What is Tomophobia: Fear of Surgery – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Getting afraid of going through a medical procedure is common. Many people worry about what will be the result of the medical test they took and how is their health. However, when this concern becomes excessive, and one starts avoiding going through a medical procedure like surgery, it is evaluated as Tomophobia. 

Get more details on what people fear in this type of phobia, its symptoms, causes and more below!

In Tomophobia, people fear undergoing surgical or medical intervention. Moreover, if not controlled, it can also give rise to:

• Fear of doctor
• Fear of blood
• Fear of needles, etc.

As a result of this fear, people start developing relationship problems, work and school issues, etc. Also, constant thought can prevent people from enjoying life to the fullest. It is mainly in the case when a person has a medical issue but not visiting the doctor because of fear. 

The general symptoms of Tomophobia are similar to any other phobia. It includes:

• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Irrational or intense level of fear
• Strong urge to escape the place which triggers fear
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat

Apart from this, individuals can also develop more chronic symptoms like:

• Having panic attacks when going to receive a medical treatment
• Children screaming and running out of the room
• Avoiding procedures or doctors even if it's life-threatening

Exactly what cause Tomophobia is still not known. However, mental health experts have some ideas on the things that can develop it including:

• Do Not Have Enough Knowledge: 

Most patients are unaware or do not have any medical experience to know what process doctors will follow under the medical procedure. So, when the patient asks and gets an explanation that is not well-laid, it increases their anxiety. This is because they fill in the blanks with their imagination. 

On the other hand, if the opposite happens, patients can become anxious because of getting too much information. For example, after watching a knee-cap surgery, the patient becomes terrified because it seems too brutal or uncomfortable. 

• Do Not Trust Doctors or Hospitals: 

A doctor may have an excellent reputation in the market, but since we only meet them a few weeks before surgery, it is not possible to trust them. So, people develop fear as they realise they will put their lives in a stranger's hands. 

In addition, hospitals, in general, are scary to many. Many things can trigger the fear, like the cold environment, patients in each room, visitors that don't seem happy, and the smell of disinfectant. Apart from this, the large equipment can be intimidating to many. 

The following are the few risks that can increase the chances of developing a fear of surgery:

• Vasovagal Syncope: People with vasovagal syncope can experience this phobia of surgery. This is because the condition makes the body overreact to fear triggers. It happens because the vagus nerve makes the autonomic nervous system react in an overwhelming way. As a result, you feel anxious and traumatised. 
• Iatrogenic Trauma: This can be another potential cause of developing a fear of surgery. This includes experiencing a traumatic event in which you get injured by a medical procedure in the past. As a result, the involved person starts thinking medical treatment may do more harm than good.

Even after developing anxiety, if the person with a fear of surgical operation goes through the surgery forcefully, he or she can develop complications like:

• Feeling dread
• Full-blown panic attacks
• Automatic or uncontrollable reactions to avoid the object of fear
• Excessive worrying and irrational thinking, etc

Mental health experts like a psychologist diagnose Tomophobia. The process follows the latest edition instructions, as mentioned by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DM-5. It includes:

• Analysing the symptoms visible when exposed to fear
• Breaking down the phobia into five categories (animal type, situational type, blood-injection-injury type, natural environment type and other types)

The doctor will also ask other life-related questions to judge whether the fear is controllable or uncontrollable. Also, tell whether it affects your daily life or your ability to receive adequate medical care. 

If, after diagnosis, the doctor finds you need proper medical help, he or she will suggest the following procedures:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

This is a proven method provided by therapists to help patients change their thinking patterns. The health professional will work on you by allowing you to identify your thoughts and turn them into positive, if negative. 

• Exposure Therapy or Desensitisation

This is another helpful procedure for treating a phobia. In exposure-based therapy, mental experts teach you a systematic desensitisation method to start visualising positive outcomes when exposed to the object of fear. With time, the individual gains confidence, and thus the intensity of fear reduces. 

• Medications

Doctors and psychologists may also recommend medications in addition to therapy for faster improvement. The medicine primarily includes anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants to control the symptoms of mental disorders.

If this phobia is affecting your health or not letting you seek medical help, you must see a doctor or mental health therapist. The doctor to treat this may suggest psychotherapy as a choice of treatment. 

Sometimes the fear is not so severe. Thus, people are able to manage it with only a few effective coping techniques. It includes:

• Joining Yoga, Meditation and Calmness Classes

Mindfulness meditation and yoga classes help here as they teach the brain to shift to positive thoughts rather than focus on fears. For example, while performing yoga, you will focus on attaining the correct posture, breathing technique and inner calmness. 

• Turning Fear into a Challenge

Another effective technique to cope with fear is turning it into a challenge. For example, if the procedure is bothering you, reduce your anxiety by trusting your doctor and the process he or she will perform. For this, you can consult a patient who has received the same treatment from the same doctor and is doing fine. Again, the experiences of others can change perspective. 

This ends our discussion on what Tomophobia is, its symptoms, causes and treatment methods. However, follow it to ensure your fear of surgery does not pass the extent that it prevents you from getting the required medical help. For this purpose, you can join support groups, therapy sessions and other assistance.