Contents
Hello, dear readers of the site! Trypanophobia is a pathological fear of injections, needles and syringes. Let’s take a look at the causes, symptoms, and treatments for this fear.
What is it like?
Trypanophobes may refuse any medical intervention that involves the use of syringes.
In some cases, they turn to shamans, healers and other representatives of alternative medicine for help, just to avoid invasive procedures.
This phobia is quite dangerous, since a rare person can boast of such excellent health that he does not get a single injection in his life due to lack of need. And yet, no one has canceled vaccination.
Therefore, unfortunately, individuals with this disorder end up in the hospital already in critical condition. Since they delayed going to the doctor until the last, fearing that he would prescribe droppers and so on.
According to statistics, about 15% of the world’s population is terrified even at the thought that someday you will need to get an injection.
By the way, in more developed countries, for example, in the United States, the figure reaches only 10%, while among residents in the post-Soviet space it is as much as 20%.
This is due to the fact that thick, reusable metal needles were used in the USSR. Accordingly, they caused more pain than the disposable thin ones that America switched to.
Trypanophobes can safely visit doctors, agree to various examinations and treatments. The only condition is the absence of injections.
So everything is not as lost with them as in the case of iatrophobes, who are afraid of any medical workers. And who, under no pretext, can be dragged into the clinic even for a banal examination.
It is most difficult for individuals with diabetes. They are literally dependent on the introduction of insulin into the body, and the fear of needles in this case can lead to coma, or even death, if not received in time. Unfortunately, no alternative treatments have yet been found.
Symptoms
When a person is frightened, a large amount of adrenaline is produced in his body. Accordingly, the pupils dilate, the skin turns pale, due to the fact that the blood “leaves” into the muscles.
After all, the natural reaction at the moment of danger is to run away. Breathing becomes frequent and superficial, a tremor from excess tension may begin. That is, hands, chin and lower lip are shaking, legs are giving way.
To make it easier to run away, the body is freed from excess weight. Therefore, you immediately want to go to the toilet, diarrhea occurs and even in some cases vomiting.
The temperature drops, chills appear, profuse sweating, despite the cold in the room.
The perception of the surrounding reality at such a moment is limited, therefore, trypanophobes are not capable of thinking rationally and giving ideas, words to criticism and logic.
What can I say, a person at the time of experiencing a panic attack sometimes does not notice obvious obstacles. Because of what he gets injured, accidentally injures others, and so on.
For example, he jumps out into the street and gets hit by a car, falls into a hatch, falls down the stairs.
All of the above symptoms occur at the mere mention of using a syringe. Depending on personal characteristics, the intensity of manifestations of panic attacks will vary.
Let’s say one person with this disorder starts to have a heart ache and he gets even more frightened, because he thinks that he will die right now. While the other, less emotional, just sweaty palms, and there will be breathing problems.
Usually, after an attack, when an injection is avoided, or when it has already been done, total fatigue appears.
Still, most of the body’s resources were aimed at trying to survive, to cope with the source of anxiety. Why exhaustion is a completely normal state.
Also, shame and guilt for behavior, reactions to the syringe often make themselves felt. Which also negatively affects the general condition, health.
Because getting rid of these feelings is not easy enough, just like stopping being afraid of injections. In general, in both cases, consultation is necessary, and sometimes in-depth work with a psychotherapist.
Types
By the way, trypanophobes are different from each other. In terms of fears, fantasies, and obsessions about syringes and their use, everyone is different.
- Skin piercing effect. People with this disorder do not want to experience pain and draw a very clear picture in their head of how tissues, muscles, and maybe even organs are damaged if the needle is too large. Up to the point that it reaches the bone and bends because of this.
- The needle will break or become blunt. Which, of course, will cause more intense pain.
- The nurse will be incompetent or with a «heavy hand».
- Air will enter through the syringe, which will provoke painful or instant death.
- There will be an infection with a deadly, dangerous disease. For example, AIDS, hepatitis and so on.
- The formation of hematomas, tumors at the puncture site. Also fearful is the likelihood of developing an abscess when an injection is made in non-sterile conditions or an infection enters the wound.
Causes
Negative experience
The resulting negative experience really contributes to the development of a phobia.
Incorrectly placed dropper, unexpected administration of the drug, especially against the will in childhood. An injection given by an intern, or by a person who does not particularly care about the feelings of patients. A broken needle or the formation of bumps, abscesses — all this makes not only to be wary of such manipulations, but also to really experience panic.
So, once faced with the incompetence of medical staff, negligence or rudeness, a person runs the risk of becoming trypanophobic. Moreover, it is enough for him to be a witness, and not directly a victim of circumstances.
By the way, if someone in the family was seriously ill, vitally dependent on injections, this can affect the child’s psyche.
Not having enough information about either the relative’s condition or how to treat him, the baby may associate his illness or death directly with syringes.
Media
The media use various techniques to influence the subconscious of people. They usually give in to individuals with a not particularly stable psyche.
Therefore, for impressionable people, sometimes it is enough to hear a few stories with a tragic ending. Like, for example, someone was given an injection, and through the needle he contracted a dangerous disease. That’s it, the process of developing a phobia is started.
Education
What do children most often hear when their behavior is being manipulated to become more obedient?
And the fact that they will now be taken to the hospital, where they will make an injection, painful, with a huge needle, perhaps even in the stomach. Or what will be given to the uncle policeman. But that is another story.
Intimidation of this kind naturally affects the personality of the child, forming certain fears in him.
By the way, the reactions of parents are also of great importance. If a mother is very worried when she brings her child, for example, for vaccination, then the baby understands that things are bad, otherwise she would have kept calm.
Plus, the pain from manipulation is added to everything, which means that the anxiety was not in vain. And in the future, at the sight of a syringe, only negative associations will arise in him.
Genetic memory
Our ancestors had to be wary of poisonous snakes. Which at any moment could crawl into the cave and bite. And, without an antidote, a person was doomed to a painful death.
So, the bite of a snake, an insect resembles the sensations of injecting a vaccine, medicine.
Therefore, this information, although not particularly relevant, at least for residents of megacities, is still passed on from generation to generation. Learn more about what the genetic code is in this article.
Treatment
Be sure to visit a psychologist or psychotherapist. It is unlikely to get rid of a phobia on your own, you need the support of a specialist, in-depth work with feelings.
In the process of therapy, you will be able to reduce the level of anxiety, realize the origins of your reactions, and even change your behavior pattern, formed stereotypes of thinking.
The most commonly used are the Gestalt approach, cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnosis. There is also group therapy. This is when people with the same difficulties meet and share their experiences.
For example, how they live, how they cope with fears, and what feelings they experience. The support received from the same trypanophobes encourages further battles with the disorder.
If you experience more tangible symptoms that affect your health and quality of life, contact a psychiatrist. He will not close you in the clinic, but will only prescribe medications that will help improve sleep and cheer you up.
For more information about the treatments that are commonly used, you will learn from the article dedicated specifically to this topic.
Recommendations
- Try to look away while injecting. Regardless of whether the injection will be in the buttock or in a vein, do not control every movement of the nurse, try to distract yourself. Just warn that you are afraid and therefore not in a position to be responsible for your actions in the event of a panic attack. Do not be ashamed, believe me, over the years of work, the medical staff have met more than one trypanophobic, there are patients who are more difficult. Alternatively, you can turn on your favorite song, just listen to it with headphones. Or funny videos on YouTube. Your task is to distract yourself for just a minute.
- Meditate and practice breathing techniques. It is impossible to avoid stress in your life. But taking care of your nervous system is very important. Otherwise, it will begin to falter and this will affect the state of the body. As you can imagine, not for the better. Still, the constant feeling of tension is exhausting, depriving of resources. In general, learn to relax and enjoy life, to be aware of your desires and feelings.
- positive affirmations. These are attitudes that are “deposited” at the subconscious level and allow you to change your attitude to any phenomena of the surrounding reality. They are often used to raise the level of self-esteem, to feel confident in their abilities and that they will be able to achieve what they want. But it is also quite suitable for combating the fear of injections. You will learn more about how to formulate and use them correctly here.
Completion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! If you are interested to know what other types of phobias exist, subscribe to site updates. And then you will be aware of the name, for example, of the fear of dentists, or of horses.
In general, stay with us, develop and, of course, be happy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina