Trypanophobia: the fear of needles (which you can solve with the help of a psychologist) – Online Psychologists

There are many fears that exist: fear of driving, fear of heights, fear of the future… Today we are going to explain the fear of needles, also known as trypanophobia.

Trypanophobia or fear of needles is a very common phobia, which also has other names, such as belonephobia. So much so that some authors are more specific and call it belonephobia is the fear of needles and trypanophobia to the fear of the injections.

However, Today we will explain the concept of trypanophobia referring to both the phobia of needles as injections.

Therefore, trypanophobia or fear of needles is defined as a type of specific phobia (an anxiety disorder). This phobia is characterized by the involvement of a excessive, intense and irrational fear of needles and injections.

It is true that improper use of needles can cause harm, which is why fear can be unleashed, however, the reaction offered in this type of phobia (in all specific phobias) is disproportionate and exaggerated.

This fear of needles It produces a high level of discomfort to the person who suffers from it, even causing incapacity in his or her daily life.

By phobic stimulus It is understood that that which causes anxiety or intense fearreferring to specific phobias. In this case, trypanophobia, the fear is extrapolated to the needlesbut also to the syringes or the possibility of receiving a vaccineIn the most extreme cases, one may even become afraid of things related to needles or syringes, such as surgical equipment, stretchers, the hospital, etc.

When talking about the symptoms of trypanophobia, the most common reactions are:

As for symptoms, the following can be grouped and distinguished:

They may appear with the just thinking about needleswhen are displayed or touchedin the visits to specialists who use this tool, etc. In short, the symptoms are noticeable when a situation (whether in real life or in our own imagination) needle related.

It depends on the level of phobia. Symptoms may or may not appear in certain situations. depending on the intensity of fearIt does not affect everyone equally, so the reaction can occur with contact with the needle or with just thinking about it.

There are many causes that can trigger this fear. One of the most common reasons is a traumatic experience which maintains a connection with the needles. In this case, a type of associative learning in which our mind automatically relates a stimulus with a negative response.

In this associative learning, the figure of the American psychologist John Watson stands out, who, in the 1920s, provoked intentionally that a child had a phobia of white rats.

However, this is not the only cause. Like any phobia, it can also have a vicarious conditioningThat is, observing how a family member suffers from this phobia and acquiring it instinctively.

The last cause lies in the consideration by some authors that Humans are biologically programmed to develop certain types of phobias.especially those that allowed our ancestors to survive.

Based on this theory, it is considered that we develop certain phobias in order to manifest the fight or flight responseIn this sense, it should be noted that fears are latent in very primitive areas of the brain.

Yes, there is treatment. From Clinical Psychology, as indicated in the Guide to effective psychological treatments, are developed two treatments par excellence when treating specific phobias. These are: Exposure therapy and cognitive therapy.

This treatment consists of expose the patient to the phobic stimulus through a series of items that follow one another progressivelyThis progression from less to more -hierarchy- is carried out by the therapist together with the patient.

Since in this case the phobic stimulus is needles, the treatment would consist of exposing the person to this object. First with mere thought, then through images and videos and, finally, direct contact with them to achieve, as the ultimate goal, to carry out a injection. The ultimate goal is for this situation to take place without the appearance of anxiety and fear.

Cognitive therapy consists of cognitive restructuringthat is, the modifying irrational thoughts that the patient has in relation to the phobia. It involves changing, replacing and eliminating negative thoughts, such as, for example, “He is going to hurt me” with more realistic and functional ones.

As we have pointed out at the beginning of the article, there are countless phobias that exist. In this case, the fear of needles is closely related with others like the hematophobia -fear of blood- or aichmophobia -fear of sharp objectsIt is common that, if one suffers from trypanophobia, these fears appear by association.

In the case of hematophobia or aichmophobia, the psychological treatments used are the same as in trypanophobia, but adapted to the specific phobic stimulus.

Finally, although we have pointed out cognitive therapy and exposure therapy as treatments for this phobia, There are other methods that can help combat phobias, such as psychoeducation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulnessetc.

At , we recommend that if you suffer from this phobia, you go to a professional who will guide and advise you throughout the treatment process.