(Symptoms of Hemophobia)
When it comes to phobias they all share almost the same type of physical and emotional response upon the trigger. Now triggers can vary from phobia to phobia though.
In the cases of hemophobia, seeing blood on tv, in real life, in cartoons or even medical procedures involving blood can be a trigger. Thinking about blood or blood-related procedures also makes them uncomfortable.
Physical symptoms triggered by this phobia may include:
•Trouble breathing
•Rapid heart rate
•Tightness or pain in the chest
•Shaking or trembling
•Lightheadedness
•Feeling nauseated around blood or injury
•Hot or cold flashes
•Sweating
Mental symptoms includes:
•Extreme anxiety or panic
•Feeling that you’ve lost control
•Feeling weak and scared
•Passing out in extreme conditions
•The overwhelming need for avoiding blood-related situations
Children with hemophobia may experience different symptoms:
•Cry
•Hide
•Become clingy
•Have tantrums
Refuse to leave their caregiver’s side around blood or situations where the blood could be present
(Treatment of Hemophobia)
It is not always required to treat hemophobia, especially if you’re not directly related to anything that requires day to day involvement in blood or similar activities. But we suggest you have the therapy anyway, people with even normal hemophobia cases start ignoring doctors and appointments because of their phobia.
Treatment options include the following:
1.Exposure Therapy: In this form of therapy the patient is exposed to their fears in a perfectly safe and controlled environment. Your doctor gets a better evaluation of your situation using this therapy. Exposure therapy is one of the most effective techniques for phobias such as this one.
2.Cognitive therapy: In cognitive therapy, your doctor talks to you about your anxiety around blood. Your therapist will try to bring out the more rational thoughts they can on the surface. Especially, regarding the activities around blood, such as medical treatments and daily tests.
3.Relaxation therapy: In this therapy, your doctor might suggest you a few exercises to relax voluntarily. This therapy helps in diffusing and easing the symptoms during a trigger.
4.Medication: If your symptoms become too extreme during the episodes, your doctor might suggest a few medications to control the symptoms. Medications are only to control the symptoms, medication is never a solution.
5.Applied Tension: A method for the treatment of phobias called applied tension may help with the blacking out impacts of Hemophobia. The idea is to tense your muscles in the arms, torso, and legs for timed intervals until your face feels flushed when you're exposed to the trigger, which for this situation would be blood.
Another study suggests that members who attempted this procedure were able to watch a half-hour video of a medical procedure without swooning.