Fear of Needles – Trypanophobia or Aichmophobia or Belanophobia
Believe it or not, the fear of needles is quite common, and it is common between close relatives. So, is a fear of needles learnt or is it inherited? No-one can be sure of this as yet, only that there is approximately an 80% correlation between closely related people.
No matter how it develops, fear of needles is a very serious condition because when it is at its most severe, people avoid going for medical help and may actually die from their illness or condition.
Evolutionary Psychology
In ancient times, a puncture wound often led to infection and subsequent death and evolutionary psychologists have speculated that the innate instinct for survival is the cause of needle phobia, as the needle delivers what might be thought of as a puncture wound.
Anxiety
As an individual becomes anxious about having a needle or a blood test, they may experience a ‘vasovagal reaction response’ or rising blood pressure and rising heart rate, which increases his or her anxiety. As he or she is about to have the injection, or have blood drawn, blood pressure falls fast and so does heart rate which may result in the person fainting, or even having a convulsion.
Treatment for Needle Phobia
Some relief may be obtained if the person has a swab of anaesthetic first, or takes an oral sedative, or both, prior to the injection of blood being drawn; however, it is important that medical help is nearby in case of fainting or convulsions.
Psychologists typically use systematic desensitization to overcome this fear of needles. The client would be taught relaxation methods such as deep breathing, and self-hypnosis and then while practising being in a relaxed state, the client would be systematically exposed to small black and white blurry pictures of a needle, and listen to the benefits of the injection/drawing blood to save lives.
Gradually over time, the photo would be made larger and clearer, then coloured, and eventually, a real syringe would be shown very briefly to the client. Each time, the benefits of the injection or of drawing blood would be made known so that bit-by-bit the client associates the injection with positives, and all the while is being gently encouraged to stay relaxed.
Another method used is hypnotherapy which seeks to resolve the deep internal angst experienced by someone at the thought of needles.
In a different hypnosis technique usually used for pain relief, the client may be hypnotised so that the site of the injection, or for drawing blood, is made completely numb as though anaesthetised. The client can then learn to do this and use self-hypnosis at the required time. This is also effective for those who have a needle phobia connected with dental treatment.
Timeline therapy (from NLP) may also be used to neutralize the internal conflict over knowing that a needle is necessary, or that bloods need to be drawn for testing and the fear of the needle.
Unfortunately, many people with a needle phobia leave it very late to seek help which means they don’t have the luxury of time for long, slow, careful desensitization, or repeated sessions of hypnosis.
If you have a needle phobia and have made it to the end without fainting, please seek help as soon as you can.
