What is Hemophobia (Fear of Blood) – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Hemophobia is a type of psychological disorder and comes under the "blood-injection-injury (BII)” phobia in the American Psychiatric Association’s “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual”. 

This article specifies all the vital aspects of Hemophobia, like diagnosis and treatment and imparts guidance for people seeking remedies for it. So, read on to know more!

Under Hemophobia or Hematophobia, people fear blood. It generates at just the sight of blood in real life and the virtual world. In addition, people with this fear can also get afraid of other related objects like:

• Fear of getting blood tests
• Afraid of getting shots as blood is involved, etc.

Generally, people with hemophobia experience intense anxiety with the thought of blood. Here are some of the potential factors that can trigger this uncontrollable anxiety among people dealing with it: 

• For example, watching scenes in horror or thriller movies which involve killing, etc. 
• Minor cuts or injuries
• Watching videos that involved blood scenes

There can be a plethora of factors that can instigate the fear of blood among kids and adults.

Generally, people with specific phobias share similar types of physical and mental symptoms. Hence, here are some of the most common symptoms of Hemophobia: 

• Difficulty in breathing
• Increasing heart rate
• Experiencing chest tightness or pain
• Feeling tremors or shaking
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea or vomiting when coming in contact with blood
• Excessive sweating 

In addition to these above-mentioned physical symptoms, one with Hemophobia may encounter some other psychological symptoms affecting their mental health: 

• A feeling of panic attacks or anxiety
• An extreme urge to escape from a situation where blood is involved
• Experiencing a sense of losing control
• Feeling like dying or passing out

Though the exact cause of Hemophobia is yet unknown, experts believe that Hemophobia has a high chance of developing in childhood. This can be attached to any vicarious trauma that he or she has experienced or has heard a friend talking about their frightening experience related to blood. 

Though this phobia can occur to any person, however, some factors may increase the probability of developing the fear of blood: 

• Gender Factor: Generally, women tend to build Hemophobia more than men
• Past Trauma: Experiences affect a person's response to a different object. If a person has experienced trauma in the past in association with blood, he or she is most likely to develop Hemophobia. 
• Genetics: A lot of times, if a parent of a child is suffering from Hemophobia or any similar phobia, there is a high probability of developing this fear of blood.
• Comorbid Psychoneurotic Disorders: People with underlying neurotic problems like panic disorder, PTSD, or other phobias like agoraphobia or fear of getting out of a home are likely to develop this fear of blood. 

Usually, the doctor follows the diagnosis manual prescribed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,5th Edition, for better diagnosis. The criterion mentioned in DSM-5 helps doctors or therapists understand the anxiety or fear issues arising from Hemophobia. 

In addition, therapists can assess or evaluate the symptoms of Hemophobia and ask questions to understand their behavioural patterns. Based on the result of this assessment, the doctor then plans the treatment programs that will suit a particular individual and fetch ultimate results.

With the advancement of medical sciences and exposure treating any phobia using different counselling and therapies has become possible. Here is the most effective treatment for Hemophobia that therapists choose to recover someone with the fear of blood: 

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of the most trusted methods therapists prefer when treating phobia. This treatment program helps the patient to acknowledge their negative thought process or behavioural pattern that brews their fear of blood. 

In addition, it helps them replace these negative thoughts that bring anxiousness into a positive mindset. It is by enabling the brain to think about effective coping techniques. 

• Exposure Therapy

In this type of therapy, the doctor gradually lets the patient get familiar with the feared element that induces the feeling of anxiety or distress. This generally starts with showing them pictures or videos of blood in a safe environment. 

Moreover, visualisation techniques also help gradually expose individuals to blood as it offers better control and management over their emotions and responses. 

• Applied Tension Therapy

Professionals use this therapy when someone is on the verge of fainting due to blood. In this treatment plan, the individual will apply tension to their legs, arms and abdomen muscle for better results. 

• Relaxation Therapy

An authorised treatment centre will try its best to comfort one with Hemophobia. In this case, relaxation therapy works amazingly as it involves breathing exercises, slow visualisation, meditation and yoga. 

These practices are proven to reduce the stress associated with these phobias. It helps the mind or body function and think properly. 

The complications attached to Hemophobia can be severe in addition to its symptoms. Here are the following detrimental physical or psychological complications that can occur due to the fear of blood: 

• Chest pain or stroke
• Frequent fluctuations in blood pressure
• Increase in stress hormones like cortisol
• Choosing loneliness or social isolation
• Agoraphobia or fear of leaving home
• Major depressive disorder
• Increase in blood pressure

The arrival of these complications is a sheer indication that Hemophobia needs immediate medical attention. Hence, it is always advisable to consult with medical professionals if one notices that the symptoms of Hemophobia persist for more than six months. 

Medical consultation regarding Hemophobia becomes quintessential when the person has been suffering from its symptoms for more than six months. In addition, if the effects of Hemophobia are affecting the daily work or activities of life or are causing a threat to personal relationships, it needs to be handled by a medical professional. 

To combat the discomfort caused due to the sight of blood, one can follow a few tips to help control and manage this fear. Moreover, these coping mechanism strategies will help an individual to uplift their mood: 

• Adopting Distraction Techniques

One of the best ways to calm your nerves during anxiety is by adopting a few distraction techniques. Diverting one's mind and focusing on other activities will help better manage increased fear and tension. Here are the most common distraction techniques that one can follow: 

• Listening to music
• Playing games, both indoor and outdoor
• Reading books
• Journaling
• Painting
• Talking to a close one
• Texting or video calling

• Visualisation

Visualisation creates a peaceful image in the brain that evokes calmness during the anxiety attacks of Hemophobia. In addition, these imagery tactics help the brain relax in situations that trigger fear. 

• Face Fear by Challenging Negative Thoughts

One can face his or her fear by challenging negative thoughts that brew this fear of anxiety. For example, to cope with this fear, one can make their brain think like a blood test is a routine medical procedure for assessing the physical health of different people to find out medical reports. 

Hemophobia is an anxiety disorder that is treatable with timely intervention to prevent the symptoms from becoming a daily threat. Moreover, by following the instructions and guidelines of the therapist, one can live a balanced life, free from any anxiety or stress.