pain, temperature and death. Therefore it is necessary to take urgent measures to eliminate the infection. And if the necessary antiseptics were not at hand, and the infection penetrated into the wound, then a person faces either an amputation of the limb or a long-term antibiotic treatment. After such a case, the victim himself and his close people will always be afraid of injury and blood.

• Blood fever may be caused by a person being in a sect.

• Rituals of black magic may also cause fear of blood.

In all cases, hemophobia occurs when a person has a certain predisposition because of his temperament. Therefore, not all people are susceptible to hemophobia. Some may simply experience a hostile attitude that passes quickly. And in others, the condition starts to become obsessive, for this reason it is necessary to carry out treatment.

An individual suffering from hemophobia, even at the thought that he may suddenly have bleeding, will start to panic. And such thoughts “wind up” excited consciousness. The psychological background is deteriorating. Pictures are getting worse and worse.

And if at this moment from the overstrain of the nervous system in humans, nose bleeding occurs, then it can reach a very negative state. At such times, hemophobia triggers processes that affect the release of a large amount of adrenaline. And with this release the body can not cope. As a result of a panic attack, the following symptoms occur:

• spasmodic pressure (either increases or decreases strongly);
• the occurrence of severe arrhythmias;
• intermittent breathing;
• feeling dizzy and headache;
• dry mouth appears;
• nausea and even vomiting occurs;
• there is heavy sweating;
• consciousness becomes confused;
• vision deteriorates (may divide in the eyes);
• speech becomes incoherent, and great anxiety causes apprehension;
• Inadequate attitude to what is happening should also alert.

Any phobia is always associated with a certain factor. Like all normal fears, hemophobia has its own significance, as it refers to a sense of self-preservation. And without this feeling, human existence is impossible.

There are two types of fear: normal (reaction, which belongs to the category of natural) and pathological (irrational fear). The latter kind of fear (pathological) is a complex interweaving of various feelings. And therefore is quite problematic. So, you must first find out what caused the phobic disorder, that is, to find out the cause of its development.

Internal conflicts arise due to the fact that in childhood an individual had such situations that contributed to the development of a negative attitude towards himself and to life in general. Perhaps it was the children's problems that appeared due to the fault of adults. For example, parents could attach their son to work on the farm, which was to slaughter animals for meat.

Or maybe the mother and father could not give the child some protection from the outside world or, on the contrary, took too much care of him. Having identified the cause of this behavior, obsessive states should be eliminated in time. You can seek help from a psychologist, or you can simply use the general advice of experts.

• Do not allow unnecessary emotions and let fear into the consciousness. First of all, get rid of bashfulness. Superfluous experiences will only increase your fear. For example, if you have a blood sample taken from a vein, then you should not focus on how ashamed you will be if you faint. On the contrary, it is necessary to focus on this manipulation.

At this point, by and large, nothing bad happens. So, you just need to make sure that the nurse turned out to be a professional in her field and not cause you any pain.

• Have patience. Getting rid of phobias is often not a quick task. In order to become completely healthy, you will have to work hard and recycle your negative emotions. Take it easy. Always hope for a positive outcome.

If at the sight of blood you feel bad, do not despair. Work on yourself, look fear in the eyes.

• Imagine yourself a man who is not afraid of anything. Enter this image, and when you become scared, think more about your image than about what you are afraid of.

• Do not focus on thoughts of trouble (eg, nosebleed). Do not project what is likely to happen to you. Why bother to disturb your mind? Live here and now, then you will feel the taste of life and you will think less about the bad.

• Remember: human life consists of good and bad moments. And if a trouble has happened to you (you or your loved one have been injured), then do not dwell on it. The bleeding will stop, they will help you, they will give you a shot from tetanus and so on. Consequences will not complicate your life, will not affect health negatively.

• If you are afraid of blood from childhood, then start shaming yourself. You can not think and behave like a child when you have reached a very respectable age. These thoughts will set you up in the right way.

• If you are experiencing a fear that is directed towards the future, then try to think only about pressing problems. Consciousness paints a picture: you had an accident and you are bleeding from a wound on your head. She floods her eyes and so on. Enough, stop this picture - it is in your power. Just say stop and imagine a white square.

So you "clean" your mind. Now try to redirect your rich imagination to the positive. Remember how beautiful the sea is in summer and you will definitely go on vacation. And then on the rise: swimming in salt water, sun, sand, etc.

Hemophobia is a rather complicated condition, so it is very difficult to get rid of it. Only a strong personality can overcome his fear without asking for help from specialists. When the state of phobia causes strong fears, since it is not amenable to correction, you need to contact a psychotherapist.

He will prescribe medication, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. With the help of desensitization, the therapist projects the development of events so that the patient gradually becomes accustomed to the sight of blood. First, an artificial substance is taken for this, and then it is replaced by a trip to the treatment room, where there are tubes with blood. Hemophobic begins to realize that the type of blood can pose no danger. And then comes the next correction stagewhich depends on the degree of development of the phobia.

If a phobia has acquired deeper roots, then at the same time as other methods, the doctor usually prescribes medications: benzopropylene, beta-blockers (they reduce excessive stimulation of emotions). Naturally, the reception of such pharmaceuticals should take place under the supervision of a specialist.

Simultaneously with other techniques, it is necessary to undergo a course of physiotherapy, which includes massage, wave radiation therapy. This reduces anxiety and increases the overall tone of the body. Do not give up water treatments that contribute to the general relaxation of muscles.

Relaxation and sports are considered to be deliberate replacements of negative emotions with positive ones. And if you decide to act independently and, most importantly, consciously, then move in a certain pattern.

• Find someone who will always support you. This may be someone from close. Let him be near when you have to donate blood for analysis.
• Do not believe in a bad outcome, but only believe in a better future. You deserve it, and it will come true.
• Listen to your well-being and consciousness. If you feel good now, why should tomorrow be different? There is no reason for this.
• Do not think about the root cause of your irrational fear. Well, there was an accident with you that doesn't happen to anyone. It has passed.

If you suddenly have a panic attack, then use emergency help.

• Get mad at the fear. He takes away a part of your life from you and for this is subject to complete destruction.
• Sudden fear can be removed from consciousness by quickly switching attention to an interesting item or your dream. What do you most want? Answer yourselves this question and present your goal in colors.
• When panic attacks helps self-hypnosis. Tell yourself, standing in front of the mirror: "I am no longer afraid of blood."