Hematophobia is a common specific phobia defined by fear of blood. This disorder gives rise to anxious reactions which can cause unconsciousness at the sight of blood. Hematophobia can complicate the practical, social and psychological life of those who suffer from it. But many therapies, such as hypnosis, today make it possible to treat hematophobia by dissociating the notion of blood from the notion of fear.

Definition of hematophobia

Hematophobia is a specific phobia defined by fear of blood. According to the World Health Organization, hematophobia is the third most common phobia in humans, after those of animals and vacuum. Like needle phobia, hematophobia is classified in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in the sub-category of “injury – blood – injection” phobias.

Depending on the degree of the phobia, hematophobes are more or less affected. In a hospital environment where the notion of pathologies, injuries, blood can predominate, or near a sharp object or needles, the hematophobe can trigger an anxiety attack by simple anticipation. Viewing blood through a screen can trigger symptoms in some hematophobes.

Hematophobia can in fact cause avoidance of modern medicine. It can therefore complicate the practical, social and psychological life of those who suffer from it.

Types of hematophobia

There is only one type of hematophobia. On the other hand, it is more or less marked from one person to another.

Causes of hematophobia

Three main causes forge hematophobia:

• A childhood trauma. Everyone is more or less afraid of seeing their own blood flow. The situation worsens when the person witnessed in his childhood a trauma associated with blood like a fall, an injury, a painful blood test, etc. The trauma can be experienced by the child directly or through those around him. Losing a loved one, witnessing an accident… are all striking elements associated with blood which gradually forge this hematophobia;
• The fear of death. Blood is both a symbol of life and death. In the body, there is vitality, the sap of life which nourishes our tissues and our organs. But when it escapes – through an injury or other – it degrades this vitality. This ambivalence of blood is seriously taken into account in philosophy, to the point of being the second main cause of hematophobia;
• Social taboos. In the past, blood was often associated with sacrifices and rituals. This is no longer the case in the West today. Man no longer sees so much blood with his own eyes. It is seen more through screens – television, computer, smartphone etc. Man is no longer used to seeing real blood, the emotion towards it is deported, it has become somewhat virtual.

A hereditary component is nevertheless to be taken into account in hematophobes.

Diagnosis of hematophobia

Hematophobia can be complex to diagnose depending on the situation because of the difficulty in discerning the real fear of the patient. However, if a person passes out in the presence of blood, the diagnosis will quickly lean towards hematophobia.

The description of the person’s daily attitude can lead to a diagnosis of hematophobia. Indeed, the hematophobe tends to:

• Be careful not to hurt yourself;
• Avoid taking / transfusions of blood;
• Avoid sharp objects;
• And many more

The first diagnosis, made by an attending physician via the description of the problem experienced by the patient himself, will or will not justify the implementation of therapy.

People affected by hematophobia

Hematophobia often develops during childhood or adolescence and the latest research shows that it affects women more often than men.

One in ten people have a specific phobia, that is to say a fear related to an object or a situation – like animals, blood, a natural element like lightning or being in a narrow space, a dense crowd, in an airplane, etc.

Factors promoting hematophobia

If hematophobia can have a genetic component and therefore hereditary which would explain a predisposition to this type of anxiety disorder. But that is not enough to explain their occurrence.

Avoidance behaviors

The hematophobe will tend to put in place avoidance mechanisms so as to avoid the sight of blood.

Anxious reaction

The sight of blood, or even its mere anticipation, may be enough to trigger an anxious reaction in hematophobes.

Vagal discomfort

Hematophobia can cause you to lose consciousness for a few minutes at the sight of blood. Vagal discomfort occurs in eight out of ten cases.

Other symptoms

• Decreased heart rate;
• Stomach aches ;
• Dizziness;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Tremors;
• Asthenia (physical fatigue);
• Pallor;
• And many more

Different therapies, associated with relaxation techniques, make it possible to search for the cause of hematophobia, if it exists, then to deconstruct the fear of blood by gradually confronting it:

• Psychotherapy;
• Psychoanalysis;
• Cognitive and behavioral therapies;
• Hypnosis. She tries to identify the origin of the phobia to then neutralize the false belief that has integrated the subconscious by linking blood and fear. Indeed, once the patient realizes that a fear is unreal, he regains control over it. Direct consequence: the anxiety decreases, then disappears completely. This result can be obtained in a few sessions depending on the case;
• Cyber ​​therapy, which allows the patient to be gradually exposed to situations of vacuum in virtual reality;
• The Emotional Management Technique (EFT). This technique combines psychotherapy with acupressure – finger pressure. It stimulates specific points on the body with the aim of releasing tensions and emotions. The aim is to dissociate the trauma – here linked to blood – from the discomfort felt, from fear;
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or desensitization and reprocessing by eye movements;
• Mindfulness meditation.

Pharmacological treatments do not have any real efficacy in countering hematophobia apart from a very limited and punctual action.

Difficult to prevent hematophobia. On the other hand, once the symptoms have eased or disappeared, the prevention of a relapse can be done using relaxation techniques:

• Breathing techniques;
• Sophrology;
• Yoga.

In addition, it is possible to avoid vagal discomfort by adopting a squatting position with the legs crossed, muscles tense. Called a squat, this position helps maintain normal blood pressure and therefore correct heart rate and blood flow to the brain.